HomeMy WebLinkAboutDR-00-12 - Decision - 0001 0003 0005 Dorset Street#DR-00-12
FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION
STATE OF VERMONT
COUNTY OF CHITTENDEN
CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON
Re: Findings of Fact, design review application of Signarama to remove the current 78.5
square foot Howard Johnson sign and replace it with an internally lit, 56 square foot
freestanding sign for a 28.6% reduction in size, 1 Dorset Street. The sign will consist of a
double sided five (5) foot by eight (8) foot internally illuminated box and two (2) two (2)
foot by eight (8) foot internally illuminated reader signs supported by twin posts rising
from a brick planter to a height of 12 feet, and employ a dark background. The sign will
have an I I" by 3' 6" brick planter base with a cement cap 18" high from which the sign
will rise to 12 feet in height, 1 Dorset Street.
On the 25th of July, 2000, the South Burlington Development Review Board approved
the design review application of Signarama under Section 4 of the South Burlington Sign
Regulations based on the following findings:
1. This project consists of removing the current 78.5 square foot Howard Johnson sign
and replacing it with an internally lit, 56 square foot freestanding sign for a 28.6%
reduction in size, 1 Dorset Street. The sign will consist of a double sided five (5) foot
by eight (8) foot internally illuminated box and two (2) two (2) foot by eight (8) foot
internally illuminated reader signs supported by twin posts rising from a brick planter
to an overall height of 12 feet, and employ a dark background. The sign will have an
I P by 3' 6" brick planter base with a cement cap 18" high from which the sign will
rise to 12 feet in height.
2. The owner of record is John Larkin.
Design Review Criteria:
3. Consistent Design: The proposed sign is consistent with sign designs immediately
adjacent along Williston Road. It employs a dark green background with white
lettering and gold accents. Two poles mounted in a brick planter will support the
sign.
4. Compatibility with City Center Goals: Signs within the Dorset Street/City Center
District should promote pedestrian orientation, encourage the effectiveness and clarity
of sign communication, and maintain and enhance the aesthetic quality within the
district. The proposed sign will employ a brick planter and will be reduced in size
from the current sign thereby promoting a greater level of pedestrian orientation than
currently exists. The sign does possess clarity, as it appears to be legible and not
incorporate illegible or small fonts.
5. Color and Texture: The sign should not have more than three predominant colors in
accordance with Section 4(c) of the City Sign Ordinance. The proposed sign utilizes
green, gold, and white in the sign. This meets the three -color limit. The proposed
colors comply with Section 19(e), which requires the use of dark backgrounds and
contrasting letters for internally lit signs.
6. Materials: The City Center goals seek to enhance the aesthetic quality of the district
by promoting high quality natural materials. The sign will utilize double faced, luxan
panels, interior illuminated with four fluorescent H.O. bulbs. The sign cabinet will be
of aluminum and the base will utilize twin posts that emanate from a brick planter.
The sign, while utilizing mostly non -natural materials, will utilize brick at the
pedestrian level and therefore satisfies this criterion.
Additional Sign Ordinance Criteria:
7. Dimensions: The proposed sign will exceed the 32 square foot maximum size, but it
will reduce the size of the current non -conforming sign by more than 25% as required
by Section 22 of the Sign Ordinance.
8. Base Conditions: The base of the sign will be a brick planter I P wide by 3' 6" long
by 18" high. The brick will match the brick of the new building and will be capped
with cement. The applicant has proposed using a variety of Potentilla, Barberries,
Savin Juniper, and Rugosa Roses. Staff has requested that the applicant submit
information on the number of each variety to be used. Under Section 8(e)(2) it is
required that the base be "landscaped in an aesthetically pleasing or appropriate
manner with hardy plant materials and/or elements that will remain attractive through
the year, or finished in such a manner, whether in groundcover, lawn or hard surfaces
so as to be appropriate to the district and maintained for the entire year in an attractive
manner."
9. Sign Corridor: The sign will be located approximately five feet from the edge of the
right of way along Dorset Street. The sign will therefore be within the required sign
corridor. This corridor begins adjacent to the road right of way and runs 16 feet from
the edge of the right of way toward the building face.
10. Lighting: The proposed sign utilizes a dark background as required by the Dorset
Street/City Center Sign District.
DECISION AND CONDITIONS
Based on the above Findings of Fact, the South Burlington Development Review Board
approves the design review application #DR-00-12 of Signarama to remove the current
78.5 square foot Howard Johnson sign and replace it with an internally lit, 56 square foot
freestanding sign for a 28.6% reduction in size, 1 Dorset Street. The sign will consist of a
f
double sided five (5) foot by eight (8) foot internally illuminated box and two (2) two (2)
foot by eight (8) foot internally illuminated reader signs supported by twin posts rising
from a brick planter to a height of 12 feet, and employ a dark background. The sign will
have an I I" by 3' 6" brick planter base with a cement cap 18" high from which the sign
will rise to 12 feet in height. The free standing sign is depicted on a three page set report,
entitled "University Inn", with a stamped received date of 7/18/00, and a one page set of
plans entitled "Howard Johnson's Site Plan Phase 1 with a stamped received date of
7/18/00, with the following stipulations:
1. All previous approvals and stipulations which are not superseded by this approval shall
remain in effect.
2. This recommendation for approval of the proposed sign design is based on the
application's compliance with the design review criteria contained in Section 4 of the
South Burlington Sign Ordinance. The determination of whether or not this
application complies with all other requirements contained in the sign ordinance shall
be made by the Code Officer.
3. The plans shall be revised to show the changes listed below and shall require approval
of the Development Review Board.
A) The applicant shall revise the landscaping for the planter to include a
significant amount of annuals to fill out the planter for the first three (3) years
to allow the ten (10) Vinca Vine, two (2) Abbottwood Potentilla, and four (4)
Tam Juniper to take hold.
hair or Clerk Date
South Burlington Development Review Board