Burbank Municipal Code Div. 7 Historic Sign Regulations

The Historic Sign Regulations are intended to provide for the preservation of Burbank’s unique character, history, and identity, as reflected in its historic and iconic signs. The regulations will encourage property owners to preserve the unique signage and provide a clear process for modifying historic signs to meet the contemporary needs of property owners. [Added by Ord. No. 16-3,879, eff. 6/24/16.]

[Added by Ord. No. 16-3,879, eff. 6/24/16.]

Prior to any sign being designated as a Historic Sign the City Council shall find that the Historic Sign satisfies one or more of the following criteria:

A. Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of Burbank’s or California’s history and cultural heritage.

B. Is associated with the lives of persons important in the past.

C. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values.

D. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

E. The sign exemplifies the cultural, economic, and historic heritage of Burbank.

F. The sign exhibits extraordinary aesthetic quality, creativity, and innovation. [Added by Ord. No. 16-3,879, eff. 6/24/16.]

A. APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION.

Applications for designation may be submitted by any member of the public or the sign owner and supported by an Historic Sign Treatment Plan. If an application for designation is submitted by a member of the public, the Director must obtain the written consent of the sign owner in order to continue processing the application for designation. Such application shall be made in writing, in a form deemed appropriate by the Director. The application shall include the owner’s consent to the designation and agreement to abide by the requirements of this Division through the execution of a covenant. The Director may require the owner to submit information regarding the historic significance of the potentially historic sign including but not limited to photographs, plans, deeds, and any other materials that may provide information regarding the potentially historic sign. An application fee may be required if so specified in the Fee Resolution.

1. The application for designation as a Historic Sign shall include a Historic Sign Treatment Plan. The Historic Sign Treatment Plan will include the following (but is not limited to):

a. Description of the Historic Sign, including current address, original address (if different), date of original construction and installation, sign type, original materials, text, and type of illumination (if known).

b. Historic documentation, including approved permits, site plans, elevations, and dated photographs, as available.

c. Current photos of the Historic Sign, including views of all visible elevations as well as contextual images of the property as a whole.

d. Narrative statement of significance against Burbank’s local designation criteria.

e. List of character-defining features.

f. Existing and proposed elevation drawings of the Historic Sign, drawn to scale, showing height, width, depth, and area.

g. Dimensioned site plan, with the existing and proposed land use, graphically showing existing and proposed location and setbacks for the proposed Historic Sign and any other existing or proposed signs on the premises, and existing and proposed site improvements.

h. A list of specific treatments for character-defining features, lists of materials and/or parts to be replaced, and recurring maintenance items.

i. Photo simulations of the completed sign as viewed from the street and other significant vantage points, as appropriate.

j. Where an applicant produces physical evidence or documentation sufficient to prove that a proposed Historic Sign included intermittent lighting features (e.g. flashing, blinking, chasing or sequentially lit elements which create the appearance of movement) or moving parts, such sign elements may be repaired or restored conditioned upon a determination by the City that no negative safety issues will result.

B. HERITAGE COMMISSION REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION.

Applications for approval of Historic Signs shall be reviewed by the Heritage Commission at a public meeting. The Commission shall determine whether the sign meets one or more of the criteria for approval as a Historic Sign and, based on this determination, shall recommend to the City Council that the application be approved or denied. The Heritage Commission shall adopt a resolution stating its recommendation, focusing on the criteria set forth in Section 10-1-938, and incorporating its reasons in support or denial of the application.

C. CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATES THE HISTORIC SIGN.

Following the Heritage Commission’s consideration of the application, the City Council shall hold a public hearing to consider the application. The applicant shall be provided with at least 15 business days notice of the hearing date. Following the public hearing, the City Council shall adopt a resolution to approve or deny the application based on the criteria specified in Section 10-1-938.

D. COVENANT TO BE RECORDED.

If the application is approved by the City Council, the City shall record a signed covenant in the office of the County Recorder at the Resource owner’s expense. The covenant, which shall run with the land and be binding on successors and assigns, shall specify which elements of the Designated Historic Resource are to be protected; and state that any alteration or removal of these elements shall be done in accordance with Section 10-1-928. This covenant shall serve as notice of the approval as a Designated Historic Resource.

E. REMOVAL OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION.

Should the property owner wish to remove the Historic Designation, the designation may be removed by Heritage Commission provided the two findings can be made. These findings include:

1. An attempt has been made to find a suitable donee for the sign.

2. No suitable donee site was able to be found and there are no other economically feasible means to preserve the sign. [Added by Ord. No. 16-3,879, eff. 6/24/16.]

A. PERMIT REQUIRED.

No person shall demolish, construct, move, change the appearance of or make alterations to any Historic Sign without first obtaining a Permit to Alter a Designated Historic Resource pursuant to the procedure set forth in section 10-1-928. [Added by Ord. No. 16-3,879, eff. 6/24/16.]

