The applicant is requesting approval of one "as-built "sign for the purpose of advertising a business located at 1640 Tiburon Boulevard. The subject sign is located on the wall above the entrance to the building. The sign is comprised of plastic with an aluminum frame, and is internally illuminated. The sign copy reads "Cindy’s Hair Studio." The color of the sign is white letters on a green background.

A maximum of two signs for each place of business in a building may be displayed at any given time according to the Sign Ordinance (Chapter 16A of the Tiburon Municipal Code). The applicant is requesting approval for the one subject sign.

The total sign area allowed for businesses is one square foot of signage for each four linear feet of building frontage. The business has approximately 20 linear feet of frontage, which would allow a sign five square feet in size. The subject sign is approximately 15 square feet in size, which exceeds the standards by 10 square feet. Section 16-A6 of the Tiburon Sign Ordinance states that the Design Review Board may grant exceptions to the sign requirements if it makes the following two findings:

Exceptional physical circumstances or conditions exist which apply to the site or location under consideration.

The exception is not inconsistent with the purpose of this chapter.

The subject building has frontage on Tiburon Boulevard, but is also accessed from the Juanita Lane, therefore creating a double frontage. According to the Sign Ordinance, businesses that front more than one street may be permitted two signs per side of business frontage. In lieu of proposing up to four signs on the premises as the Sign Ordinance would allow, the applicant has opted to apply for the approval of one larger sign. This "trade-off" appears to be consistent with the purpose of the Sign Ordinance.

The design of signs should be reviewed by using the criteria as outlined in the Sign Ordinance and the Downtown Design Handbook. The intent of these criteria is to ensure signs are appropriate and compatible with the environment and character of the community, while having the flexibility to encourage variety and good design. Signs in the downtown area are reviewed especially closely because they are "fundamental contributors to the overall quality and character of the Town."

The Sign Ordinance states that signs should be designed to be consistent with the architecture of the building on which they are located, to be in "harmony" with their surroundings, and to compliment the character of the Town. Although the subject sign is consistent with the appearance of the Tiburon Lodge sign across the street, it is not consistent with the other signs on the same building. Most of the other signs are comprised of wood, and are painted with subtle color schemes. For this reason, the proposed sign does not appear to be in full compliance with the Sign Ordinance.

Conditions of Approval

Application and supplemental materials dated December 23, 2002.

Photo of the subject sign

Excerpt from the Downtown Design Handbook.

This sign permit shall be valid for 90 days following approval, and shall expire and become null and void unless the sign, as approved, is erected prior to that date or unless an extension, filed in writing with the Planning & Building Department, is granted by the Director.

The development of this project shall conform to the application dated by the Town of Tiburon on January 16, 2003, or as amended by these conditions of approval. Any modifications to the plans submitted must be reviewed and approved by the Design Review Staff or the Board.

The issuance of this sign permit shall not be valid if the approval constitutes a violation of the Town's Sign Ordinance (Chapter 16A of the Municipal Code). No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of said chapter shall be valid.

The Town may at any time make such inspections as necessary to determine whether any sign is in compliance with this approval and other applicable regulations.

Permittee shall maintain the sign and all supporting components in good repair and finish. Substantially deteriorated, badly weathered, rusty, or otherwise poorly maintained signs shall be subject to public nuisance abatement or other available remedies.