SR-401-030 (7)
ATTACHMENT A
Chronology of Signs 2000 Conformance Effort
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April 11, 1985: Effective date of Sign Code, which includes Section
9.52.210(d) establishing a 15-year amortization period and time frame, for
removal of free-standing, roof, upper level, projecting and off-premises
signs of signs that were lawfully installed before adoption of the Code and
which are not in conformance.
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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”.
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July, 1998: The Business License Renewal Notice packets started to
include information regarding the five types of nonconforming signs
subject to removal under the provisions of Section 9.52.210(d). The
“Information Guide for Establishing Business in the City of Santa Monica”
also began informing new businesses of the necessity to obtain City
Planning Division approval of signage. (Previously, as a business license
application was processed, the City Planning Division would stamp the
application form to show the need for ARB approval.)
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March, 1999: 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.
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April 11, 1999: The City Planning Division sent out letters to property
owners and business owners of signs in the City’s Residential and
Redevelopment Zone informing them about the status of their
nonconforming sign(s) including details and pictures of their signs and a
copy of the Sign Code.
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April, 1999: The Signs 2000 Hotline was established and a consultant
hired to assist staff with the hotline.
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June 1999: The City Council established the Meritorious Sign Task Force
and appointed five members to the Task Force.
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July/August 1999: 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. Notice of the initial Task Force meeting was
published in the Our Times section of the L.A. Times on June 20, 1999.
Notices were mailed to both property owners and business owners of
nonconforming signs citywide on June 21, 1999. Notice of the Task Force
meetings on July 20, 1999, July 29, 1999, and August 3, 1999, was
published in the Our Times section of the L.A. Times on July 8, 1999.
Notices were mailed to both property owners and business owners of
nonconforming signs citywide on July 8, 1999.
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August ,1999: Meritorious Sign Task Force approved criteria and sent its
recommendations to City Council
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September, 1999: City Council adopted Ordinance 1956 reflecting the
recommendations of the Task Force regarding the criteria for meritorious
signs, establishing the Meritorious Sign Review Board, the procedure for
designation of meritorious signs, and an application deadline of February
1, 2000 for requests of approval of sign adjustments to retain
nonconforming signs to the Architectural Review Board. Notice of the City
Council meeting on September 14, 1999, to consider the criteria
established was published in the Our Times section of the L.A. Times on
September 2, 1999. Notices were mailed to both property owners and
business owners of nonconforming signs citywide on September 3, 1999.
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October 1999: City Council appointed the members of the Meritorious
Sign Review Board.
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November, 1999: Notice of the initial Meritorious Sign Review Board
meeting was published in the Our Times section of the L.A. Times on
November 28, 1999. Notices were mailed to both property owners and
business owners of nonconforming signs citywide on November 29, 1999.
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December 8,1999: The Meritorious Sign Review Board held its first
meeting. As per the procedure established in Ordinance 1956, staff
presented a recommendation of twenty-one (21) signs for consideration as
meritorious signs. The Review Board voted unanimously in favor of
including all 21 signs on a draft list of signs for meritorious consideration.
The Review Board added seventy-nine (79) signs to the draft list and
directed staff to research specific signs and return with findings for
approval of the final list
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January, 2000: Notice of the Meritorious Sign Review Board meeting on
January 26, 2000, was published in the Our Times section of the L.A.
Times on January 16, 2000. Notices were mailed to both property owners
and business owners of nonconforming signs citywide on January 17,
2000.
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January 26, 2000: Staff returned with a list of sixty-five (65) signs
recommended for designation as meritorious signs with findings. At the
January 26, 2000 meeting, staff presented signs with findings in the
affirmative for inclusion on the final list of meritorious signs. The Board
approved 83 signs for inclusion on the final list of meritorious signs
representing 66 businesses. In addition, the Board directed staff to further
research nine of the signs from the draft list where staff was unable to
make the first required finding.
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January, 2000: Notice of the Meritorious Sign Review Board meeting on
February 9, 2000, was published in the Our Times section of the L.A.
Times on January 27, 2000. Notices were mailed to both property owners
and business owners of nonconforming signs citywide on January 27,
2000.
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February 1, 2000: The deadline for affected nonconforming signs to apply
for sign adjustment to the Architectural Review Board.
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February 9, 2000: Staff returned with information regarding the nine signs
where the Board requested additional information. The Board added eight
of the nine signs with two other signs and approved the final list of 93
designated Meritorious Signs.
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February 23, 2000: Packets of information were sent out citywide to both
businesses with nonconforming signs and to the owners of the properties
containing those signs. The packets contained information about the
meritorious sign designation process (including a list of those signs
approved by the Meritorious Sign Review Board), the appeal process, a
copy of Ordinance 1956 containing the criteria for meritorious designation,
and a fact sheet regarding sign modification or replacement.
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March 13, 2000: End of 30-day period for appeal of Meritorious Sign List.
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March 22, 2000: City Council hears appeals of Meritorious Sign list.