Council Opposes Signs on Sunset

In an effort to minimize blight, the Pacific Palisades Community Council voted 14-1 with four abstentions last Thursday to ask that local businesses, churches and nonprofit organizations not display commercial signage on Sunset Boulevard. Council member Harry Sondheim brought forth the motion after successfully working with Palisades High officials, who agreed last year to stop hanging banners on Sunset. The motion read: ‘Whereas Sunset is a scenic highway; whereas signage in whatever form on Sunset detracts from the concept of a scenic highway; whereas a number of organizations in Pacific Palisades have agreed to keep signage off Sunset in areas outside the business district; whereas the City Code requires that any signage for commercial purposes must have a City permit; therefore if, after a reasonable request has been made to an organization to keep commercial signage, not related to real estate, off Sunset outside the business district and that organization refuses to do so, the Pacific Palisades Community Council will request the City to investigate whether the organization has obtained a City permit to post its commercial signage.’ Chair Emeritus Richard G. Cohen told the Palisadian-Post that Sunset is considered a scenic highway under the Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhoods Specific Plan, which defines ‘Any lot within the Specific Plan Area having a lot line contiguous to either Sunset or Pacific Coast Highway’ as a scenic corridor. The L.A. Department of City Planning uses the Specific Plan as a guideline for reviewing and approving site design, renovations, signs for buildings and structures and other developments to make sure they are consistent with the character of the neighborhood. ‘Wherever the Specific Plan contains regulations which conflict with regulations contained in Los Angeles Municipal Code, the Specific Plan shall prevail and supersede the applicable provisions of that Code including those regulations,’ according to the plan. Sunset, however, is not designated as a scenic highway by the state.