HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 10328 (Marquee Sign)RESOLUTION NO. 10328
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL DENYING HISTORIC
LANDMARK STATUS FOR THE CHANGEABLE COPY MARQUEE SIGN AT
737 FRANCISCO BLVD. EAST
AP 14-204-11
WHEREAS, the City Council, after conducting public hearings, finds that the
Changeable Copy Marquee sign located at the former Bermuda Palms Motel site at 737
Francisco Boulevard was originally established to identify and announce events at the
Bermuda Palms nightclub, and that the Bermuda Palms nightclub is no longer
operating, and that the sign currently has no context to the site; and
WHEREAS, the City Council also finds that the sign is of a type of advertising popular
in the 1950's but is not particularly attractive or unique for this type of signage and is
rather plain and of little significance; and
WHEREAS, the City Council also finds that the sign has been altered by the addition of
a "motel" sign and will be further altered by a "Days Inn" sign on top of the marquee,
eliminating further any value of the marquee may originally have had as a historic sign,
and, as a result, this sign does not embody distinguishing characteristics of an
architectural or engineering type that would meet the criteria of the City's Historic
Preservation Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, a description of the characteristics of the Changeable Copy Marquee sign
are attached hereto as Exhibit A and are incorporated herein by reference; and
WHEREAS, the Criteria for Landmark Designation, as adopted by the City Council in
denying Historic Landmark status for the sign are attached as Exhibit B; and
WHEREAS, location and boundaries of the 737 Francisco Blvd. site are those contained
in Exhibit C attached hereto and incorporated by reference.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BT , RESOLVED by the City Council ':he City of San Rafael,
California, that the changeable marquee sign at 737 Francisco Blvd. site hereinabove
mentioned and described, is hereby denied designation as a historical landmark;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk of the City of San Rafael is hereby
directed to cause a copy of this resolution, or notice thereof, to be recorded in the office
of the County Recorder.
I, JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of said City held on Monday the 19th day of October, 1998,
by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cohen, Heller, Miller, Phillips and Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
JEANNE M. LEONCINI, City Clerk
2
EXHIBIT A
DESCRIPTION OF CHANGEABLE MARQUEE LOCATED AT
737 FRANCISCO BLVD. EAST
One freestanding "changeable -copy sign" , with two changeable copy faces
approximately four (4) feet in height and twenty (20) feet in width, located at an
approximate 45 -degree angle with the road. Sign is illuminated, and includes a flashing
illuminated arrow on each face. Arrow is located on the top and front side of the
marquees. The arrow lighting consists of flashing incandescent bulbs. A sign reading
"motel" has been installed on top of the marquee.
EXHIBIT B
CRITERIA FOR LANDMARn DESIGNATION
The City's Historic Preservation Ordinance, contained in Municipal Code Section 2.18.048, Criteria for
designation as landmark, set forth standards that must be applied by the Cultural Affairs Commission and
the City Council in designating buildings, places and areas as historic landmarks. According to this
Section, the proposal shall have (a) Historical, cultural importance, (b) Architectural, Engineering
Importance, or (c) Geographic Importance. At the September, 21St, Council meeting, the Council voted to
grant Historic Landmark status to the rooftop "Litchfield's" sign based upon the above criteria as
recommended by the Cultural Affairs Commission and the material submitted by the applicant
Accordingly, Landmark status for the changeable marquee must rely on the Criteria set forth in Section
2.18.048, and not any condition requiring exclusive use of the marquee for non-profit messages. The
following is an analysis of the changeable marquee sign as required by Section 2.18.048.
(A) Historical, Cultural Importance
(1) Has significant character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural
characteristics of the city, state or nation.
The changeable marquee was used fo announce events at the Bermuda Palms
nightclub, which was an important part of the entertainment scene in the late 1940's
and 1950's in the growing community of San Rafael. The Bermuda Palms nightclub is
now not operating, and has not operated for over 25 years, and as a result, the sign is
no longer used for the announcements for club functions. As a result, the sign is not
an important feature of the site. The sign is typical of a reader -board type sign, and
has no special character, and is of only minor interest on its own. While the Cultural
Affairs Commission considered the sign historic because of its use in the past for
community -oriented messages, the City Attorney has advised that the message
content of the sign cannot be tied to historic landmark status.
