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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_09.27.2012 SpecialMinutes of the Meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee City of Georgetown, Texas Thursday, September 27, 2012 The Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Thursday , September 27, 2012. Members Present: Sarah Blankenship; Tim Urban; and Ray Wahrenbrock Members Absent: none Members Present but not participating: Staff Present: Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner and Stephanie McNickle, Planning Specialist. Minutes Regular Meeting Call to order by Urban at 5:30 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 approval of the minutes from the September 12, 2012 HARC Sign Subcommittee meeting. Motion by Blankenship to accept the minutes from the September 12, 2012 HARC Sign Subcommittee meeting as presented. Second by Wahrenbrock. Approved 3-0. 2.Discussion and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance request to update the property’s business signage at Lost Addition, Block 14 (nw/pt), also known as Wells Fargo Bank, located at 1111 S. Austin Avenue. (CDC-2012-033) The staff report was presented by Valerie Kreger. The applicant seeks Certificate of Design Compliance approval from HARC to update the property’s signage. These revisions are intended to bring the bank into compliance with the new corporate image in a manner that respects Georgetown’s regulations. Staff stated the signs are clear and simple to read with no more than two colors. Most signs will be replacing existing signs. Staff recommends approval of the Certificate of Design Compliance as proposed to update several signs at 1111 S. Austin Avenue. The applicant has made a clear effort to respect both the Georgetown Design Guidelines and Wells Fargo’s updated corporate image. Chair Urban opened the floor for public comments. No one came forward to address the Commissioners and the Public Hearing was closed. Wahrenbrock suggested the caution sign be placed half way above both drive-thru lanes. The applicant stated there have not been any complaints regarding confusion of the caution sign in the past. Wahrenbrock withdrew his suggestion. Wahrenbrock made suggestions to the automatic teller machine signage with different “arrows”. Applicant agreed to the suggestion. Commissioner Wahrenbrock asked about the hours of towing. Staff nor the applicant did not recall the hours of towing. Commissioner Blankenship suggested the double face monument signage only aluminate the letters and not the entire panel. Applicant stated they are only replacing the panel, but if it will work logistically, they will be glad to consider the suggestion. Motion by Commissioner Blankenship to approve the CDC for Wells Fargo with the amendment to the double face monument sign that the red will not be lit, only the letters and with the consideration to amend the arrows on the ATM signs. Second by Commissioner Wahrenbrock. Approved 3-0. 3.Discussion and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance request for a new sign at Hughes Addition, Block 6 (ne/pt), also known as the First United Methodist Church Youth House, located at 1302 Ash Street. (CDC-2012-036) The staff report was presented by Valerie Kreger. The applicant seeks Certificate of Design Compliance approval from HARC to install a flush-mounted sign on the east-facing side of the Youth House. The ¾” thick wooden sign measures 4’ wide by 1.9’ tall, a total of just less than 8 square feet in area. It will read “Youth House” in black recessed lettering with a natural pine backdrop and a clear varnish protectant. The sign will be mounted to the white brick with anchor bolts and located to the right (north) of the front door. At this time, no additional signage has been proposed. Staff recommends approval of the Certificate of Design Compliance as proposed to install the flush-mounted sign at 1302 Ash Street with the consideration that the applicant a) place some sort of black border around the sign and b) paint the backdrop to match the shutters, should HARC agree. Chair Urban opened the floor for public comments. No one came forward to address the Commissioners; the Public comment session was closed. Commissioner Blankenship stated she will compromise on the design which is a handmade sign by the parents of the youth, if a black frame is added. Commissioner Wahrenbrock asked if the property is zoned Commercial due to the sign design guidelines for Commercial property. Staff stated the property is zoned residential. Motion by Commissioner Blankenship to approve the signage for First United Methodist Church Youth House with the addition of a black framed border and with consideration to paint it to match the shutters left up to the applicants. Second by Commissioner Urban Approved 3-0. 