Historic review board asks tourism staff for design revisions to Route 66 centennial banners

The City of Santa Fe’s tourism division asked the Historic District Review Board on June 25 to recommend banner designs marking the 100th anniversary of the pre‑1937 Route 66 route through downtown.

The request covered banners to be placed along Old Pecos Trail, Old Santa Fe Trail, around the Plaza and out Galisteo/Cerrillos to I‑25. Director Lamboy, representing the tourism division, told the board the city obtained state and local tourism funding and that staff prepared two variations of the design — one showing the full city seal and another showing only the central portion.

Board members said they welcomed the early presentation but wanted changes before the board recommends the design to the governing body. “I’m here on behalf of the tourism department to present to you a celebration for the 100th anniversary of the pre‑1937 route of Route 66,” Director Lamboy said. Member Besheide raised a technical point about color limits in the sign code and whether the design complied with the “three‑color” rule; staff and other board members noted a separate sign‑code section (14‑8‑10) excludes banners from that three‑color restriction.

Board members voiced three recurring concerns: (1) the number and spacing of banners in the historic downtown (staff said spacing in the Plaza would be approximately 200 feet), (2) whether the graphic appropriately references Route 66 heritage motifs such as neon or the historic highway shield, and (3) materials and duration (staff said banners would be installed for about four to five months and would be a typical vinyl banner on pole brackets, similar to previously approved veterans banners).

Several board members said the current draft felt more like a modern promotional graphic than an interpretation of Route 66 history. Member Cherry said the design did not read as clearly connected to Route 66’s historic signage and neon culture. Some members also urged staff to minimize the number of banners in the most sensitive sections of the downtown.

The board did not take a formal vote. Instead it asked staff to return with a more finalized design and for one or more representatives from the tourism design team to attend so the board could consider final options and outstanding questions (for example, exact banner dimensions, final seal placement and whether any banners would be sited where the historic fabric or streetscape would be affected). Public commenters at the meeting also urged clearer historic references and questioned long‑term material choices.

Staff said final approval of the design will be made by the governing body but that the board’s recommendation is required for installations in the historic district. The tourism division will bring revised artwork and additional materials back to the board at a future meeting.