HomeMy WebLinkAboutDR-07-07 - Decision - 0368 Dorset Street#DR-07-07
CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING
SOUTH BURLINGTON REALTY COMPANY
364-368 DORSET STREET
DESIGN REVIEW APPLICATION #DR-07-07
FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION
South Burlington Realty, hereafter referred to as the applicant, is seeking to obtain a new
master signage permit for a multi -building lot located at 364-368 Dorset Street in the Dorset
Street/ City Center Sign District. The amendment to the master signage permit would revise
the design scheme for the freestanding signs on the property and re-establish the wall signs
on the property.
The Development Review Board held a public hearing on Tuesday, September 4, 2007.
John Jaeger represented the applicant.
Based on testimony provided at the above mentioned public meeting 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
The applicant is seeking to obtain a new master signage permit for a multi -building
lot located at 364-368 Dorset Street in the Dorset Street/ City Center Sign District.
The amendment to the master signage permit would revise the design scheme for
the freestanding signs on the property and re-establish the wall signs on the
property.
2. The owner of record of the subject property is South Burlington Realty.
3. The Design Review Committee recommended approval of the Master Signage
permit at their meeting on August 27, 2007.
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.
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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.
The applicant has proposed a detailed design standard for the property:
The top of each sign will include the project identifier: "Dorset Street Professional Center"; the
individual tenant sign panels have been re -designed to be more consistent than the
previously approved and existing sign. All signs shall bear the same font and typestyle. The
proposed colors include a red background with white lettering for the top section/project
identifier. The individual tenant signs are proposed to have a green background with white
lettering. The applicant is proposing to mount the individual signs to a white background
which will show as a border around the individual signs. This is acceptable and is noted that
the proposed design is an improvement beyond the existing sign.
The proposed signs are compatible with the existing building and the surrounding buildings
Wall Signs
Tenant Wall signs for 364 and 368 Dorset Street will be applied to the sign band areas which
are consistently provided over the doorways. Generally each tenant will be permitted to install
one or more signs conforming to this Master Sign Plan. The Tenant Wall Signs at 366 Dorset
Street, a single -tenant, pre-existing building will be comprised of two signs, each 12" h by 24"
w, applied to the south building fagade at eye level immediately to the west of the entrance
door which serves as the main functional entrance and at the southwest corner. In addition, a
30"h by 48" w sign will be applied immediately over the transom window on the east fagade.
Tenant wall sign colors shall generally be those which are found on the various building
elements such as tan, grey, blue, green, maroon, and black. The intention is to allow for a
fairly wide range of individual sign colors so long as the colors are of the type generally found
in the project and so long as the signs are unified by the pin striping. Minor portions of each
sign may include a logo with no color restrictions, but the predominant sign colors shall not
be unduly bright or otherwise out of character with the project, such as orange, pink, bright
yellow, and so forth.
There are no changes proposed to the lighting
(b) Promotion of City Center Goals
Signs within the DS/CC Sign District should be of high aesthetic quality and
pedestrian oriented.
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The proposed signage largely complies with this requirement. Graphics appear to be legible
and aesthetically pleasing. However, the applicant should ensure that the freestanding signs
are landscaped to the greatest extent practical while ensuring a clean and pleasant
appearance.
(c) Color & Texture
Section 6(b)(3) that states, "The use of a maximum of three (3) predominant colors is
encouraged to provide consistent foreground, text, and background color schemes," staff
again stresses the importance of some flexibility for such a large and diverse property.
The colors to be used for the freestanding and wall signs are addressed elsewhere in this
decision.
The proposed signs are compatible and harmonious with buildings on the property and
nearby.
(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 materials proposed for signs on this property are in compliance with this criterion. The
signs shall be kept in good repair.
4. 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.
(e) Wall Mounted Signs
New wall mounted signs must be in compliance with the additional criteria included below:
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 fagade of
each building.
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.
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.
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Section 10(g) stipulates that a wall -mounted sign shall not project from the wall in
excess of 9".
The master sign permit is limited to overall design criteria. The code officer shall ensure
that these criteria are met when issuing individual sign permits for the property.
(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. Furthermore, the
applicant shall ensure that the proposed signs are not within the City's right of way.
The proposed freestanding sign appears to be in compliance with this requirement.
However, the master sign permit considered herein is limited to overall design criteria.
The code officer shall ensure that these criteria are met when issuing individual sign
permits for the property.
Section 9(h) states that 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 proposed freestanding sign appears to be in compliance with this requirement.
However, the master sign permit considered herein is limited to overall design criteria.
The code officer shall ensure that these criteria are met when issuing individual sign
permits for the property.
DECISION y�
Motion by « �( �� seconded by 661�_4 �IrV_V_
to approve Desi n Review Applic tion #DR-07-07 of South Burlington Realty, 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.
3. A Master Signage Permit shall be issued to South Burlington Realty Co. for the
property (ies) at 364-368 Dorset Street by the DRB, prior to the issuance of any
individual sign permit for the property.
4. The colors of the background of the freestanding, directory signs are limited to
red or green. The color of lettering is limited to white. The posts shall be white.
The font type and style shall be consistent across all signs.
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5. The colors of the background of the wall signs shall be of the type generally
found in the project and so long as the signs are unified by the pin striping. Minor
portions of each sign may include a logo with no color restrictions, but the
predominant sign colors shall not be unduly bright or otherwise out of character
with the project, such as orange, pink, bright yellow, and so forth.
6. 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.
Mark Behr — ee ay/abstain/not present
Matthew Birmingh — regVnay/abstain/not present
John Dinklage — nay/abstain/not present
Roger Farley — e nay/abstain/not present
Eric Knudsen — e ay/abstain/not present
Peter Plumeau — ' nay/abstain/not present
Gayle Quimby — e nay/abstain/not present
Motion carried by a vote of �- -
this 2 7 Signed � day �f �� , by
John Dinklage, Chair
Please note: You have the right to appeal this decision to the Vermont Environmental
Court, pursuant to 24 VSA 4471 and VRCP 76 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).
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