Item 9-A
Appeal of Landmarks
Commission Designation of
Compass Rose
City Council
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Deny Appeal 19ENT-0353of the Landmarks Commission’s decision to designate the Compass Rose, a feature at the Santa Monica Airport, 3223 Donald Douglas Loop as a City Landmark;and
Approve Designation Application 19ENT-0213 to designate Compass Rose as a City Landmark.
Alternatively
If the City Council approves the appeal and denies the designation application to designate the property as a City Landmark or Structureof Merit, as described in Alternative Actions, Articulate revised findings and approve the appeal.
Recommended Action
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Overview
• Limited Question on Appeal:
• “Does the painted Compass Rose located north of and adjacent to Runway 3 at the Santa Monica Airport meet one or more of the criteria for the designation as a City Landmark?”
• Appellant is in favor of the Landmark designation and has requested to continue to move forward with the appeal.
• This appeal does not impact the current operations of the Santa Monica Airport or its future closure.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Landmark Designation Criteria: SMMC § 9.56.100(A)
Landmark Designation Criteria:
1. It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the City.
2. It has aesthetic or artistic interest or value, or other noteworthy interest or value.
3. It is identified with historic personages or with important events in local, state or national history.
4. It embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type valuable to such a study.
5. It is a significant or representative example of the work or product of a notable builder, designer or architect.
6. It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Santa Monica Airport Compass Rose I Description
• Assumed to be painted by 1929
Painted on the tarmac adjacent to
runways 21 and 22 from 1947-1987
Relocated in 1989 to current location
Repainted in 2010 by the LA 99s
Santa Monica Airport- Compass Rose view (99s Compass Rose), 2018 The Compass Rose is a diagram of a circular magnetic compass • painted on the ground adjacent to the airport runway. • used as an early aviation navigational tool
• a form of air marking common to airports
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Compass Rose Landmark Nomination
Historic Context:
Santa Monica Airport
227 Acres owned and operated by the City
Previously used as barley fields from 1916
Beginning in 1917 WW1 landed there
Purchased by the City in April 1926
1929 Douglas Aircraft Company
Ostashay and Associates Consulting (OAC)
Complete Assessment of Compass Rose based
on Landmark Criteria
Santa Monica Airport and surrounding neighborhoods
Applicant | Robert Chattel, Chattel Inc. Appellant/ Ben Wang Landmarks Commission Designated the Compass Rose on September 09, 2019 Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 National Park Service Guidelines
National Park Service Guidelines:
The National Park Service (NPS) publishes bulletins and guidelines help to provide understanding and clarity in the application of:
designation criteria,
the significance criteria for evaluation,
development of appropriate historic contexts, and
assessing historical integrity to those properties under consideration for potential landmark eligibility.
The use of these publications is standard professional industry practice and helps to disseminate the essential information gathered to make a sound and justifiable evaluation of historical significance.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Compass Rose I STOA I Landmark Designation
Criterion 1 It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the City.
Painted Compass Rose/ Feature
Santa Monica Airport Compass Rose symbolizes the important history of women’s aviation in Santa Monica
Distinctive Compass Rose designed in 1939 by Wilma Fritschey Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Compass Rose I STOA I Landmark Designation
Character Defining Features
Painted Compass Rose/ Feature
Location near or adjacent to the airfield, runway, taxiway, or other airport associated feature;
Large size and distinct shape as a 12-point Compass Rose; Material (FAA approved reflective paint) and color pattern and hue (blue and white);
Block font type of “99” logo and arrangement as two interlocking number “9”s of varying size and shape.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Appeal Statement
1. Meets only one of the six Landmarks criteria;
2. Is a painted feature that has changed location over time, is non original, and has been repainted; and
3. Is inconsistent in design with the Ninety-Nines trademarked 16-point symbol.
Additionally, the appeal contends a designation may not be appropriate of the Compass Rose given the City’s obligations under the Consent Decree and the City Charter as they relate to the operation of the Airport.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Appeal Analysis
• There is no basis in the Consent Decree or in its incorporated grant assurances that limit the City’s ability to designate the Compass Rose as a landmark since such designation does not affect the safe or efficient operation of the Airport as an aviation facility. • Neither the Consent Decree nor Charter Section 640 is relevant to the City’s landmarks process as it relates to the Compass Rose. • In its deliberation of this Appeal, the City Council is limited to the jurisdiction of the Landmarks Commission under the Landmarks and Historic District Ordinance, Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 9.56.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Appeal Analysis
1. Appellant states the Compass Rose meets only one of the Landmarks Ordinance Criteria and “failed to meet the other 5 criteria” The Landmarks Ordinance states that “the Landmarks Commission may approve the landmark designation of a structure, improvement, natural feature, or an object if it finds that it meets one or more of the (Landmarks Ordinance) criteria. (SMMC § 9.56.100(A)).
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Appeal Analysis
2. Appellant states that the Compass Rose is a painted feature that has changed locations over time is non-original and has been repainted. • Landmarks Commission recognized that
• the Compass Rose is a painted feature that has been relocated and repainted over time,
• The Commission found that the Compass Rose symbolizes the important aviation history of women in Santa Monica.
• As a painted feature, it requires repainting
• As part of the Statement of Official Action, the Compass Rose may be relocated, as it had been moved since its original location.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Appeal Analysis
3. The Appellant states that the Compass Rose is a 12-pointed symbol and as such is inconsistent in design with the Ninety-Nines trademarked 16- point symbol.
• The trademark states that, “the mark is comprised of a compass with the number “99” disposed in the center thereof, and is white and blue.” • The symbol was painted by members of the Ninety-Nines, and the organization supported the designation.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Landmark Eligibility
Criterion 1, The property exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history or development of Santa Monica.
The Compass Rose is a symbol of Women’s Aviation at the Santa Monica Airport The first National Women’s Air Derby of 1929, a turning point in Women’s Aviation The event led to the formation of the Ninety-Nines in November 1929, a social and professional organization to encourage and support women in aviation There are references of a Compass Rose utilized in the Santa Monica Airport prior to the standardization of air marking and the Ninety-Nine’s distinctive Compass Rose in 1939.
The Compass Rose is a symbolic feature and not in a historic location at the airport.
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Parcel Designation
The Ordinance grants the City Council on appeal the power to designate a Landmark Parcel.
The Compass Rose is described as a circular-shaped, twelve-point Compass Rose with a diameter of approximately 50 feet and a circumference of approximately 160 feet.
A three-foot perimeter around the Compass Rose was defined as a Landmark Parcel by the Landmarks Commission in order to preserve, maintain, protect and safeguard the Compass Rose. As noted in the Landmarks Commission designation, the Compass Rose can be relocated.
Staff recommends the City Council adopt such a Landmark Parcel Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation Compass Rose | City Council | 11.11.2024 Deny Appeal 19ENT-0353of the Landmarks Commission’s decision to designate the Compass Rose, a feature at the Santa Monica Airport, 3223 Donald Douglas Loop as a City Landmark;and
Approve Designation Application 19ENT-0213 to designate Compass Rose as a City Landmark and include a Landmark Parcel.
Alternatively
If the City Council approves the appeal and denies the designation application to designate the property as a City Landmark or Structureof Merit, as described in Alternative Actions, Articulate revised findings and approve the appeal.
Recommended Action
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024
Item 12-A
November 11, 2024