HomeMy WebLinkAboutDR-03-03 - Decision - 0344 Dorset StreetCITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & ZONING
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
RURAL CELLULAR CORPORATION — 344 DORSET STREET
MASTER SIGNAGE PLAN #DR-03-03
FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS & DECISION
Rural Cellular Corporation, hereafter referred to as the applicant, is requesting approval
of a Master Signage Plan for 344 Dorset Street. The South Burlington Design Review
Committee (DRC) reviewed the proposal on April 28, 2003. The South Burlington
Development Review Board (DRB) reviewed the proposal on May 6, 2003.
Based on testimony given at the above mentioned public hearing and on the plans and
supporting materials contained in the document file for this application, the DRB finds,
concludes and decides as follows:
FINDINGS OF FACT
The applicant is requesting approval of a Master Signage Plan for 344 Dorset
Street within the Dorset Street/City Center (DS/CC) Sign District.
2. Janet M. Desarno is the record owner of the property (warranty deed in Volume
291, Page 285 of the city land records). The property is identified as Tax Parcel
0570 00344 C.
CONCLUSIONS
Section 8 of the Sign Ordinance requires all property owners within the DS/CC
Sign District to obtain a Master Signage Permit prior to the issuance of any
individual sign permit for the subject property. Section 8(e)(1) requires that the
property owner of record be the primary permitee of a Master Signage Permit.
Therefore, a Master Signage Permit must be issued to Janet M. Desarno, prior to
the issuance of any individual sign permit for the property.
2. Pursuant to Section 8 of the Sign Ordinance, a Master Signage Permit shall
establish consistent design parameters for the property to ensure that all signage
is in accordance with goals of the DS/CC Sign District. The Master Signage
Permit shall specify size ranges and the graphic elements to be used to relate
multiple signs to one another. The current application consists of a request for
modification of two existing freestanding signs and one wall mounted sign,
reflecting a change in company name. No color or structural changes to the
existing signs are proposed.
DESIGN REVIEW CRITERIA
In reviewing an application for signage, the DRC and DRB shall consider the following:
FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS & DECISION
344 DORSET STREET - #DR-03-03
Consistent Design
3. The design of a sign must be compatible and harmonious with the design of
buildings on the subject property and nearby. The application shows one wall
mounted sign on the rear of the structure and two free standing signs at the front
and side of the subject property. The signs are white with red lettering. The
building is white with red awnings. The awning over the main entrance contains
signage identifying the company name with white lettering. This signage will be
removed from the awning.
Promotion of City Center Goals
4. Signs within the DS/CC Sign District should be of high aesthetic quality and
pedestrian oriented. The signs are of high aesthetic quality oriented to both
vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Therefore, the signs are in keeping with DS/CC
Sign District goals.
Color & Texture
5. A maximum of three colors is encouraged. The proposed signs include red text
on white background. The sign texture is smooth, which is in keeping with the
vinyl siding of the structure. The DRIB concludes that the signs are compatible
and harmonious with buildings in the vicinity.
Materials Used
6. The existing freestanding signs and wall sign are constructed of wood. The
materials are appropriate and of adequate quality.
FREE STANDING SIGNS
7. Two free standing signs are proposed for the subject property. Pursuant to
Section 9(a) of the Sign Ordinance, free standing signs shall be self supporting
without the need for ancillary supports. The free standing signs comply with this
requirement. Section 9(b) of the Sign Ordinance limits the number of free
standing signs to two on a property with two approved access points onto public
roads. In such cases the access points must be separated by more than 300 ft.
as measured from centerline to centerline between the two entrances. In
addition, the free standing signs must be located in the vicinity of the approved
access points and visible to vehicles passing the approved entrances. The
subject property has two approved access points, one on Dorset Street at the
front of the property, and a second access point onto San Remo Drive shared
with adjoining properties to the north and west. One free standing sign is
adjacent to the Dorset Street access point. The second free standing sign is on
the southerly side of the building. It is not near the rear access point because the
rear access point does not fall on the subject property. The DRB concludes that
the free standing signs are in keeping with the requirements of Section 9(b).
8. Section 9(c) stipulates that the free standing signs shall be no closer than 5 ft. to
any property line. In addition Section 9(h) stipulates that free standing signs
along Dorset Street are to be located within a sign corridor that begins adjacent
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FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS & DECISION
344 DORSET STREET - #DR-03-03
to the right-of-way and runs 16 ft. from the edge of the right-of-way toward the
building face. The Master Signage Plan does not include a site drawing showing
the locations of the free standing signs relative to lot lines or any information
indicating the distance to lot lines.
9. Pursuant to Section 9(e)(4), the total area of the support structure for the free
standing signs on the subject property shall not exceed 150% of the area of each
sign. Although it appears that the signs comply with this standard, the
dimensions of the sign support structures are not provided.
