HomeMy WebLinkAbout5 - Request to amend the boundries of the individual landmark site for the Holiday Drive-In MarqueeMemo to Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board 12/04/02
Re: Holiday Drive-In Marquee - Landmark Amendment
CITY OF BOULDER
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
MEETING DATE: April 2, 2003
Page 1
TO: Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board
FROM: Ruth McHeyser, Director of Long Range Planning
Bohdy Hedgcock, Planning Associate
SUBJECT: Public hearing and consideration of a recommendation to City Council concerning
a request to amend the boundaries of the individual landmark site for the Holiday
Drive-In Marquee at 4789 28~' Street.
Applicant: Boulder Housing Partners
STATISTICS:
1. Site: A portion of the site at 4789 28~' Street
2. Zoning: MXR-D (Mixed Density Residential Developing)
3. Owner: Boulder Housing Partners
4. Applicant: Boulder Housing Parhiers
PURPOSE:
On Mazch 12, 2003, the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Boazd received an application to
amend the site of the individual landmark for the Holiday Drive-In Mazquee at 4789 28th Street.
The sign is located southwest of the intersection of 28th Street and U.S. Highway 36, on a large
tract of land which has been approved for a new mixed-use housing development. The Holiday
Drive-In sign was designated as an individual landmark by City Council on May 21, 2002. The
designated landmark site extends northeast to U.S. Highway 36, and extends 20' to the sides and
rear of the sign. The applicant, Boulder Housing Partners, proposes to amend the boundaries of
the landmark site to coincide with the lot lines (i.e, subdivision plat) for the new Holiday Drive-
In Redevelopment project. The proposed site amendment will reduce the buffer area to the
southeast and southwest of the sign from 20' to a minimum of 9', while enlarging the area to the
northwest of the sign. (See Exhibit A: Approved Landmark Site and Exhibit B: Proposed
flmendment to the Landmark Site). ~
BACKGROUND:
City Council designated the Holiday Drive-In Marquee as an individual landmark based upon its
historical, architectural, and environmental significance. Significance is determined relative to
the criteria for individual landmarks adopted by the Landmarks Board. The Holiday Drive-In
Marquee is: 1) historically significant for its association with the drive-in theater history in
Boulder; 2) architecturally significant as a modest but rare example of "googie" signage from
the 1950s; and 3) environmentally significant as an established and familiar visual feature in the
Memo to Landmazks Preservation Advisory Board 12/04/02
Re: Holiday Drive-In Mazquee - Landmazk Amendment
Page 2
North Boulder azea. A complete discussion of the landmark's significance can be found in the
materials prepared for the May 7, 2002 City Council hearing.
ANALYSIS
The Landmazks Board recommended the exisring landmark site boundary in order to provide a
buffer area around the landmark sign. However, the existing landmark site boundaries do not
coincide with the proposed subdivision piat for the Holiday Drive-In Redevelopment, which has
been approved by Planning Boazd through the Site Review process. The proposed amendment to
the landmark site will allow it to be included within <me legal property, rather than extending
across property lines.
Staff believes that the proposed amendment will have a minimal impact on the special character
and special historical, architectural, and aesthetic interest or value of the landmazked sign. The
proposed change maintains the same buffer between the sign and U.S. Highway 36. This buffer
is particularly important, as any development between the sign and the highway could
significantly alter the sign's historic relation to the street. The buffers on the southeast and
southwest sides of the sign are reduced slightly while the buffer on the northwest is expanded
considerably. This expansion could allow for an eventual relocation of the sign within the
amended landmark site that would place the sign on a~cis with an open space corridor. Any
proposal to relocate the sign would require a Landmark Alteration Certificate.
Graphics haue been provided by Barrett Studio Architects to illustrate the relati~}nsiiip between
the sign and housing units proposed near tne site (see Exhibit C: Site Section a: : r~,liday Sign and
Exhibit D: View from US 3~. Two buildings are planned adjacent to the sign ~~id partially
within the current landmark boundary. By approving the proposed amendment to the boundary,
the Landmarks Board will be sacrificing an opportunity to review those buildings as part of a
Landmark Alteration Certificate review process. However, staff believes that the included
graphics demonstrate that the impact of those buildings on the landmark will be minimal, as it
will remain fully visible from US 36 and not be overwhelmed by the new development.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Landmarks Board recommend to City Council that the Holiday Drive-
In Marquee landmark site boundaries be amended to include the area shown in Exhibit B.
A Approved Landmark Site
B Proposed Amendment to the Landmark Site
C Site Section at Holiday Sign
D View from US 36
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