Title
Alameda Point - Wayfinding Sign Program - PLN14-0127 - City of Alameda. The City of Alameda is requesting a Wayfinding Sign Program for Alameda Point. The proposed signs include street names and addressing, informal landmarks and district naming. Signs are proposed for up to 25 locations throughout Alameda Point.
Body
HISTORICAL ADVISORY BOARD
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: April 3, 2014
TO: HONORABLE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE HISTORICAL ADVISORY BOARD
FROM: Andrew Thomas
510.747.6881
APPLICATION: Alameda Point - Wayfinding Sign Program - PLN14-0127 - City of Alameda. The City of Alameda is requesting a Wayfinding Sign Program for Alameda Point. The proposed signs include street names and addressing, informal landmarks and district naming. Signs are proposed for up to 25 locations throughout Alameda Point.
ZONING DISTRICT: Alameda Point Zoning Districts
GENERAL PLAN: Alameda Point Mixed Use
PROPOSAL SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
The City is proposing a short-term (three to five years) Sign Program for Alameda Point to provide a thematically consistent group of wayfinding signs. The proposed signs include street names and addressing, informal landmarks and district naming. Signs are proposed for up to 25 locations throughout Alameda Point. Square Peg Design has prepared a Master Sign Program for short-term signage at Alameda Point (Exhibit 1). The Sign Program establishes criteria for identification signs for streets, individual building addresses, landmarks (e.g., USS Hornet), land use zones (e.g., Spirits Alley) as well as entire districts (e.g., Seaplane Lagoon). This Sign Program would update the Alameda Point Sign Program adopted by the Planning Board in 1998 (Exhibit 2).
As provided for by the Zoning Ordinance (AMC Section 30-6.3 (2)), these criteria may be different from the sign criteria established for individual buildings elsewhere in Alameda because they are located in a distinct area of Alameda. In addition to the existing Sign Program for Alameda Point, similar criteria were approved for Alameda Landing and South Shore Shopping Centers.
The original Alameda Point Sign Program was prepared to: 1) establish interim sign requirements, 2) ensure consistency with the preservation of Alameda Point's unique historic resources and character and 3) provide tenants and interim lessees with clear requirements for signage and permit processing. To ensure that the wayfinding signage is consistent with the preservation of Alameda Point's unique historic resources and character, staff is requesting that the Historical Advisory Board (HAB) review and comment on the proposed sign program. The Board's comments will be forwarded to the Planning Board for its consideration prior to approving the Sign Program for Alameda Point.
The 1998 sign program was put in place to facilitate leasing activities at Alameda Point during the Interim Leasing period. The Interim Leasing period ended in 2000, with adoption of the Lease in Furtherance of Conveyance (LIFOC). While the sign program continues to be in effect, the resolution states that "If substantial redevelopment of Alameda Point occurs, the Planning Board can adopt a new sign program that would supersede this Sign Program." With conveyance of a majority of the base to the City in June 2013, it is appropriate to introduce signage to provide information and wayfinding guidance to existing and future tenants, visitors and the general public. As part of the Planning Board's review and approval of the proposed Wayfinding Sign Program, staff will recommend that the 1998 Sign Program be amended to reflect any changes needed to ensure consistency in the sign program.
STAFF ANALYSIS
The proposed Wayfinding Sign Program provides for temporary signage over the next three to five years. As Alameda Point builds out, District identification will be further refined and more permanent signage will be developed that is consistent with the on-going development and reuse. In addition to this temporary Sign Program, the City is working on a paint palette for the Alameda Point Historic District. Existing tenants would like to paint the individual buildings they occupy and the City will provide them guidance in terms of appropriate paint colors. Following approval of a paint palette program, the City will work on a sign program for permanent tenant signage. Taken together, these activities are part of a larger effort to facilitate development and reuse at Alameda Point.
Sign Program: The location of Alameda Point on a former Navy Air Station at the westernmost edge of Alameda requires special consideration to create an effective sign program for a successful mixed-use area. Existing and proposed buildings will be located on streets with names that may be unfamiliar to Alameda and Bay Area residents. As a result, signage for this property needs to be designed in such a way as to compensate for these locational constraints and support effective transition to civil re-use and redevelopment of the base.
The intent of the sign program is to provide information and wayfinding guidance to existing and future tenants, visitors and the general public. The sign program provides specific criteria for sign design, placement, types, size, materials etc. (See Exhibit 1, Sign Program). The criteria are consistent with the intent of the City's sign regulations and the 1998 Sign Program, and effectively encourage the quality of signage that the City expects from this high visibility site. Staff has identified several features of the sign program that may be of interest to the HAB as discussed below.
