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Home My WebLink AboutDR-10-04 - Decision - 0007 Aspen Drive{ #DR-10-04 CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING PINES HOUSING, LP - 7 ASPEN DRIVE DESIGN REVIEW APPLICATION #DR-10-04 FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION Pines Housing LP, hereafter referred to as the applicant, is seeking to obtain a new master signage permit for a property in the Dorset Street/City Center Design District. The master signage permit would establish the design scheme for the freestanding and wall signs on the property, 7 Aspen Drive. The Development Review Board held a public hearing on May 4, 2010. Chris Boffa represented the applicant. Based on testimony provided at the above mentioned public hearing and the plans and supporting materials contained in the document file for this application, the Development Review Board finds, concludes, and decides the following: FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The applicant is seeking to obtain a new master signage permit for a property in the Dorset Street/City Center Design District. The master signage permit would establish the design scheme for the freestanding and wall signs on the property, 7 Aspen Drive. 2. The application was received on April 19, 2010. 3. The owner of record of the subject property is Pines Housing, LP. 4. The subject property is located in the Residential 7 Zoning District. 5. The plans submitted consist of computerized renderings of seven (7) proposed signs. Pursuant to Section 6 of the City of South Burlington Sign Ordinance, the erection, alteration, or relocation of any sign within this district shall require design review by the South Burlington Design Review Committee (DRC) and Development Review Board (DRB). Section 8 of the Sign Ordinance requires all property owners within the DS/CC Sign District to obtain a Master Signage Permit. The Design Review Committee was unable to meet but provided positive feedback via emails. DESIGN REVIEW CRITERIA In reviewing an application for signage, the DRC and DRB shall consider the following: (a) Consistent Design I:\Development Review Board\Findings_Decisions\2010\Pines_DR1004_ffd.doc #DR-10-04 The design of a sign must be compatible and harmonious with the design of buildings on the subject property and nearby. The design of all signs on a property shall promote consistency in terms of color, graphic style, lighting, location, material and proportions. The Board finds that the design of the proposed signs are harmonious with the design of the buildings on the subject property and nearby. The proposed sign package achieves consistency in color, graphic style, lighting, material and proportions. The sign posts are to be pressure treated wood painted dark green. The green is consistent with treatments on surrounding buildings. (b) Promotion of City Center Goals Signs within the DS/CC Sign District should be of high aesthetic quality and pedestrian oriented. The Board finds that this criterion is being met. The colors, lettering, and design come together to present an aesthetically pleasing sign. The signposts are pressure -treated wood with dark green color and texture to match the exterior of the building. The sign is pedestrian scaled. (c) Color & Texture A maximum of 3 colors is encouraged. The applicant is proposing that signs be limited to dark green and dark red, with white or off-white shades permitted for lettering. The applicant is also proposing that the backs of the sign be permitted to be cream colored. The applicant has submitted a color photo showing the existing signs as well as the proposed sign. (d) Materials Used Pursuant to Section 20 of the Sign Ordinance, all signs shall be of substantial and sturdy construction, kept in good repair, and painted or cleaned as necessary to maintain a clean, safe, and orderly appearance. The applicant is proposing to continue the use of pressure -treated wood for the posts, and MDO background for the sign, with a cedar frame. All signs shall be kept in a clean, safe and orderly appearance. The applicant should acknowledge this. (e) Wall Mounted Signs Section 10 of the Sign Ordinance governs the size and location of wall -mounted signs. Pursuant to Table 10-1 of the Sign Ordinance, a wall -mounted sign for a multi - tenant building or a multi -building lot with a master signage permit in any district with freestanding or landscape sign shall not exceed 15% of the area of the fagade to which it is attached or 100 sq. ft., whichever is smaller. 2 I:\Development Review Board\Findings_Decisions\2010\Pines_DR1004_ffd.doc #DR-10-04 Pursuant to Table 10-1 of the Sign Ordinance, the total area of all wall -mounted signs on the subject property shall not exceed 10% of the area of principal public fagade of each building. The code officer shall ensure that these criteria are met when issuing individual sign permits for the property. Section 10(c) states that a wall -mounted sign shall not project above the roof or parapet of the building nor below the top of any first floor doorway unless permitted through the design review approval process. The proposed sign locations will not project above the roof or parapet of the subject building. In addition, the proposed signs will not extend below the top of any first floor doorways or windows. Thus, the proposed signage is in compliance with this requirement. Pursuant to Section 10(d), a wall -mounted sign shall not cover any opening or project beyond the top or end of any wall to which it is attached. The proposed signs are in compliance with this requirement. Section 10(g) stipulates that a wall -mounted sign shall not project from the wall in excess of 9". The proposed signs are in compliance with this requirement. (0 Freestanding Signs Section 9(h) states that free-standing signs along Dorset Street are to be located in a sign corridor that begins adjacent to the road Right -of -Way and runs sixteen (16) feet from the edge of the Right of Way toward the building face. In those instances where dimensions do not provide for a two (2) foot setback from the Right -of -Way before a sign support post can be located, it is permitted to erect a centered single pole mounted sign of which the road side edge of the sign is directly outside the R.O.W. line. The code officer shall ensure compliance with this criterion such that the subject sign shall be within this designated sign corridor. // ►► DECISION Motion by V a C� seconded by b6C �-« , to approve Design Review Applicatio #DR-10-04 of Pines Housing, LP subject to the following conditions: 1. All previous approvals and stipulations which are not superseded by this approval shall remain in effect. 2. This project shall be completed as shown on the plans submitted by the applicant and on file in the South Burlington Department of Planning and Zoning. I:\Development Review Board\Findings_Decisions\2010\Pines_DR1004_ffd.doc #DR-10-04 3. A Master Signage Permit shall be issued to the applicant by the DRB, prior to the issuance of any individual sign permit for the property. 4. The background colors of the freestanding and wall signs shall be limited to dark green, dark red, or cream. Gold and white shall be permitted for lettering and accents. 5. No more than two different shades of any one color shall be used in any combination of signs on the property at the same time. 6. Sign posts shall be limited to dark green. 7. All signs and sign posts shall be kept in good repair; landscaping surrounding the freestanding signs shall be kept trimmed and neat and shall not obscure the text of the signs. Mark Behr —&/nay/abstain/not present Matthew Birmingham — yea/nay/abstain of present John Dinklage nay/abstain/not present Roger Farley ay/abstain/not present Eric Knudsen ay/abstain/not present Gayle Quimb a nay/abstain/not present Bill Stuono —�ie nay/abstain/not present Motion carried by a vote of -n Signed this day of �� 2010, by John Dinklag , Chairman Please note: Yo?avethe htto appeal this decision to the Vermont Environmental Court, pursuant to 24 VSA 4471 and VRECP 5 in writing, within 30 days of the date this decision is issued. The fee is $250.00. If you fail to appeal this decision, your right to challenge this decision at some future time may be lost because you waited too long. You will be bound by the decision, pursuant to 24 VSA 4472 (d) (exclusivity of remedy; finality). 4 I:\Development Review Boa rd\Findings_Decisions\2010\Pines_DR1004_ffd.doc