HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 06A_DR-19-03_155 Market St_Poon_SC#DR‐19‐03
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CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
DR‐19‐03_155 Market St_Poon_2019‐12‐03.docx
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & ZONING
Report preparation date: November 27, 2019
Plans received: October 30, 2019
155 Dorset Street
Design Review Application #DR‐19‐03
Meeting date: December 3, 2019
Owner/Applicant
Poon Trust LLC
1569 Essex Road
Williston, VT 05495
Engineer
None
Property Information
Tax Parcel 0450‐0005
Form Based Code T4, Design Review Overlay District
1.96 acres
Location Map
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PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Design review application #DR‐19‐03 of Thomas Poon to amend a previously approved Master Signage
Permit (MSP). The amendment consists of allowing wall mounted and freestanding signs in a range of
colors with two font types and three materials, 155 Market Street.
COMMENTS
Development Review Planner Marla Keene and Zoning Administrative Officer Dalila Hall (“Staff”) have
reviewed the plans submitted on 10/30/2019 and offer the following comments. Numbered items for
the Board’s attention are in red.
CONTEXT
The Board previously approved Master Signage Permit (MSP) DR‐13‐05 for the subject property. That
decision approved a 4’x12’ wall mounted sign and a 4’x8’ free standing sign. The freestanding sign was
approved to be internally illuminated and the wall sign was approved to be externally illuminated. The
signs were proposed to have black background with white and silver lettering. There was no limitation
on font type.
The property lies within the Dorset Street/City Center Sign District. The Master Sign Permit does not
approve specific signs. The approvability of the exact signs shown must be evaluated separately in a
Permanent Sign Application.
The applicant has submitted a rendering of an amended wall sign, a photo showing a typical wall sign
location, and a narrative describing the range of sign characteristics they would like approval for.
SIGN ORDINANCE
Section 8(d) provides the following guidance to applicants applying for Master Signage Permits:
(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.
1. Staff recommends the Board consider this guidance in reviewing this application.
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.
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There is one building on the property. The applicant proposes to amend the previous approval
by allowing a range of background colors, four letter colors, two fonts in three styles, and three
materials. The requested fonts are Brixton and Arial, in normal, bold, or italics, and also to allow
symbols.
2. Staff recommends the Board confirm which of the applicants requested changes to approved
background colors, letter colors, font colors, and sign materials are also requested for the
previously approved freestanding sign.
3. The applicant has stated no lighting is needed but that the downlights on the building eaves may
be used to illuminate the signs. Staff recommends the Board clarify whether the applicant
wishes to retain their previous approval for an internally illuminated freestanding sign. Staff
considers internal illumination may not be feasible with the proposed materials and colors.
4. Staff recommends the Board clarify with the applicant whether they are requesting for logos to
be allowed or just text symbols.
(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.
The applicant’s proposed size range for wall signs is from 32” x 45” to 36” x 60” (9.375 to 15
square feet). Staff considers this criterion met.
(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.
The requested range of background colors includes silver, metallic, white, gold, red, green, blue
and black. The requested range of letter colors is black, silver, white and blue.
The property across the street uses metallic signage.
5. Staff recommends the Board consider whether to limit the allowable background colors.
(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 applicant is requesting approval for metallic, wood, or vinyl signs. The building appears to
be clad in painted wood siding.
6. Staff considers any of the applicant’s proposed materials may be high‐quality but Board include
a condition requiring individual sign applications to include information on materials and
allowing the administrative officer to make a determination on whether specific signs are of
high‐quality.
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Section 9(h) addresses standards specifically for free‐standing signs within the Dorset Street/City
Center Sign District.
Freestanding 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.
Staff considers this standard will be enforced by the administrative officer at the time of
application for individual signs.
Section 10(c) addresses standards specifically for wall signs within the Dorset Street/City Center Sign
District
In the Dorset Street/City Center Sign district, wall signs may not project above the roof or
parapet of a building nor below the top of any first floor doorway unless permitted through
the design approval process.
The applicant is proposing to locate a wall sign below the top of the first floor doorway.
7. Staff recommends the Board review the submitted photograph and elevation showing the
proposed location and approve this request for the building in general.
Section 21(e) pertains to lighting:
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 wall signs will be unlit or illuminated incidentally from
existing canopy lights.
8. If the applicant wishes to maintain their previous approval for an internally illuminated
freestanding sign, Staff recommends the Board limit the background colors for freestanding
signs to dark colors.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Board discuss the Project with the applicant and close the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Marla Keene, Development Review Planner