HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecision Letter City of
Arcadia
Development
Services
Department
Jason Kruckeberg
Assistant City Manager/
Development Services
Director
240 West Huntington Drive
Post Office Box 60021
Arcadia, CA 91066-6021
(626) 574-5415
(626) 447-3309 Fax
www.ArcadiaCA.gov
February 1, 2021
Chateau Group USA
Attn: Jonathan Tseng
20 E. Foothill Boulevard, Suite 108
Arcadia, CA 91006
Subject: Sign Architectural Design Review No. SADR 21-01 & Major
Administrative Modification No. Major AM 21-01
Project Address: 130 W. Huntington Drive (Le Meridien Hotel)
Dear Mr. Tseng:
The public comment period for the Notice of Pending Decision ended on January
28, 2021. Staff did not receive any comments during the notification period. The
Development Services Department has conditionally approved the design
concept plans for three (3) new wall signs, two (2) new monument signs, two (2)
new directional signs, and two (2) new wall plate signs adjacent to the front entry
of the Le Meridien Hotel at 130 W. Huntington Drive. The approval also includes
an administrative modification to allow the following:
• The total aggregate area of all the wall signs to exceed the maximum
allowed by 20 square feet (maximum is 150 square feet);
• The rear wall sign on the hotel tower may exceed the maximum area of
50% of all the wall signs by 9%;
• Two monument signs in lieu of the one sign that is allowed , and to allow
the monument sign off E. Huntington Drive to be setback 3’-5” from the rear
property line and 3’-3” from the driveway in lieu of the required setback of
5’-0” from the property line and 10’-0” from the driveway; and,
• Two directional signs will exceed the maximum permitted sign face area of
4 square feet (varies between 6 and10 square feet in area).
According to Arcadia Development Code Section 9107.05.050, it states that an
Administrative Modification may be approved if at least one of the following findings
can be made.
1. Secure an appropriate improvement of a lot;
2. Prevent an unreasonable hardship; or
3. Promote uniformity of development.
The Modification will secure an appropriate improvement of the lot. The 3.38 acre
subject site is a corner lot bounded by eastbound and westbound Huntington Drive
and is being developed with a six-story hotel. The modifications being requested
will properly display the business name to the various directions of traffic within the
vicinity of the subject site.
Although the total aggregate area of the wall signs will exceed the maximum area
allowed for this building, the modification is warranted to ensure the signs will be
within scale to the size of the building. Approving the modification will ensure this
happens aesthetically.
Given that this property is one of the largest sites in the City, and the hotel will
have two different driveways off Huntington Drive, having a monument sign at each
entry is warranted due to the layout and site design. Additionally, none of the larger
directional signs will have any potential impacts, as the increase in sign area is
minimal. Therefore, the proposed signs, with the approval of the modifications are
consistent with the City’s Architectural Sign Guidelines and they will be an
appropriate improvement to the subject site.
The proposed project qualifies as a Class 1 Categorical Exemption for the
installation of new structures (the freestanding signs) within an existing facility
under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under
Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Conditions of Approval
1. “Pasadena” shall be removed from the two (2) wall plate signs adjacent to
the front entry.
2. The actual sign colors, materials, and location shall be consistent with the
colors, materials, and location shown on the design concept plan and
elevation.
3. Any damage and/or discoloration that results from the installation of the
new sign or removal of an existing sign shall be repaired and/or repainted
so that the damage and/or discoloration is not noticeable from the
surrounding pedestrian and vehicular access ways.
There is a ten (10) day appeal period for this application. Appeals must be
submitted in writing to the Development Services Department with a $600.00
appeal fee by 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021. You will be notified if
an appeal is filed.
Approval of SADR 21-01 and Major AM 21-01 shall not be of effect unless the
property owner and applicant have executed and filed the enclosed Acceptance
Form to indicate awareness and acceptance of these conditions of approval. The
Acceptance Form is due now and if it is not received by March 3, 2021 this
approval will become null and void.
A building permit must be obtained prior to any installation of a sign(s). Please
contact Building Services at (626) 574-5416 to determine the type of
documentation, plans, and fees for the appropriate permit. Once the appeal period
has passed, this approval letter and two additional sets of plans must be presented
to Building Services to initiate the permitting process.
This approval shall expire in one year (February 12, 2022) from the effective date
unless a permit from Building Services is issued for plan-check, and construction
is diligently pursued, or the approval is renewed. The final plans must be consistent
with the approved design concept plans and any conditions of approval. Any
inconsistency from the approved design concept plans may prohibit the issuance
of a building permit.
If you have any questions regarding the above approval, please contact me at
(626) 821-4334 or by email at earreola@ArcadiaCA.gov. Thank you.
Sincerely,
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Community Development Division/Planning Services
Edwin Arreola
Assistant Planner
Enclosed
c: SAICP, LLC, Property Owner
Lisa Flores, Planning & Community Development Administrator
Chandler Signs, Sign Contractor