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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDR-18-04 - Decision - 0358 Dorset Street#DR-18-04 CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING VASTA — 358 DORSET STREET MASTER SIGNAGE PERMIT #DR-18-04 FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION Design review application #DR-18-04 of VASTA to amend a previously approved Master Signage Permit (MSP). The amendment consists of changing the allowable sign colors to red, white, grey, and blue, 358 Dorset Street. The Development Review Board held a public hearing on April 17 and May 1, 2018. The applicant was represented by Jeff Albertson. Based on the plans and 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, VASTA, seeks to amend a previously approved Master Signage Permit (MSP) #DR-11-01. 2. The amendment consists of changing the allowable sign colors to red, white, grey and blue. 3. The owners of record of the subject property are Leo and Anette Besaw of Besaw, LLC. 4. The application was received on March 16, 2018. 5. The applicant submitted a sketch of the proposed signage which consists of one (1) free-standing sign with the words "VASTA Feel Better Move Better Perform Better" and a logo, and the words "associates in Orthodontics" and a logo. The free-standing sign is proposed to use the same sign supports as the existing free-standing sign. 6. The applicant is proposing two panel wall signs in red and white, with a size range of 90 to 100 inches wide and 40 to 50 inches tall. 7. The property lies within the Dorset Street/City Center Sign District SIGN ORDINANCE Section 20: General Sign Requirements (m) Off -premise signage shall not be permitted. The property which is proposed to be use as the location of Associates in Orthodontics was subdivided from 358 Dorset Street and assigned the address of 55 San Remo Drive. The properties are not unified by a PUD. Therefore inclusion of signage for Associates in #DR-18-04 Orthodontics is not permitted. The Board finds the applicant must remove the portion of the sign for Associates in Orthodontics from the freestanding sign and update their plan accordingly. Section 6: Dorset Street/City Center Sign District of the South Burlington Sign Ordinance reads in part that the Development Review Board must consider the following standards: (1) Consistent Design: the design of a sign shall consider and be compatible and harmonious with the design of buildings on the 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. (2) Promote City Center Goals: signs shall be designed and located in a manner which reinforces and respects the overall stated goals of the sign district and City Center Plan, including a high aesthetic quality and pedestrian orientation. (3) Color and Texture: the color and texture of a sign shall be compatible and harmonious with buildings on the property and nearby. The use of a maximum of three (3) predominant colors is encouraged to provide consistent foreground, text and background color schemes. (4) Materials Used: signs shall be designed and constructed of high -quality materials complimentary to the materials used in the buildings to which the signs are related. With the Associates in Orthodontics portion of the sign removed, the proposed sign plan promotes consistency through the use of just two (2) colors (white and red). The proposed free-standing sign will be constructed of a 1/8" composite which is aluminum on both sides with PVC sandwiched in between. Graphics will be made of high grade exterior vinyl graphics. The sign will be attached with stainless steel hardware. The sign is pedestrian scale. The proposed wall signs will be constructed of 3/4" solid color PVC mounted to the bricks with aluminum studs and fixed with silicon adhesive. The Board finds these criteria have been met. Section 8(d) reads in part that the board must consider the following: (1) The initial application for a Master Signage Permit shall establish a consistent set of parameters for the shapes, materials, foreground and background color schemes, typefaces, sizes, installations and sign types to be utilized for a property and shall include color illustrations thereof. (2) Applicants are strongly encouraged to specify parameters that will lead over time to creating a strong consistency of shape, foreground and background color scheme, typeface, size, and installation in order to ensure that all signage on a property is in accordance with the goals of the Dorset Street/City Center Sign District. (3) All Master Signage Permit applications shall specify how one or more of these graphic elements will be used to relate all of the signs to each other visually. #DR-18-04 (4) Applicants may request a review and approval of a range of potential sizes for individual signs, so that an application for an individual sign of approved materials, color and design that is within an approved size range will require only approval of the Code Officer. The proposed sign plan proposes one free-standing sign and two wall mounted signs. The proposed signs use the same two colors (red and white) and the same graphic and typeface. The applicant is proposing a range of sizes for the wall mounted size from 90 to 100 inches wide and from 40 to 50 inches high. The Board finds these criteria met. Section 9(h) addresses standards specifically for free-standing signs within the Dorset Street/City Center Sign District: (h) Dorset Street/City Center Sign District. 