SR-401-030
PCD:SF:JT:SHK:f:\plan\share\council\strpt\signamend.doc
Council Mtg: September 14, 1999 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Ordinance for Introduction and First Reading Adding Section 9.52.250
and Amending Section 9.52.120, 9.52.210 and 9.52.230 of the Santa
Monica Municipal Code to Establish a Meritorious Sign Review Board,
Criteria for the Designation of Meritorious Signs, the Procedure for the
Review and Designation of Meritorious Signs, and a Limitation On the
Period for Filing Sign Adjustment Applications for Nonconforming Signs
and to Clarify the Procedures for Enforcement of the Sign Code.
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council introduce for first reading an ordinance
amending Section 9.52.210 and adding Section 9.52.250 to Article IX of the Santa
Monica Municipal Code. This ordinance would modify the Sign Code to permit signs
designated as meritorious to remain when they would otherwise be required to be
removed by April 2000 per Section 9.52.210 (d) of the Sign Code. The ordinance
establishes the criteria for designation of meritorious signs, the Meritorious Sign
Review Board and the procedure for review and designation of meritorious signs. The
proposed ordinance is contained in Attachment A.
BACKGROUND
Section 9.52.210(d) of the Citys existing Sign Code, adopted in 1985, establishes a
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15-year amortization period and time frame, for removal of signs that were lawfully
installed before adoption of the code and which are not in conformance, as follows:
“(d) Free-standing, roof, upper level, projecting and off-premises signs, including
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those signs which were previously animated or emitting signs, shall be removed
or modified to conform to the requirements of this Chapter within fifteen years
from the effective date of this Chapter [April 11, 2000].”
Over the last fourteen years, the Sign Code has successfully encouraged businesses
to integrate signs that are harmonious with the buildings and sites where they are
located. This effort had improved the City’s visual appearance and made Santa Monica
an even better place to live, work, shop and do business.
As April 11, 2000, the end of the amortization period approaches, staff has organized a
multi-phase effort to implement this Code section. Phase I, an assessment of the
existing conditions, was completed in January 1999. Phase II included initial
notification of affected businesses and was completed in April 1999. Staff is in the
process of completing Phase III, the development of review and enforcement
procedures. Phase IV will include the review and processing of applications and
enforcement procedures.
In February 1998, the Planning Commission expressed concern that there may be
nonconforming signs worthy of preservation due to their historic, cultural or aesthetic
merit. In discussion, the Planning Commission referred to these potentially significant
signs as “meritorious.” The Planning Commission requested that the Architectural
Review Board and the Landmarks Commission consider possible criteria for a
meritorious sign category and return to the Planning Commission with their
recommendations. The preliminary recommendations of all three bodies, as well as
review of several other cities’ regulations, were synthesized by staff and presented to
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the City Council on March 23, 1999. These preliminary criteria suggest that a sign may
be designated meritorious if it was installed prior to January 1, 1960, and either:
1. Exemplifies technology, craftsmanship or designs of the period when it was
constructed, and may contain neon, unusual lighting techniques, hand painted
lettering or graphics or sculpted elements.
2. Is an icon representative of a certain era or generation of popular culture that
exemplifies the history, ideals, or particular aesthetic of the City of Santa
Monica and/or southern California, including inventive representation of the
use, name or logo of the building or business; or
3. Is integrated into the architecture of the building or enhances the architecture
of the building.
At the March 1999, meeting, the City Council approved the establishment of a
Meritorious Sign Task Force (Task Force) and directed staff to initiate an amendment
to the Sign Ordinance to provide an exemption from Section 9.52.210(d) for meritorious
signs, finalize the selection criteria and create a designation process. On June 8,
1999, the City Council established the Meritorious Sign Task Force, which would
become the Meritorious Review Board upon approval of the amendments, and
appointed five members to the Task Force.
Meritorious Sign Task Force
With the assistance of City staff and RTKL (Rogers, Taliaferro, Lamb, and Kostritsky)
Associates, the Task Force held four public meetings to discuss and finalize the
recommended criteria for meritorious sign designation. The Task Force examined
various criteria, distilling six potential categories into two: historically significant and
contemporary cultural. Each is described as follows:
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Historically Significant. This category includes
signserected or created before 1970 which are representative of significant
sign-making techniques or styles of a historic era. Signs may also be
considered meritorious which represent entities or establishments that were an
important part of Santa Monica’s history and culture.
Contemporary Culture. This category considerssigns
of exceptional significance erected or created between 1970-1985 that have
been proven to be an important part of Santa Monica’s recent history of eclectic
development. As Santa Monica has transformed from “sleepy beach town” to a
diverse mix of businesses, cultures and economies, the art of sign evolved.
Styles moved away from the uniform cabinet signs of the 60’s and 70’s into more
complex and interesting solutions, integrating classic sign making techniques
with contemporary design and innovative materials. As in category #1, signs will
be considered both for their technical excellence as well as for the historical
importance of the business they represent.
The Task Force emphasized that elements of Santa Monica’s history and
craftsmanship should be preserved through the signs. It was agreed that part of the
mission of the Task Force was to help maintain the character of the Santa Monica
community. As part of the discussion of historic significance, four eras or waves of
Santa Monica history were identified along with highlighted sign styles and
technologies representative of each era. The Task Force determined this historical
information would be used as a reference in preparing and evaluating findings related
to the historical significance of each potential meritorious sign.
The Task Force also considered the issue of restoration of existing signs. Task Force
members felt the criteria or findings should be clear about any alterations to a
designated sign where the alteration causes the loss of the meritorious designation.