10. Pursuant to Section 9(g)(2) of the Sign Ordinance, free standing signs shall have
a base condition that is attractively maintained year round. Photographs
submitted by the applicant show the front free standing sign is attractively
landscaped with red and white flowering plants. The side free standing sign
contains lawn at its base. The DRB concludes that the base conditions of the free
standing signs are adequate.
11. Pursuant to Section 9(h) of the Sign Ordinance, for lots in the DS/CC Sign
District, the area of each free standing sign shall not exceed 32 sq. ft. The Master
Signage Plan does not indicate the dimensions of each entire sign, but only that
part of each sign that bears the company name. There is additional signage
bearing the site address for which dimensions should be provided. It appears that
the free standing signs are less than 32 sq. ft., but the Master Signage Plan
should be revised to indicate all dimensions of the signage.
12. Pursuant to Section 9(h), free standing signs in the DS/CC Sign District shall not
exceed 12 ft in height, measured from the average finished grade at the base of
the sign to the highest portion of any point of the sign structure. The heights of
the free standing signs are not provided.
WALL MOUNTED SIGNS
13. Section 10 of the Sign Ordinance governs the size and location of wall mounted
signs. Pursuant to Section 10(b)(1) a wall mounted sign shall not exceed 5% of
the area of the principal public fagade or 100 sq. ft., whichever is smaller. In
addition, pursuant to Section 10(b)(2), a wall sign may not exceed 15% of the
area of the facade to which it is attached. The sign is 18" x 60", or 7.5 sq. ft.
However, the Master Signage Plan does not indicate the dimension of the
southerly principal facade or the dimensions of the westerly rear facade to which
the sign is attached.
14. Section 10(c) states that a wall mounted sign shall not project above or below the
top of any first floor doorway unless permitted by the DRB. Based on the
photographs submitted by the applicant, the sign is above the first floor
pedestrian doorway. It is lower than the adjacent garage door, but the DRB
concludes that this is appropriate and in keeping with the Section 10(c) standard.
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. Based on the
photographs submitted by the applicant, it appears that the sign will not project
over any opening or beyond the top or end of the front facade.
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FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS & DECISION
344 DORSET STREET - #DR-03-03
15. Section 10(g) stipulates that a wall mounted sign shall not project from the wall in
excess of 9". The application does not indicate the extent to which the sign will
project from the fagade. Table 10-1 limits to two the number of wall mounted
signs for a single tenant building with free standing or landscape feature signs.
Again, only one wall mounted sign is proposed.
GENERAL SIGN STANDARDS
16. Section 20 of the Sign Ordinance requires signs to 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 signs appear to be of
substantial and sturdy construction. However, the free standing sign at the front
of the property is damaged and requires repair.
17. The free standing sign at the front of the lot is illuminated by at least one light.
However, the Master Signage Plan does not include lighting specifications.
Section 21(c) prohibits any sign to be illuminated past midnight unless the
premises are open for business past midnight, in which case no sign may be
illuminated past the close of business.
DECISION
Motion by Mark Boucher, seconded by Chuck Bolton, to approve Master Signage Plan
#DR-03-03, subject to the following conditions:
This Master Signage Permit must be issued to Janet M. Desarno by the DRB,
prior to the issuance of the necessary individual sign permits for the property.
2. Pursuant to Section 20 of the Sign Ordinance, all signs shall be kept in good
repair, and painted or cleaned as necessary to maintain a clean, safe, and
orderly appearance.
3. No sign shall be left illuminated after midnight unless the premises are open for
business after midnight, in which case no sign of any kind shall be left illuminated
after the premises are closed for business.
4. Pursuant to Section 9(g)(2) of the Sign Ordinance, free standing signs shall have
a base condition that is attractively maintained year round.
5. Prior to the issuance of the required individual sign permits, the following
changes must be made to the Master Signage Plan:
a. The Master Signage Plan must be revised to show the location of the free
standing signs relative to lot lines and other lot features.
b. The Master Signage Plan must be revised to provide all dimensional
parameters for each free standing sign.
C. The Master Signage Plan must be revised to include dimensional
measurements of the support structures for the free standing signs.
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FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS & DECISION
344 DORSET STREET - #DR-03-03
d. The Master Signage Plan must be revised to provide dimensional
measurements of the southerly and westerly facades and demonstrate
compliance with Section 10(b)(1) of the Sign Ordinance.
e. The Master Signage Plan must be revised to indicate the extent to which
the wall sign will project from the facade in inches.
The Master Signage Plan must be revised to include lighting
specifications for all sign illumination fixtures.
Chuck Bolton —yea/nay/abstain
Mark Boucher —yea/nay/abstain
John Dinklage —jLea/nay/abstain
Roger Farley — rLea/nay/abstain
Michele Kupersmith —not present
Larry Kupferman — rLea/nay/abstain
Gayle Quimby —not present
MOTION CARRIED by a vote of 5-0-0.
Signed this T_ day of 2003, by
John Dinklage, Chair
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