Historic District Signage

The City of Pendleton has created a Historic Preservation Commission to encourage cultural heritage tourism, among other things.  Another of the commission’s duties is to recommend changes in the rules to promote historic preservation.  The Commission has recommended changes to the City’s commercial sign regulations (Ordinance 2775) for new signs installed in the Downtown Historic District.  This area is defined as that area between the river and the railroad tracks and mid-block of SE 3rd St. and SW 3rd St.  These recommendations were reviewed and approved by the City Planning Commission and have been forwarded to the City Council for consideration.

The City Council considered these changes at a public hearing on June 18, 2024 and the matter was tabled.  The City Manager was tasked with putting together a public meeting with representatives of the Council, Planning Commission, and Historic Preservation Commission to meet with business owners and residents impacted by this proposed ordinance.  A public meeting will soon be scheduled.

The draft language of Ordinance No. 4017 is available here and at the bottom of this page. 

Below are a list of frequently asked questions about the proposed regulations.

 

 

Historic District

Pendleton's Downtown Historic District is defined as the area between the Umatilla River and the railroad tracks and between mid-block of SE Third Street to SW Third Street. This area is also referred to as "river to rails, 3rd to 3rd." This area is shown in a teal outline in the map to the right. 

Included in the Downtown Historic District is the South Main Street Commercial Historic District, as outlined by the National Register of Historic Places Inventory. This area is show in striped gray/teal in the map to the right.     

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about the sign ordinance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Within the historic district, electronic reader boards (including changeable message boards and variable message boards) are only allowed on buildings built after 1950 on SE/SW Second Street or SE/SW Third Street. These boards should have black backgrounds and may display lettering only. Some conditional use of electronic reader boards on Main and SE/SW First Street will be considered by the Historic Preservation Commission for theaters, cinemas, and churches.

Category: Signs

Yes, sidewalk sandwich boards are allowed in the historic district.

Section 4.06 Signs within the Public Right of Way is a separate section of the Sign Code. It will continue to regulate sandwich board signs and there is nothing in the proposed language to prohibit these signs in an historic district. Staff has added an image of sandwich boards in the “Generally appropriate signs” section of the new language.  

Category: Signs

Colors are only regulated when one creates a mural.

Category: Signs

Some signs in the City have been designated as “Historic Signs”.  This designation was made at the request of the owner.  Signs that have been designated historic should be retained as they were originally designed. If the business inside a building with a designated historic sign changes, the code would ask that the historic sign be repurposed to retain the historic qualities but also serve its new purpose.  If it cannot be repurposed and has to be removed, this designation requires that the sign remain stored at the building to be reused in the historic district at some time in the future.  As of 2024, there are only seven designated historic signs in Pendleton: Rainbow Café, Vintage Antique Store, General Auto Parks (now Oregon Grain Growers) Wally’s Wheels, Hamley’s, Cimmiyotti’s, and Ruud’s Hearing Aids.   

Category: Signs

These new rules apply only to businesses that are located in the specified commercial historic district and are only applicable to new signs and murals proposed to be installed.  Businesses outside of this area will continue to be regulated by the existing sections of the ordinance.

Category: Signs

This was discussed by the HPC. The 11-block area is the Historic District. The idea is to preserve the historic character of the district. The use of decorative/acorn bases on sign posts, traffic lights, street lights, and other furniture adds to the historic character. This should be the same standard for the signs and murals in this area. Architecture as well as public spaces affects public interaction with a city. The goal is to make our iconic historic commercial area a walkable place/destination. To make this “place” successful, it needs a cohesive theme, which Pendleton has in its architecture. To capitalize on the dollars spent to recapture our architecture, the pervasive comments about our architecture, and the efforts made to maintain focus on the architecture, the historic character (as in decorative lighting, street lights, historic photos on traffic boxes, stamped boardwalk, historic sidewalks, etc.), the HPC recognized the value in continuing this practice, this cohesive drive to success. There are more blocks available for other art designed murals than dis-allowed within the Historic District. Other cities follow this same practice in their historic district: The Dalles, Yachats, Roseburg, Forest Grove, Prineville, Baker City, Ontario, etc.; to create a destination for travelers. Because the HPC provided a long list of options, this provides many venues for artists to choose while supporting the Historic District as a tourist attraction.

Category: Signs

Although the historic district can be accessed by motorized traffic, the historic character is best represented through foot traffic. In keeping with this character, signs should have a human scale and be visible to pedestrians walking in the district.

Category: Signs

This was discussed by the HPC. The 11-block area is the Historic District. The idea is to preserve the historic character of the district. The use of decorative/acorn bases on sign posts, traffic lights, street lights, and other furniture adds to the historic character. This should be the same standard for the signs and murals in this area. Architecture as well as public spaces affects public interaction with a city. The goal is to make our iconic historic commercial area a walkable place/destination. To make this “place” successful, it needs a cohesive theme, which Pendleton has in its architecture. To capitalize on the dollars spent to recapture our architecture, the pervasive comments about our architecture, and the efforts made to maintain focus on the architecture, the historic character (as in decorative lighting, street lights, historic photos on traffic boxes, stamped boardwalk, historic sidewalks, etc.), the HPC recognized the value in continuing this practice, this cohesive drive to success. There are more blocks available for other art designed murals than dis-allowed within the Historic District. Other cities follow this same practice in their historic district: The Dalles, Yachats, Roseburg, Forest Grove, Prineville, Baker City, Ontario, etc.; to create a destination for travelers. Because the HPC provided a long list of options, this provides many venues for artists to choose while supporting the Historic District as a tourist attraction.

Category: Signs

Historic districts have specific individual architectural character, and that character requires careful design of signs that complement the building and the streetscape. The Pendleton Historic Preservation Commission has identified the late 1800s to the early 1900s as the best fit for the unique character of Pendleton’s historic district. The historic district sign guidelines are designed to make sure signs preserve or enhance the architectural composition of the historic buildings and the historic district as a whole.

Category: Signs

Supporting Documents

PDF icon Ordinance 4017 Signs (3 MB)
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