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. Free-standing signs in the Dorset Street/City Center District may not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in overall dimensions and may be no higher than twelve (12) feet, measured from the average finished grade at the base of the sign to the highest point of any part of the sign structure. The applicant has indicated they will use the existing sign location for the free-standing sign, which the Board finds is located between two and sixteen feet from the edge of the Right of Way. The applicant is proposing to reuse the existing sign base which is less than twelve (12) feet high. The Board considers this criterion met Section 21(e) pertains to lighting: (e) In the Dorset Street/City Center Sign District, internally illuminated signs shall utilize opaque backgrounds and translucent letters, logos and/or graphics, so as to insure that the lettering, logos and/or graphics are illuminated rather than the background. Translucent backgrounds utilizing dark colors may be used with white, clear or other light translucent letters, logos and/or graphics, provided the Design Review Committee determines that the effect will be consistent with the intent of this provision. (f) Not applicable. (g) The use of integrated neon, LED and fiber optic lighting to illuminate signs shall be permitted provided the light source is covered with a clear, translucent or opaque material so that the light source is diffused and no glare is reflected. Exposed neon lighting shall not be permitted. (h) Except as provided in (g) above, fixtures shall not include bare bulbs, and fixtures shall not make bare bulbs or other direct light sources visible to persons viewing a sign. The applicant has indicated that the freestanding sign is proposed to be externally illuminated using existing ground mounted flood lights, therefore is not subject to this standard. The applicant has indicated that the wall mounted signs will be externally illuminated using existing white colored # D R-18-04 gooseneck lamps mounted above each sign. The Board finds the proposed freestanding sign lighting must be limited to illuminating the sign and not illuminate the adjacent sidewalk. DECISION Motion by Matt Cota, seconded by John Wilking, to approve sign design review application #DR-18-04 of VASTA subject to the following conditions: 1. All previous approvals and stipulations which are not changed by this decision, will remain in full effect. 2. The sign colors permitted are white and red. 3. Before the sign permit is approved, the plan must be revised to show the changes listed below and shall require approval of the Administrative Officer. Three (3) copies and one electronic copy of the approved revised plan must be submitted to the Administrative Officer prior to sign permit approval. a. Remove "Associates in Orthodontics" from the freestanding sign and expand the VASTA sign to fill the entire 90-inch wide by 43-inch tall space. 4. The applicant must obtain sign permits consistent with the master sign approval and specific standards of the Sign Ordinance in effect at the time of application from the Code Officer prior to any changes to signs on the property. 5. Any change to the approved plan must require approval by the South Burlington Development Review Board or the Administrative Officer. 6. Pursuant to Section 20 of the Sign Ordinance, all signs must be of substantial and sturdy construction, kept in good repair, and painted or cleaned as necessary to maintain a clean, safe, and orderly appearance. 7. The proposed lighting for the freestanding sign must be limited to illuminating the sign and not illuminate the adjacent sidewalk. 4 # D R-18-04 Mark Behr Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Matt Cota Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Frank Kochman Yea Nay Abstain Not present Bill Miller Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Brian Sullivan Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Jennifer Smith Yea Nay Abstain Not Present John Wilking Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Motion carried by a vote of 5 — 0 — 0. Signed this 2 day of May, 2018 by Bill Miller, Chair Please note: An appeal of this decision may be taken by filing, within 30 days of the date of this decision, a notice of appeal and the required fee by certified mail to the Superior Court, Environmental Division. See V.R.E.C.P. 5(b). A copy of the notice of appeal must also be mailed to the City of South Burlington Planning and Zoning Department at 575 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403. See V.R.E.C.P. 5(b) (4)(A). Please contact the Environmental Division at 802-828-1660 or http://vermontiudiciarV.org/GTC/environmental/default.aspx for more information on filing requirements, deadlines, fees and mailing address. The applicant or permittee retains the obligation to identify, apply for, and obtain relevant state permits for this project. Call 802.477.2241 to speak with the regional Permit Specialist. 5