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CM--5/6174--Js
Architectural Review Ordinance
ReVlsed 6/6/74--Js
ORDINAi."'1CE NO. 959 (CCS)
(CITY COUNCIL SERIES)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MONICA ADDING CHAPTER 5 TO ARTICLE IX OF
THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING AN
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND PROVIDING
FOR ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW AND PROCEDURES.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES ORDAm
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 5 is hereby added to Article IX of the Santa Monica
Municipal Code and shall read as follows:
CHAPTER 5. ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW.
SECTION 9500. Title. This Chapter shall be knm,vn as the Arc1Iitec-
tural Review Ordinance of the City of Santa Mom.ca.
SECT!ON 9501. Purpose,. The purpose of this C~~ter is to promote
the public health, safety and general welfare by establismng such procedures
and providing such regulations as are deemed necessary to preserve existing
areas of natural beauty, cultural importance; to assure that buildings,
structures, signs or other developments are in good taste, good
design, harmonious vv-ith surrounding developments and in general contribute
to the preservahon of Santa 1I.10nica1s reputation as a place of beauty, spacious-
ness and quality; to prevent the development of structures or uses which are not
of acceptable exterior design or appearance, are of infenor quality or likely
to have a deprecIating effect on the local environment or surroundIng area by
reason of appearance or value; to elimlnate conditions, structures, slgns or
uses which by reason of theIr effect tend to degrade the health, safety or
general welfare of the community; and provide a continuing source of programs
and means of improving the CIty! s overall appearance.
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Architectural Review Ordinance
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SECTION 9502. Deunitions. For purposes of this Chapter, the
follov;:ing definitlOns shall have the meanings defined herein:
(a) Chapter--Shall refer to Chapter 5, Arhcle IX, Santa Monica
Municipal Code.
(b) Cornmittee- -Shall mean t.~e Arch1tectural Review Committee.
(c) Commission--Shall mean the Santa Monica Planning COnunission.
(d) Council--Shall mean the Santa Monica City Council.
(e) District--Shall mean an officially designated architectural review
district.
(f) Member- -Shall mean a voting member of the Architectural Review
Committee.
SECTION 9503. Architectural Review Corrunittee. An Architectural
Review Conunittee is hereby estabhshed which shall consist of seven (7) members.
At least two (2) of the members shall be professional architects. Other members
of the Committee shall be persons who, as a result of then training, e:h.-penence,
and attaiU1TIents, are qualified to analyze and interpret archItectural and envu'on-
mental trends and information, to appraise resource uses In light of the policies
set forth In tlus ordinance, to be responsive to the social, aesthetic, recreational
and cultural needs of the community. Other expertise such as conservation,
recreatlon, design, landacaping, the arts, urban planning, cultural-historical
preservation, and ecologIcal and envirorunental sciences be represented on the
Committee. The Committee shall act lfi an advisory capaCIty to the CommiSSIon
on such matters as are Within its purview as set forth in Section 9501 hereof.
SECTION 9504. Appoint.ment and Term of Office. The members of
the Committee shall be appointed by the City CounCIl. The members of the
Committee shall be subject to removal by motion of the City Council by at least
five (5) aff1rmahve votes. Except as otherwise prOVIded herein, the members
of the CmrJllittee shall serve for a term of four (4) years, commencing on July 1
and until then respective successors are appointed and quahfied.
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Arcmtectural Review Ordinance
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The members fIrst appointed to the COrr>..m::.ttee shall so classIfy them-
selves by lot that the term of one of thelr number shall expire on the next
succeeding July 1, and the balance of the CommIttee shall be paired by lot and
serve terms to such an extent as IS neces sary in order that t..'le terms of at
least one such pair shall expire in each succeeding year. Thereafter, any
appointment to fIll an unexpired term shall be for such unexpired period.
SECTION 9505. Rules. The Committee shall adopt rules and regu-
lations for the conduct of its business. Four (4) voting members shall con-
stitute a quorum. The affirmative or negative vote of a majority of the entire
membership of the Comnuttee shall be necessary for it to take action. No
item shall be included on the consent calendar of the COrn.rro..ittee's agenda unless
aU members agree to the inclusion of such item. If any member of the Com-
nrittee objects to scheduling a particular application on the consent calendar,
said application shall be removed from the consent calendar and set for public
hearing, and the Committee shall be granted an additional fIfteen days to
execute actIon on the application.
SECTION 9506. Officers, Election of OfficerR. As soon as practi-
cable following the appointment or reappointment of members each year, the
Co:rn.."'nittee shall organIze and elect from its Own membership a ChaIrman and
a Chairman Pro Tern.
