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Home My WebLink AboutDR-08-06 - Decision - 0010 Dorset Street#DR-08-06 CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING DESIGN SIGNS, INC -10 DORSET STREET DESIGN REVIEW APPLICATION #DR-08-06 FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION Design Signs Inc, hereafter referred to as the applicant, is seeking to obtain a new master signage permit for the properties at 10 Dorset Street. The master signage permit would establish the design scheme for the freestanding and wall signs on the property, 10 Dorset Street. The Development Review Board held a public hearing on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. John Floyd 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 the properties at 10 Dorset Street. The master signage permit would establish the design scheme for the freestanding and wall signs on the property, 10 Dorset Street. 2. The owner of record of the subject property is the Greer Family, LLC. 3. The subject property is located in the Dorset Street/City Center Sign District. 4. 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 has been unable to meet and so staff has moved the items to the DRB for review. DESIGN REVIEW CRITERIA In reviewing an application for signage, the DRC and DRB shall consider the following: (a) Consistent Design 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. - 1 - C � #DR-08-06 The design of the proposed signs are harmonious with the design of the buildings on the subject property and nearby. The applicant is proposing the same or similar colors that have been used for several years now. All sign support structures are natural wood with tapered concrete bases, similar to those used at public entries. (b) Promotion of City Center Goals Signs within the DS/CC Sign District should be of high aesthetic quality and pedestrian oriented. This criterion is being met. The concept sketch submitted depicts a scaled human being next to the freestanding sign. (c) Color & Texture The applicant is proposing that the background area for both freestanding and wall signs be forest green. All tenant names are proposed to be white, with either red, blue, yellow or green accents. Secondary text will utilize the same colors, possibly in reverse. (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 proposed materials are acceptable. Sign support structures will use colors and materials to match those on the building. The freestanding sign shall be composed of aluminum, with the option of using wood trim to match the building. The freestanding and wall -mounted sign depicting tenant names will be raised (cut-out) letters and logos, primarily plastic and aluminum. (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. 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 facade of each building. The code officer shall ensure that these criteria are met when issuing individual sign permits for the property. -2- #DR-08-06 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. (fl 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 Gavle Quimby, seconded by Roger Farley, to approve Design Review Application #DR-08-06 of Design Signs, Inc. subject to the following conditions: 1. All previous approvals and stipulations which are not superseded by this approval shall remain in effect. 2. 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. 3. The predominant colors (i.e. central logos and principal text) of the freestanding and wall -mounted signs shall be limited to forest green backgrounds and white text. The text may have outlines or accents of red, blue, yellow, or kelly green. 4. Signs faces shall be plastic and/or aluminum. Wood trim shall be permitted. -3- 11 5. All signs 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. 6. The sign location shall not adversely affect sight distance to the satisfaction of the Code Officer. 7. 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. Mark Behr — yea/nay/abstain/not present Matthew Birmingham — yea/nay/abstain/not present John Dinklage — yea/nay/abstain/not present Roger Farley — yea/nay/abstain/not present Eric Knudsen — yea/nay/abstain/not present Peter Plumeau — yea/nay/abstain/not present Gayle Quimby — yea/nay/abstain/not present Motion carried by a vote of 4-0-0. Signed this day of a — 2008, by "" John Dink age, Chair Please note: You have the right to 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 $225.00. 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-