Preservation commissioners say council bypassed them when approving digital billboards on Masonic Temple

Glendale — Members of the Glendale Historic Preservation Commission told the panel April 16 they were blindsided after the City Council approved large digital billboards on the Glendale Masonic Temple, a property the commission said is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Vice Chair Durham said commission members first learned the proposal when it appeared on the City Council agenda and that neither the commission nor many community members had been notified. “I knew nothing about it,” Durham said, arguing the commission should at least be informed when changes are proposed for properties on the Glendale Register.

Commissioners said the Planning Commission had approved a spot zoning change to expand a signage zone across Brand Boulevard and that a company affiliated with the property owner presented an Architectural Resources Group (ARG) report that originally appeared on the city website with pages missing. “How could anyone make a decision on it?” one commissioner asked during remarks.

City preservation staff responded that the city’s code sets thresholds for which changes must come to the commission and which can be approved at the director-of-community-development or assistant-director level. Staff said they performed an independent analysis under the Secretary of the Interior standards and concluded that the proposed signage met those standards; as a result, there was no legal mechanism that required mandatory HPC review. “In terms of today and in terms of the decision to not come to the Commission, there was no legal mechanism that required Commission review,” a staff member said.

Staff acknowledged the project is controversial within preservation circles and said some commissioners have historically requested advisory reviews even when not required; staff and at least two commissioners attended the Council hearing and spoke against the zoning change. Vice Chair Durham said Councilmember Dan Brotman was the only council member who voted against the rezoning.

The commission did not take any formal action on the billboard matter at the April 16 meeting. Commissioners said they will continue to urge that the commission be notified when significant changes are proposed to properties on the Glendale Register and encouraged residents to contact councilmembers if they have concerns.

The matter — including how staff posts consultant reports and how notice is provided to advisory bodies — may be raised again in future meetings or during code revisions.