Historic Signs shall comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Historic Signs shall also comply with the following requirements as applicable.

A. RESTORATION AND OR REPAIR OF HISTORIC SIGNS.

1. Restoration and or repair of an Intact or nearly intact Historic Signs shall be consistent with a documented appearance that existed during its Period of Significance.

2. Restoration and or repair shall not add typographical or other elements which result in an increase in the size of the restored and or repaired sign.

B. ADAPTIVE REUSE (CHANGE OF COPY) OF HISTORIC SIGNS.

1. Text changes shall not result in changes to character defining features.

2. Text changes shall match or be compatible with existing text in material(s), letter size, font/typography, and color.

3. The sign shall use materials and technology representative of its period of construction.

4. The sign shall be structurally safe or can be made safe without substantially altering its historical appearance.

C. RELOCATION OF HISTORIC SIGNS.

1. Relocation of a Historic sign off site is discouraged unless it is technologically impractical or otherwise infeasible to maintain the Historic Sign in the original location. The burden of proof is upon the applicant and shall be to the satisfaction of the Heritage Commission.

2. Relocation of a Historic Sign shall be to a location within the original premises, or to a location deemed appropriate by the Heritage Commission.

3. If relocated to another premise, the Historic Sign shall display conspicuous text or a plaque, using a template provided by the Director, that indicates that the sign has been relocated, the date of relocation, and the original location.

D. REPLICA HISTORIC SIGNS.

1. A replica Historic Sign may only be installed on the premises where it originally existed.

2. A replica Historic Sign shall be consistent with a documented appearance that existed prior to its Period of Significance.

3. A replica Historic Sign shall utilize historical materials and technologies, or visually matching contemporary materials and technologies.

4. A replica Historic Sign shall display conspicuous text or a plaque, using a template provided by the city of Burbank, which indicates the sign is a contemporary reproduction, and the date of reproduction.

5. A replica Historic Sign shall not replicate an existing sign.

6. A replica Historic Sign shall not be a billboard sign as defined in 10-1-502.

7. Adaptive reuse of a replica Historic Sign is prohibited. [Added by Ord. No. 16-3,879, eff. 6/24/16.]

The owner, lessees, and any other responsible persons shall take all steps necessary to maintain the Historic Sign in good condition and to prevent any deterioration or decay that would adversely affect the value or integrity of the Historic Sign. Failure to maintain the Historic Sign in accordance with this Section is a violation of the Burbank Municipal Code and is subject to prosecution.

A. DEMOLITION.

Demolition of a Historic Sign is only allowed upon approval of a Permit to Alter a Designated Historic Resource or an approved treatment plan. Demolition of a Historic Sign shall be consistent with an approved treatment plan for relocation, or subject to a maximum thirty (30) business day waiting period to facilitate salvage of the sign. The sign owner shall allow reasonable access to the sign to facilitate documentation and salvage activities. A Permit to Alter a Designated Historic Resource is not required for construction, reconstruction, alteration, restoration or demolition that the Building Official certifies is required to protect public health or safety because of an unsafe or dangerous condition. [Added by Ord. No. 16-3,879, eff. 6/24/16.]

A. The purpose of this Section is to provide tangible incentives to property owners to designate historic and iconic signs that are reflective of the unique character, history, and identity of Burbank, and emphasizes that such resources should be altered only as necessary to meet contemporary needs.

B. INCENTIVES PROVIDED TO HISTORIC SIGNS.

1. All Building Permit fees are waived for any work related to the preservation, maintenance or restoration of the Historic Sign.

2. An applicant may request deferral of payment of Building Permit fees for any property with a Historic Sign from the Director.

3. All Building Permit fees associated with a sign, for a property with a Historic Sign shall be reduced by ten percent, with a maximum fiscal year cap of $5,000 per property.

4. The maximum allowed sign area for a property with a Historic Sign shall be increased by ten percent.

5. The square footage of a Historic Sign does not count towards the maximum allowable signage allowed on a property. However, for properties with Historic Signs, proposed new signage must be reviewed by the Community Development Department to determine that it will not detrimentally affect the historic integrity of the Historic Sign and must otherwise comply with all other applicable development standards. [Added by Ord. No. 16-3,879, eff. 6/24/16.]

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State law reference: As to airport approaches zoning law in general, see Gov. C. Sections 50485-50485.14. As to authority to adopt, administer and enforce airport zoning regulations, see Gov. C. Section 50485.3. As to policy of state legislature toward airport zoning, see Gov. C. Section 50485.2. As to the incorporation of airport zoning regulations into comprehensive Zoning Ordinance regulating height of buildings, etc., see Gov. C. Section 50485.4. As to the requirement of reasonableness, see Gov. C. Section 50485.7. As to administration and enforcement of airport zoning regulations, see Gov. C. Section 50485.9. As to conflict between airport zoning plan and general zoning plan, see Gov. C. Section 50485.4.