Commission recommends allowing fuel price signs without counting toward monument-sign limit at Carl Hollow site

The Tracy Planning Commission voted to recommend that the City Council amend the Tracy Municipal Code to add a definition for “fuel pricing signs” and to exempt those signs from the standard limit of two monument signs per parcel. Staff said the change would address an unintended consequence for sites that include a gas station requiring state-mandated price signs.

Project planner Genevieve Federighi told the commission the proposed definition would treat a fuel pricing sign as a monument sign at a fueling station depicting the price of fuel as required by Business and Professions Code section 13531. Once defined, the sign would not count toward a parcel’s two-monument-sign maximum but would still be subject to other size and design standards in the municipal code.

Federighi said the amendment is significant for a single-parcel site at 4600 South Carl Hollow Road, where an existing gas station is required to have price signs at each entrance. Without the exemption, those required signs could use up permitted monument sign allotment and prevent future monument signs for a planned car wash and other businesses. Staff recommended the commission forward the zoning-text amendment to council and concluded it is exempt from additional CEQA review under Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).

Scott Schendel, representing the applicant (Shaq & Company/Tracy), spoke in support and said the applicant had no objections and hoped the commission would recommend approval.

Commission discussion reviewed whether the change should be citywide or project-specific, whether logos or additional branding could appear on fuel pricing signs, and whether the definition should limit the exempted signs to only the information required by state law. Staff said the Business and Professions Code prescribes required elements (prices for major grades and provider logo) and visibility/size ratios; staff recommended the citywide amendment to ensure even application rather than case-by-case variances.

The commission moved and seconded a recommendation that the City Council introduce and adopt an ordinance adding a definition for fuel pricing signs and exempting those signs from the monument-sign maximum; a roll-call vote recorded Commissioners Atwal, Boce/Boateng, English and Vice Chair Penney voting yes. Chair Orcutt’s participation was acknowledged during the meeting. The commission’s recommendation will be considered by the City Council.