SECTION 9507. 0ecretary. The Director of Planmng shall serve as
the offiCIal secretary to the Committee. The records of all proceedings and
baSIS for aU fmdings shall be available to the Council and to the public.
SECTION 9508. Meetmgs. The Committee shall meet at estabhshed
Intervals, at least twice each month, or as otherWlse determined by the Com-
nnttee, on regularly scheduled dates. ::Vfeetings shall be arranged in order to
process applicatIOns witru.n the time required by this Ordinance.
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Ardutectural Review Ordinance
Rev-:!.sed 6/6174-
SECTION 9509. Architectural ReVJ.ew, DIstricts. The Comnuttee upon
its own motion may recornnlend to the CIty Council through the Conunis sian any
commercIal. industrial or residential area within the corporate boundaries of
the C1ty for mclusion 1n an architectural control distnct. The CouncIl upon
reconunendahon of the COlnrrnssion, or on its own motion, may establish ardu-
tectural reView districts by ordinance.
SECTION 9510. Junsdiction. Unless plans, elevations and proposed
signs for buildings or structures Dr alterations thereto have been approved by
the Comnuttee, or on appeal, by the Council, no building permit shall be issued
for any buildIng, structure or other development of property or appurtenances
thereto, on any property situated in an established architectural review district
except that the Committee, under the authority of Section 9505 of this Chapter,
may, by resoluhon, authorIze the Build1ng Officer or other offiCIal to approve
applications for minor or lnslgmficant building permits which would not defeat
the purposes and objectives of this Chapter.
SECTION 9511. Procedure for Review. (a) Prelinunary sketches of
the design of a proposed structure or alterahon may be submItted to the Planning
Department for informal review so that an applicant may be informed of Com-
mittee policies pnor to preparing worla.ng drawings.
The applicant for a bUl1ding permit when subject to requirements of
this article shall sub=t to the Planning DepartInent a site plan as defined by
Section 9513 and exterior elevations and such other data as 'WIll assist the
COl'Ill'nittee in evaluatIng the proposed building or structure. Exterior elevation
drawings shall be available when Com....<nttee agendas are publIshed.
Preliminary plans and elevations shall be drawn to scale and shall be
of suffICIent clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed and
show In detaIl that it 'wl11 conform to the prov,sions of this Chapter. The first
sheet of each set of plans shall give the street address of the work and the name
and address of the o\Y-ner and the person who prepared them. The plot plan shall
conform to SectlOn 9513. Work not L.\us presented may be rejected hy :I->..": DlacL'"1i:lg
l..nrecto.c .
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Architectural Re-y-ievv OrdInance
ReV1sed 6/6/74--js
(b) The Planning Duector shall refer said plans to the Commlttee at
its next regular meehng. The Committee shall act on the applicatlon within
tlnrty (30) days after the fIling of full and complete data, unles s an extension of
time is consented to by the apphcant.
SECTION 9512. Criteria. The Comrruttee may approve with condi-
Hons, approve, or disapprove the issuance of a building permit 1n any matter
subject to its jurisdiction after cons1deration of whether the following criterla
are complied ,,"ith:
(a) The plan for the proposed buildings or structure 1S expressive of
good taste, good design and in general contributes to the image of Santa Monica
as a place of beauty, creativity and individuahty.
(b) The plan for the proposed building or structure mdicates the man-
ner in which the structures are reasonably protected against external and
internal noise, vibrations, and other factors \vhich may tend to make the
enVJ.romnent less desirable.
(c) The proposed bU1ldmg or structure is not of InferIOr quality such
as to cause the nature of the local enV1.rorunent to materially depreCIate in
appearance and value.
(d) The proposed use of the bUIldIng or structure is compahble with
developments on land In the general area. ConSIderation of scale, cohesive-
ness and community are deemed to be important considerations of compatibility.
(e) The proposed development is ln conformity with the standards of
this Chapter and other applicable ordinances insofar as the location and appear-
ance of the buildIngs and structures are Involved.
(f) The development should be compatible with the natural enviroil."l1ent
In that it consumes a :zr.inImal amount of natural and energy resources.
If the above criteria are met, the application shall be approved. Condi-
tions may be applied when the proposed bUIlding or structure does not comply with
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CM-- 5/6/74--J s
Architectural Review Ordinance
Revised -- 6/6/74--J$
the above criteria and shall be such as to bring said building or structure lnto
conformity. If an applIcation is dlsapproved, the Cornrnittee shall detailln lts
finmngs the criterion or criteria that are not met. The action taken by the
Co=ittee shall be reduced to writing, slgned by the Chairman a..""ld a copy
thereof made available to the apphcant upon request.
A declsion or order of the Conunittee shall not become effective until
the expiration of ten (lO) days after the date upon which a ruling has been made.