Entry Signs: There will be one Entry Sign on the north side of Atlantic Avenue (6'-8" x 48'-0", supported 27" off grade). There will be an additional smaller sign on the south side (9'-0" x 8'-0") creating a portal and sense of entry. Construction will be 2' by 8' panels of corrugated metal with paint finish and mounted to steel posts. The words "Alameda Point, Welcome and the City of Alameda logo" would be made of marine grade plywood with paint finish and stud mounted to corrugated background panels. A cost alternate to the corrugated metal panels would be sealed marine grade plywood with a corrugated vinyl print. Groups of commercial grade flagpoles would be installed on both side of Atlantic and would range in height from 25 feet to 45 feet in height (see Exhibit 1, pages 5 through 7).
Boundary Marker Signs: There would be two of these signs. The signs would be two feet wide and ten feet high, constructed of vertical sealed marine grade plywood panels and mounted on wood posts (see Exhibit 1, page 8). These signs provide direction to visitors entering Alameda Point for the first time.
Street Name/Vehicular Directional Signs: There would be up to 10 of these signs that would be located at key intersections within Alameda Point. The sign panels would be approximately one foot high and five feet long mounted to square aluminum tube supports. Supports will be sleeved with thick wall 6" round PVC, all with paint finish. Text will be exterior grade reflective vinyl (see Exhibit 1, page 9 and 10).
Vehicular Directional at Destination Signs: The number of these signs has yet to be determined. These signs would be located at key destinations within Alameda Point. The signs would be three feet nine inches wide and seven feet high, made from corrugated metal panels with paint finish and mounted to steel posts. The text panels would be made of marine grade plywood with paint finish and reflective vinyl letter, stud mounted to corrugated background panels. A cost alternate to the corrugated metal panels would be sealed marine grade plywood with a corrugated vinyl print. (see Exhibit 1, page 11).
Destination Address Signs: There would be up to 30 of these round signs that would be located at key destinations within Alameda Point. The signs would be 2.5 feet in diameter, constructed of wood panels and mounted on prefabricated six inch round aluminum tubes (see Exhibit 1, page 12).
Landmark Signs: Landmark signs could be located at the entryway to the USS Hornet or other landmarks. The sign would be four feet six inches wide and six feet high and constructed of wood panels (see Exhibit 1, page 13).
Site Maps: There would be two of these signs. The signs would be 7.5 feet wide and 3.5 feet high, made of wood and corrugated metal panels suspended between two six inch square aluminum posts (see Exhibit 1, page 14).
Building Graphics: There could be building graphics painted onto individual buildings located throughout Alameda Point, including Hangar Row, Spirits Alley and the Sports Center (see Exhibit 1, pages 15 through 20). These graphics would identify individual buildings and districts and could also include street addresses to provide information and wayfinding guidance to existing and future tenants, visitors and the general public.
The Sign Program will be implemented incrementally based on City funding for the project. Staff is recommending the following priority for installing the signs (see page iii of Exhibit 1): 1) entry sign/boundary markers (AA1 and AD1), 2) street name/vehicular directional (AD3), 3) addressing occupied buildings/building landmark graphics, 4) site map on Atlantic Avenue (AB2).
CONCLUSION
Overall, staff believes the proposed Sign Program presents a coherent and visually appealing hierarchy of wayfinding signs. The sign design, placement, types, size, colors and materials are compatible with the site, adjacent buildings, public streetscapes and surroundings. The Sign Program will result in individual signs that are well designed, pleasing in appearance and composed of high quality materials.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The project involves a Sign Program for an existing site with existing and planned facilities. The proposed project is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA guidelines 15301 Minor Alterations to Existing Facilities. Approval of the Sign Program would not result in any significant effects related to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality.
PUBLIC NOTICE
This agenda item was advertised in the Alameda Journal on March 14, 2014. Notices were also mailed to Alameda Point commercial tenants.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the HAB review the proposed Wayfinding Sign Program and provide comments. The Board's comments will be forwarded to the Planning Board for its consideration prior to approving the Wayfinding Sign Program for Alameda Point.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY:
____________________________
Andrew Thomas,
City Planner
Exhibits:
1. Wayfinding Sign Program, Square Peg Design, March 2014
2. 1998 Resolution of the Planning Board Approving a Sign Program for Alameda Point