The Task Force emphasized the need to define the difference between renovation and
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restoration of historical signs. Renovation allows for alterations that would be
unacceptable if the owner wished to maintain the meritorious designation. The Task
Force determined that any restored sign must be consistent with the original design.
The Task Force noted that signs should be considered for their relationship to the
urban context and that issues such as surrounding building character, scale and types
of uses should be considered. The Task Force thought the physical and historical
integrity of the sign should be maintained so that the sign is consistent with the original
design’s style.
PROPOSED ORDINANCE
The proposed ordinance will modify Section 9.52.210 (d) to exempt those signs
designated as meritorious from the requirement for removal or modification by April 11,
2000. In addition, Section 9.52.250 will be added to establish the Meritorious Sign
Review Board, establish the criteria and required findings for meritorious sign
designation and the appeal process.
In Section 9.52.250 (c)(1) of the ordinance, a meritorious sign must first meet one of the
following findings:
Historically Significant. A sign is historically significant if the sign was erected or
created before 1970 and is either representative of significant sign-making
techniques or styles of a historic era in Santa Monica’s history
(Resort/Commuter Suburb Era, Early Motor Era, and Post War Era) or
represents entities or establishments that are an important part of Santa
Monica’s history.
Artistically Significant. A sign is artistically significant if the sign
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was erected or created between 1970 and 1985 is of contemporary design, uses
innovative materials with technical excellence and represents entities or
establishments that are an important part of Santa Monica’s history.
If a sign meets one of the two findings, at least one of the following findings under
Section 9.52.250 (c)(2) must be made:
(A) The sign is visually significant in one of the following regards
(i) The sign possesses a uniqueness and charm because it has visually
aged.
(ii) The sign remains a classic example of craftsmanship or style of the period
when it was constructed using materials in an exemplary way.
(iii) The sign is architecturally integrated into the structure.
(B) The sign is an inventive representation of the use, name or logo of the
building or business.
(C) The sign is located on buildings or properties with buildings that have been
that have been designated as historic landmarks or have been listed in the
City’s Historic Resources Inventory.
Under Section 9.52.250(3), each sign found to be meritorious must also satisfy the
following requirements:
(A) Retention of the sign will not contribute to an undue proliferation of signage
on the property or in one area.
(B) The sign is compatible with the character and scale of the surrounding
buildings and uses.
If the character-defining features of a meritorious sign are altered, the sign will be
deleted from the meritorious list and will be required to be removed or where
applicable, modified to comply with the Sign Code. In the case of historically significant
signs, however, the owner may restore parts of the sign back to original working order
(e.g., replacement of neon tubes).
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Process
The ordinance contains a four step designation process, outlined as follows:
1. Staff Prepares Recommended List of Meritorious Signs – Staff, together with the
consultant, will review the approximately 1100 nonconforming signs based on the
adopted criteria, resulting in a draft list of meritorious signs.
2. Public Review of Draft List – The draft list of signs will be made available for public
review and comment prior to the first meeting of the Meritorious Sign Review Board.
At its first meeting, the Review Board will take public testimony and direct staff to
revise the draft list and provide further analysis as necessary.
3. Review Board Considers Final Draft – At its next meeting, the Review Board will
again take public testimony, close the public hearing and discuss the final draft list
of meritorious signs.
4. Final Action by Review Board – The Review Board will deliberate on the final list of
meritorious signs and make its final designation of meritorious signs, subject to
appeal to the City Council within fourteen consecutive calendar days and the
standard appeal fee. The Council will hear and review all appeals at the earliest
practical date. The Meritorious Sign Review Board will be dissolved once the final
designations are certified.
LIMITATIONS ON TIME FOR SIGN ADJUSTMENT REQUESTS
Many business and property owners have already complied or are in the process of
complying either by removal or modification of their non-conforming sign. Still others
who wanted to maximize use of their non-conforming sign, or who waited to see if their
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sign would be designated as meritorious, have less time to comply. This creates a
shorter period of time to process any sign applications. Staff recommends, therefore,
that the ordinance include a provision requiring any request for a sign adjustment to
retain a nonconforming sign be filed no later than February 1, 2000. This will enable
sign adjustment applications to be reviewed by the Architectural Review Board prior to
the April 11, 2000 conformance date.
ENFORCEMENT OF THE SIGN CODE
The ordinance includes a modification to Section 9.52.230 to clarify the procedures for
enforcement of the Sign Code. This section will allow the Building Officer to cause the
removal of a nonconforming sign in accordance with any abatement procedure set forth
in the Municipal Code.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
Designation of meritorious signs will have no budget/financial impact.
PUBLIC PROCESS
The Task Force held public meetings on July 1, July 20, July 29 and August 3, 1999 to
formulate criteria and findings for evaluating meritorious designation. At each public
meeting, approximately 18 members of the public attended.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 9.04.20.20.050, notice of the public hearing was
published in The Los Angeles Times at least calendar ten days prior to the hearing. A
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copy of the notice is contained in Attachment B. In addition, notice of the public
hearing was mailed to all business and property owners with the five nonconforming
sign types.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff respectfully recommends that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance for
first reading.
Prepared by: Suzanne Frick, Director
Jay Trevino, AICP, Planning Manager
Susan Healy Keene, AICP, Acting Senior Planner
Planning and Community Development Department
City Planning Division
Exhibit A: Proposed Ordinance
Exhibit B: Meritorious Sign Task Force Final Sign Criteria
Exhibit C: Notice of Public Hearing
f:plan/share/council/stfrpt/signamend.doc
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