Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDR-18-01 - Decision - 0372 Dorset Street#DR-18-01 CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING MITCHELL SCHWARTZ — 372 DORSET STREET MASTER SIGNAGE PLAN #DR-18-01 FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION Design review application #DR-18-01 of Mitchell Schwartz to revise a Master Signage Permit for a new free-standing sign, 372 Dorset Street. The Development Review Board held a public hearing on March 20, 2018. The applicant was represented by Laura Putnam. 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, Mitchell Schwartz, seeks to amend a previously approved Master Signage Permit (MSP) #DR-04-10 2. The amendment consists of: 1) adding a free-standing sign to the MSP, and 2) changing the allowable sign colors to gold, white, green and black. 3. The owners of record of the subject property are Sisters and Brothers Investment Group, LLP. 4. The application was received on February 14, 2018. 5. The applicant submitted a photograph of the proposed signage which consists of one new free- standing sign with the words "Dorset Street Dermatology Medical Spa Skin Care Shop 660-8808" There is not currently a freestanding sign on the property. 6. The property lies within the Dorset Street/City Center Sign District SIGN ORDINANCE 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. #DR-18-01 (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. The proposed sign plan uses four (4) colors (gold, white, green and black), provides texture and interest through the use of carving and insets, and the materials are of high quality, consisting of sealed wood and paint. There are no other signs proposed on the property. The sign is pedestrian scale. 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. (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 on the site and therefore consistency between signage and over time is not an issue. No wall signs are proposed as part of the signage plan. Consistency within the signage plan is maintained by repeating the same colors in different locations on the sign and through the use of one font type. The applicant has requested approval of only one size sign in the proposed plan. The Board finds these criteria have been 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 #DR-18-01 (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 not finalized where they will locate the sign. They must do this as part of their individual sign permit application, but it is not required for MSP amendment. The applicant has indicated they will locate the sign between 2 and 16 feet from the ROW and expects to locate it north of the building between the driveway and the building. The dimensions of the sign are 8 feet wide by 4 feet high, and it is 6 feet from the ground to the top of the sign. The Board finds 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. The applicant has indicated that the sign will not be illuminated, therefore is not subject to this standard. DECISION Motion by Matt Cota, seconded by John Wilking, to approve sign design review application #DR-18-01 of Mitchell Schwartz 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 gold, white, green and black. 3. This project must be completed as shown on the plans submitted by the applicant, and on file in the South Burlington Department of Planning and Zoning. 4. The applicant shall 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 shall require approval by the South Burlington Development Review Board or the Administrative Officer. 6. 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. 3 #DR-18-01 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 Jennifer Smith Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Brian Sullivan Yea Nay Abstain Not Present John Wilking Yea Nay Abstain Not Present Motion carried by a vote of 6— 0 — 0. Signed this 21 day of March, 2018 by ,r 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. 4