Planning Commission recommends Animated Sign Overlay Zone to City Council with 10‑year pilot

The Glendale Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council adopt a zoning text and map amendment to create an Animated Sign Overlay Zone (ANSOZ) as a pilot program that would sunset after 10 years unless extended.

Planning staff presented the proposal as a targeted pilot covering C-3 parcels on South Central Avenue and C-A parcels on South Brand Boulevard, and said the ordinance would allow animated displays only as accessory ground signs. Staff said the overlay would include development standards intended to limit traffic distraction and visual clutter: images must be static ("no flashing images, graphics, animated motion pictures"), a minimum 8‑second image rotation is required, operating hours would be limited to 7 a.m. to midnight, and lighting must include dimming sensors and not exceed ambient light levels. "Based on council direction, this is to be a pilot program with a sunset clause of 10 years," staff said during the presentation.

Commissioners focused much of their deliberation on how signs should be treated at the end of the pilot. Several commissioners asked staff to provide alternative approaches for City Council — options discussed included allowing signs to remain as legal nonconforming, creating a one‑year application window for property owners to request continued use under director-level or design-review authority, or providing council the option to extend for a limited period. "Maybe we have an inventory of some kind that then gets evaluated as part of the ordinance," a commissioner said during the discussion.

A public commenter, Rafi Naljian of Saint Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church, told commissioners the church would benefit from digital signage to communicate events and reduce manual maintenance of its existing letter board. Chair and commissioners thanked attendees and approved two motions — one recommending the text amendment (with direction for staff to present a sunset‑extension alternative to council), and a second recommending the map amendment — both carried by unanimous roll-call votes.

The Planning Commission forwarded the recommended code and map changes to City Council for final action; staff were asked to return with alternative language on how to handle sign retention if the pilot is not extended.