(2) Is the site of a historic event with a significant effect upon society.
The changeable marquee is not located on a site with a significant effect upon society.
(3) Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social or historic heritage of the community.
The changeable marquee is an example of the type of reader -board sign used for
roadhouse -type facilities during the 1940's and 1950's. The nightclub use at the site is
no longer in existence and as a result has no context to the present site. The sign is
not particularly unique in its style, is not a significant example of its type and is rather
plain reader -board in comparison to some of its era, and has been further altered by
the addition of a "motel" sign to the top of the marquee. The proposed addition of a
"Days Inn" sign will further dilute the signs historic value.
(B) Architectural, Engineering Importance
(1) Portrays the environment in the era of history characterized by a distinctive architectural
style.
The changeable marquee is a poor, not significant example of exterior advertising that
was popular in the 40's and 50's when sign makers were using flashing lights and
changeable copy. The marquee was used to advertise the entertainment at the
motel/nightclub site. The design of the original marquee sign has been altered by the
addition of a "motel" sign mounted on the top, and a proposed "Days Inn" sign to be
installed on the marquee. As a result, the sign has lost much of its historic value.
Additionally, the nightclub use that the sign was originally intended to serve is no
longer functioning on the site.
(2) Embodies th distinguishing characteristics of an a, actural type or engineering
specimen.
The sign is typical of type of advertising signs installed in many locations in the 1940's
and 1950's. In its own right, the sign is not particularly attractive or unique for this type
of signage as this sign does is not used for its original context displaying activities at
the nightclub and the form of the sign has been changed by the addition of a "motel"
sign on the top of the marquee.
(3) Is the work of a designer whose individual work has significantly influenced the
development of San Rafael or its environs
The sign is not the work of any particular designer that has significantly influenced the
development of San Rafael.
(C) Geographic Importance
(2) Owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established
and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or city.
The changeable marquee is part of the original 1949 construction of the Bermuda
Palms. In its day, the Bermuda Palms was a familiar and popular entertainment
destination, and the marquee was used to announce events at the nightclub. The
importance of the site has been linked more importantly to the events at the nightclub
rather than any particular significance of the rather plain marquee sign. As a result,
the signs importance has been diminished since the closure of the nightclub.
(D) Archaeological Importance
(1) Has yielded information important in prehistory or history.
The sign or the site where the sign is located has no archaeological importance.
EXHIBIT C
ALL THAT CMMIN real property situate in the City of San Rafael, County of Marin,
State of California, described below as follows:
Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22, in Block 9, as shown upon
that certain Map entitled "Map of East San Rafael, Marin County, Calif.", filed for
record -January 21, 1908 in Volume 2 of Maps, at Page 109, Marin County Records.
SING TMUUTM LOTS 4 thru 10, inclusive, those portions conveyed to the State
of California by the following deeds:
A) Recorded January 8, 1931 in Book 205 of Official Records at Page 456, Marin
County Records
B) Recorded May 31, 1950 in Book 646 of Official Records at Page 402, Marin
County Records
C) Recorded November 9, 1951 in Book 761 of Official Records at Page 371, Marin
County Records
D) Recorded February 20, 1952 in Book 730 of Official Records at Page 306, Marin
County Records
SAID property also being described as all the lands shown upon that certain Parcel
Map entitled, "Parcel Map Litchfield Parcel Consolidation", filed for record
January 27, 1983 in Volume 21 of Parcel Maps at Page 3, Marin County Records.
RECEIVED
SEP 14 1998
PLANNING
RECORDING REQUESTEr ':
WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO:
Jeanne M. Leoncini, City Clerk
Department of City Clerk
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
P.O. Box 151560
San Rafael, CA 94915-1560
CITY OF SAN RAFAEL RESOLUTION NO. 10328:
Recorders Office
County Of
Marin
JDAN C. THAYER
Recorder
1998-078054
REC FEE
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82:55PM 22 -Oct -1998 19%1822W174
6C ASR063
Thank You
Have A Nice Day
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL DENYING HISTORIC LANDMARK STATUS
FOR THE CHANGEABLE COPY MARQUEE SIGN AT 737 FRANCISCO BLVD. EAST, APN 14-204-11
(Adopted at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council on
Monday, October 19, 1998.)
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