SECTION 9513. Site Plans. A site plan shall be dra"wn to scale and
shall indlcate the following sufficiently ior consideration of vi.sual, safety and
econonllc factors:
(a) Dimensions and orientation of the parcel.
(b) Location of buildings and structures both existing and proposed.
(c) Location of off-street parking and loading facilities.
(d) Location of points of entry and exit for motor vehlcles and lnternal
circulation factors.
(e) Location of walls and fences and the indication of their height and
the materials of their constrlicbon.
(f) Indication of exterIOr lighting standards and devices adequate to
revi.ewpossible hazards and dlsturbances to the pubhc and 2.dJacent
properties.
(g) Location and size of exterlOr slgns and outdoor advertiSlng.
(h) A preliminary landscapmg plan.
(1) Indlcation of the proposed use of the buildings shuv;..-n on the site.
(j) Such other arcmtectural and engineering data as may be reqcured
to perrmt necessary fIndings that the provisions of this Chapter
are bemg complIed with.
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Architectural Rev-iew OrdL'1.ance
Revised- -6 / b /74- -J s
SECTION 9514. Appeals. The applicant or any mterested person n'.3.y
appeal to the City Council from any ruling of the Committee made pursuant to
this article. Further, any member of the Commission or Councll may request
a review by the Commissfon or Council of any ruhng of the C01l'Jn:ittee. Such an
appeal may also be made from any ruling of the Planning Commission adophng
the decision of sald Comnuttee in whole or in part. Notice of any s1:.ch appeal
must be filed within ten (l0) days of the date that said decision is mailed, and
must be accompanied by the fee established by SectlOn 9151 of Chapter 1, Article
IX of the Santa Momca Municipal Code. A hearing shall be set Ylithin thirty (30)
days of the date of said nohce. The City Council shall decide said appeal within
fifteen (15) days after said heanng and shall base its decislOn on the e,;idence
subnlJ.tted at the Committee and Commlssion hearings J.f there are such hearings.
SECTION 2. The City CouncIl finds and detcrrnines that t..>te pubhc
necessity, convenience, general welfare, and goed zoning practice require that
the addition provided in Sectlon 1 above be made.
SECTION 3. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code, or
appendices thereto inconsistent herewith, to the extent of such lnconsistenCles
and no further, are hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to effect
the pro"\iislons of tills ordInance. It is not the intent to repeal any ordinance
except to the exte::1t that said ordinance may be Inconsistent with this ordinance.
This ordinance IS to complement existIng ordinances establishing environmental
and aesthehc standards for development throughout the city for applicatlOn in the
commercial, Industrial and resldential zones.
SECTION 4. If any section, subsectIon, sentence, clause or phrase of
this oraluancc is for any reason held to be invalid or unconshtutional by a deci-
sion of any court of competent JurisdictIon, such decislon shall not affect the
validlty of the remaining portions of the ordInance. The City Council hereby
declares that lt would have pas sed tills ordinance and each and every sechon,
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CM--5/6/74--Js
Architectural Revlew Ordmanc..e
Revisec o/G/74--js
subsection, sentence, clause or phrase noL declared lnvahd or unconshtut.onal
without regard to whether any portion of the ordlna.nce would be subsequently
declared Invalid or unconshtutlOnal.
SECTION 5. Any person violahng any of the provisions of thlS ordinance
shall be gUllty of a misdemeanor and, upon convictlon thereof, shall be subject
to a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or six (6) months In the
county Jail of Los Angeles County, or by both such fine and imp:!:"isonment in the
discretion of the court.
SECTION 60 The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the
passage of tms ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published
once in the offIcial newspaper 'wltmn fifteen (15) days after its adoption. This
o::-mnance shall become effectJ.ve after thirty (30) days from its adoption.
- - ADOPTED this 9-th day of
July
/'
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Tl6-.-c1v2~
Mayor
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ATTES'!:
.. f4d~
STATE! o71:::RmA )
COUNTY ~~IOS AJ.'l"GELES ) 55.
CITY OF SANTA MONICA )
I do hereby cerhfy that the foregoing ordinance was duly and regularly
lntroduced at a meeting of the Clty Council on the 18th day of
June
1974; that thereafter the sald ordlnance \Vas duly adopted at a meeting of the Clty
Councll on the 9th day of July
, 1974, by the follo\ving vote:
AYES:
Councilmen: Judson, Lawson, Swink, Trives,
van den Steenhoven, Hoover
Councilmen: McCloskey
NOES:
ABSE~T:
Councilmen: None
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0Cle.,<
APPROVED AS TO FORlv'i:
,~"<) ! 'Y~f
,. City A.ttorney --_______.
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