4.Discussion and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance request for new business signage at City of Georgetown, Block 40, Lot 2 (n/pt), also known as Gumbo’s North, located at 701 Main Street. (CDC-2012-037) The staff report was presented by Valerie Kreger. The applicant seeks Certificate of Design Compliance approval for signage to be added to the exterior of the new restaurant. First, the applicant would like to place vinyl window lettering on the windows and entrance doors. The applicant proposes to place the red, white and black business logo on several windows. Starting on the north (7th Street) side of the building, “Gumbo’s Bar” will be placed on two glass panels to the left (east) of the entrance door. “Gumbo’s North” will then be placed on two glass panels to the right (west) of the same set of doors. On the northwest (7th/Main Street) corner of the building, the same logo will be installed on the entrance door. The crawfish image will be duplicated on the adjacent display windows with business information and a contact numbers below in white vinyl lettering. Moving south along the building front, the Gumbo’s logo will be installed on the first (northern most) display window facing Main Street. The sign will be installed higher up on the window with “Steak & Seafood” at the bottom in white vinyl lettering. The final window lettering application will be on a second set of doors on the south end of the building. This set of doors takes patrons to the upstairs bar so the logo will read “Gumbo’s Bar” like what is found on a previously mentioned set window on the north side of the building. Secondly, the applicant would like to install three double-sided hanging signs under the canopy. All having the same dimensions, the signs will help direct patrons to the entrance doors from the sidewalk. The first sign will be located on the north side of the building at the edge of the balcony. The second sign will be installed directly in front of the restaurant’s main entrance where a previous hanging sign was located. The third will be installed in front of the bar entrance on Main Street. The only difference between the three signs is that the one depicting the bar entrance will read “Gumbo’s Bar” rather than just “Gumbo’s” like the other two. All three will include the top hat crawfish figure and will have a black backdrop with red border around the edge. Next, a portable sign for daily specials is proposed along the Main Street sidewalk. The MDO wooden sign with vinyl overlay will be white with a black border. At the top of the sign it will read “Gumbo’s North,” in black with the business crawfish logo above. “Steak & Seafood” will then be placed below in a red font. A space will be left open for the daily specials. At the bottom of the sign will be business information in black lettering with red bullet points. Lastly, the applicant would like to install a blade sign on the southwest corner of the upper story. Two previous businesses received HARC approval (in 2006 & 2009) for the same sign but only one ended up installing it. Detailed further in the applicant’s supporting materials, the same cabinet and hardware used for the previous signs will be used for this one. The only difference will be the sign face. “Gumbo’s” will be vertically positioned in large white letters with a red backdrop. “Steak & Seafood” will then be placed at the bottom in white letters with a black backdrop. Internal illumination will once again be used but only the letters will be visible at night. Staff recommends approval of the Certificate of Design Compliance as proposed to install several signs at 701 S. Main Street, also known as Gumbo’s North. The applicant has made a clear effort to respect the Georgetown Design Guidelines while keeping with their business scheme. Chair Urban opened the floor for public comments. No one came forward to address the Commissioners; the Public Hearing was closed. Chair Urban invited the applicant to answer questions from the Commissioners. Commissioner Wahrenbrock questioned the height of the letters on the blade signage and voiced concern for the dominant visibility and feels the letters on the sign may be too big and overpowering. Commissioner Urban stated previous businesses at this location included a blade sign to the building. Commissioner Urban also stated this business will not be adding a new blade sign or additional holes to the building. Commissioner Wahrenbrock asked and staff stated the blade sign will not affect the neighboring building or property, due to the height restrictions for signage. Commissioner Blankenship appreciates that only the letters on the blade sign will only be lit. Motion by Blankenship to approve the Certificate of Design Compliance for 701 S. Main Street for all signage proposed for Gumbo’s. Second by Wahrenbrock. Approved. 3-0 5.Election of Sign Subcommittee officers (Chair & Secretary). Motion by Blankenship to nominate Commissioner Urban to serve as Chair of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee. Second by Commissioner Wahrenbrock. Approved 3-0. Motion by Commissioner Urban to nominate Commissioner Blankenship to serve as Secretary of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee. Second by Wahrenbrock. Approved 3-0. 6.Motion to adjourn at 6:14 p.m. The Subcommittee may forward these items to the next meeting of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission for its consideration. That meeting is scheduled for September 27, 2012.