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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_02.08.2012 SpecialCity of Georgetown, Texas Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Georgetown Municipal Complex, New Planning Conference Room 300-1 lridustrial Ave, Georgetown, Texas 78626 Members present: Susan Firth, Chair; and Dee Rapp Members absent: Sarah Blankenship Staff present: Robbie Wyler, Historic District Planner; Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary Firth called the meeting to order at 4:07 p.m. The Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee is responsible for hearing and taking final action on sign applications, by issuing Certificates of Design Compliance- based upon the City Council adopted Downtown Design Guidelines. This is a regular scheduled meeting of the Sign Subcommittee, for consideration and possible action on the following: 1 _ Review and possible action on the minutes. from the January 11, 2012 Sign Subcommittee meeting_ Motion by Firth to approve the minutes as submitted. Second by Kapp. Approved 2 — O. 2. Public Hearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage. at City of Georgetown, Block 39, Lots 2 8= 3 (pts), also known as Diva Chicks ARTfu1 Boutique, located at 109 E.. 7t. Street. (CDC-2012-001) Wyler presented the report. The applicant seeks Certificate of Design Compliance approval from HA. -RC for a hanging and A -frame sign along with window lettering_ First, the applicant proposes installing a t/z" thick double -sided Moderate Density Overlay (MDO) wooden sign above the entrance door and awnings where the previous business' hanging sign was located. The sign measures 2.5 feet wide. by 2.28 feet tall (5.71 square feet) and will be affixed -above the entrance door on an existing sign bracket from the previous tenant The sign will read "Diva Chicks ARTful Boutique" in the business colors of black, white and pink_ The design consists of the business name in a decorative font with a lightened black and gray decorative backdrop_ The border consists of a dotted pattern in the corporate colors. Next, the applicant proposes installing window lettering and advertisement. The entrance door will have the business logo, very similar to the hanging sign's design, along with hours of operation and the address in the same font and color as the main sign. The circular logo measures 18" wide by 16" tall and the lettering below measures a total of 18" wide by 20" tall. Together, the logo and lettering has an area of 648 -square inches, approximately 20% of the glass area. "Diva Chicks ARTful Boutique will also be installed on each of the two display windows in a dusted vinyl (color/material sample has been provided). They will be Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee. Minutes February 8, 2012 Page 1 of 5 positioned slightly higher than center preventing any window displays from being blocked from street view. The vinyl lettering will take up approximately 10_9% of the left window and 10.7% of the right window. A decorative border is also proposed for the two display windows. The border, which will have the same dotted pattern as the main sign's border, will measure 4 inches wade and will be placed completely around each of the windows. Lastly, a wooden A -frame sign is proposed for in front of the business. The two-sided sign will be constructed of MDO and the graphics will match the colors and exact design as the logo found on the proposed door sign_ The A. -frame sign will also include "Wornen's Artfully designed clothing", the phone number, and websiteaddress below. Staff recommends approval of all the signs with the modification of eliminating the polka dots around the window frames_ Kay Briggs, the applicant, was available for questions_ Rapp asked about the lighting installed inside the window. IVIs. Briggs stated she could remove the lighting but that it was very dark inside the window otherwise_ Rapp also questioned the polka dots around the window, stating they were not typical of downtown, but they were okay, suggesting a solid border might be more appropriate. Rapp also questioned the colors of the logo on the door versus the colors on the: other .signs. The colors used are red, blue, yellow, black and white with different shades of those colors also used. Firth discussed that the background of the hanging and building signs made it difficult to read the lettering_ She suggested a solid color. Rapp agreed. Ms. Briggs said she did not like the solid black or gray background, but would consider the melon color solid background. Firth opened the Public Hearing at 4:30 and as no one came forward to speak, closed the Public Hearing_ Motion by Rapp to approve the CDC for the hanging/ projecting sign as proposed with the exception that the background be a solid melon color, but including the lettering and patterned border. Second by Firth. Approved 2 — D. Motion by Rapp to approve the CDC for window signs, door sign and A -frame signs as proposed but to work with staff to insure the A -frame is acceptable, and encouraging the applicant to use a solid background similar to the hanging sign_ Second by Firth - Approved 2 — O. 3_ Public Bearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage at Dalrymple Addition, Block G (nip*, also known as Figueredo Fowler Law Office, located at 406 W. University Avenue. (CDC-2012-002) Wyler presented the staff report. First, the business wishes to. replace the existing stone base and wooden frame on the property with a new sign. The two-sided freestanding sign will be constructed with ,/z" Moderate Density Overlay wood and a vinylapplication with be placed Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee Min utes February 8. 2012 Page 2 of 5 over each face. The support posts will be constructed of wood and placed in between to two faces as shown on the provided black and white diagram detailing the anatomy of the sign. Overall, the sign. measures 48 inches wide by 72 inches tall, totaling 24 square feet. The sign will have "406" within a burgundy oval at the top depicting the property address with the name of the lawyer and law office below. Contact information and "Family Law and Mediation" will be included. The applicant also proposes leaving space for an additional tenant. This tenant will utilize the same colors and .fonts as the tenant above. A thin border will be placed around the oval and sign face. Additionally, a decorative separator will be placed between the tenant's business name and adjoining information. Another separator will be placed above the space for the second tenant. The sign faces and posts will be burgundy and the borders/separators will be beige. Color samples along with sign renderings can be found within the applicant's attached materials. Next a small secondary freestanding directional sign made of corrugated plastic is proposed For the front yard, just west of the main freestanding sign. This sign will measure 24 inci-tes wide by 18 inches tall (3 square feet) and will stand about 3 feet tall. The sign will have the same color scheme as the main freestanding sign but will read "Additional Parking in Rear" with two directional arrows. The sign will be mounted within a standard real-estate artgle- iron frame. Lastly, two brushed aluminum signs with black vinyl lettering are proposed for two doors.. One door is located on the side, east door and the other on the backside of the building. Each sign will read "Private Entrance, Please Lase Front Door" and will measure 8 inches wide by 2 inches tall. Staff .recommends postponing action on the Certificate of Design Compliance application for all three signs. 