Gretchen Hoffman
In-N-Out Burger has cut the fat out of designs for a marquee sign
for a proposed downtown location, and in doing so obtained the OK
from Redevelopment Agency members who were concerned that the
original design would overwhelm Brand Boulevard.
The agency voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a sign variance
for the burger chain, eliminating what was feared to be a roadblock
in the burger chain's proposed move to 119 S. Brand Blvd. The agency
on Aug. 13 sent the burger executives back to the drawing board to
come up with a smaller sign, but Raymond Villanueva, director of
development for In-N-Out, told the agency he was afraid executives
would change their minds about the Brand Boulevard site.
The new design, which at 99 square feet is about half that of the
original proposal of a 199-square-foot marquee, encountered no
opposition from agency members.
"In-N-Out and staff have worked out a good compromise," Councilman
Bob Yousefian said. "I think this is something the community can
support."
In-N-Out will relocate one tree that would otherwise block the
marquee sign.
In the past, city officials have denied businesses' requests to
move trees from the front of their locations.
"We usually say no because it's taking the tree out and disrupting
the orderly pattern," said Jeanne Armstrong, director of development
services. "The trees in this particular block are not that orderly."
Agency members added one condition to the approval of the sign
variance: that the high-traffic eatery be responsible for trash cans
outside the restaurant.
