Background

Last year, the City Council directed staff to review the City sign code requirements, and to consider changes to it. As part of this effort, staff is reviewing other approaches to regulating signs in the city. There are several different methods of regulating signs in a city, and this effort will try to find the best approach for the Sunnyvale community.

Businesses depend on signage to direct customers to their location. Signs are used to identify the business location. Sometimes customers know the general location of a business and use the building and ground signs as identifiers in finding the location. Business signs can also attract customers as they pass by, prompting impulse visits to the location, or reminding potential customers where the business is located.

Signs are common place, and it is necessary to create a balance of having suitable sign standards to allow business identification without creating sign clutter. A key condition for signs is that they are noticed and will attract the necessary attention and yet be distinct from others. Signs are generally designed to direct, sell, or inform the viewer, and every sign has a limited capacity for information.

Tentative Schedule

Staff held initial public input meetings in April, with more meetings targeting businesses occurring in May. Additional public outreach meeting will be held in June and July. Having a balanced view from the entire community about the appropriateness of signs in Sunnyvale is important. It is anticipated the project will be considered by the Planning Commission and City Council in October 2012.

Please send comments, ideas, and requests to be added to a mailing list to be notified of upcoming meetings and hearings to Andrew Miner at Sign Code Revisions