1) Freestanding Main Sign: This sign does not appear subordinate to the building and appears visually cluttered when considering the language placement. A more appropriate design could be proposed. As detailed above, a shorter, wider sign with side by side information versus horizontal information rrtight be more visually appropriate and easier to read. Also, the .support poles should be placed on the side of the sign faces and not within. Other signs along University Avenue have decorative sign posts. 2) Aluminum Door Signs: A wooden or MDO sign, rather than metal, is more typical for door signs Downtown. The signs should complement both the building and other signs on the property. 3) Secondary Freestanding Directional Sign: This style of sign is not typical nor is it appropriate for Downtown. Staff suggests the applicant use the same materials as the main freestanding sign and move the sign further back to where it is set back flush with the front of the building_ The design of the sign is appropriate, but not the material and Iocation. In addition,, the sign information should be limited to the directional message. Ray Shawley, the applicant for Affordable Signs, was available for questions. Fie stated that the sign was proposed to be placed that tall originally because of the poles and.. other signs Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee Minutes February 8, 2012 Page 3 of 5 located along that section of University Avenue. Firth opened the Public Hearing at 4:37 p.m. and as no one came forward to speak, closed it. Rapp commented that she felt the sign is too tall and unnecessary for that area and obstructs the view of other signage, and is concerned about the size and shape of the sign for this building. She also stated she would like to see the "Additional Parking in Rear" sign in another material and pushed back to match the front facade of the house, possibly making it wooden with wooden posts to match the house. She agreed the wording and font of all the signs seemed appropriate. She stated that the aluminum signs to go on the doors also seemed out of character with the wooden structure. The commissioners discussed possibilities .for the large sign out front. The commissioners agreed that the sign should be no higher than five feet tall with -a maximum of four inches off the ground, so the wooden sign is not sitting directly on the ground. They also stated tenant #2 should have the same font and have the information in the same order as tenant #1. Motion by Rapp to approve the CDC for the freestanding main sign colors and font and style, while. changing the orientation of the sign to be landscape and to allow no more height than five feet, working with staff to approve the mounting of the sign so that it does not sit on the ground but allows for landscaping underneath. To approve the freestanding directional sign colors but to permanently install it to the right of the driveway even with the front facade of the house, and made of wood, and installed on wooden posts. To approve the door signs as presented, but for tine applicant to consider wood materials over the proposed M'DO aluminum finish_ Second by Firth. Approved 2 — O. 4. Public Nearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for new signage. at City of Georgetown, Block 41, Lot 4 (pt), also known as The. 50/50 Restaurant, located at 708 S. Austin Avenue. (CDC-2012-003) Report by Wyler. First, the business wishes to reface art existing canopy sign. The two-sided sign will read "The 50/50" with "Restaurant and Wine Bar" below as shown on the provided rendering. Each face is made of Vs" thick acrylic and covered with vinyl. The sign will use the existing sign.'s frame and will measure 6 feet wide by 3 feet tall, totaling 18 square feet. P. black border will be placed around the sign. Next, a double -sided hanging sign will be installed under the canopy and in front of the entrance door. Made of l/z" Moderate Density Overlay (MDO) wood, the sign will measure 36" wide by 12.5' tall and will have the exact same appearance as the canopy sign, including the black border. The sign will be hung from existing bolts and in the same location as the. previous business' hanging sign. Lastly, an A -frame sign is proposed for the sidewalk. The t/z" 1viD0 vvooci sign will be two- sided and measure 36 inches wide by 42 inches tall, approximately 10.5 square feet in area. Shown on the provided rendering, the upper portion of the sign will match the other two Historic and Arc Faitectural Review Gommission Sign Suboommittee Minutes Fabruary 8. 2012 Page 4 of 5 signs with the lower portion being a chalk board for daily specials. Staff recommends approval with slight modifications to the signs. Paula Velez, the applicant was available for questions. She wanted the commissioners to know that the lettering of the signs actually was drawn to incorporate several historical features of buildings around the square. She showed examples of some of those details_ Firth opened the Public Hearing at 5.03 p_m_ and as no one came forward to speak, closed it. Firth. questioned whether the window and door signage being used at the time were part of the application. The Applicant stated no. Firth also expressed that she felt the lettering of the words "Restaurant and Bar' was. too ornate for the canopy sigrtage and made it difficult to read. Rapp explained that she was concerned about the slash between the 50 and 50 looking like a .numeral 1, that having. been pointed out to her, and that she felt others would see the same thing, making it look like five numerals, not 50/50. She suggested making the slash longer or solid black_ She also suggested increasing the font size of the "Restaurant and Wine Bar" lettering under the name_ They questioned the use ofthesilver A -frame sign. Ms. Velez stated they were using the same sign as the restaurant before, merely changing the name at the top of the sign_ Kapp moves to approve the CDC for the canopy sign, the A -frame sign and the hanging sign colors and sizes as submitted, but with consideration that the slash between the 5O.'s be either lengthened or blackened to increase readability. No further staff review should be needed for that. Second by Firth_ .Approved 2 — o_ 5. Adjournment_ Firth adjourned the meeting at 5:15 p.m. Apprdved., Susan Firth, Chair Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee Minutes February 8, 2012 Attu. rc 9 Dee Rapp` r (I1 Page 5 of 5