Alpharetta, Ga. — The City of Alpharetta Design Review Board on Aug. 15 approved a replacement wall sign for MPT at 178 South Main Street with conditions aimed at preserving the building’s masonry detailing.

The board voted 7-0 to approve the design, requiring the applicant to submit a physical sample of the proposed green color to city staff for final approval and to resize the sign so it “does not cover the brick corbelling or the soldier courses on the arch,” with final adjustments to be handled by staff.

Board discussion focused on how the proposed rectangular, push‑through, halo‑lit cabinet sign would interface with an existing arched masonry opening and corbelled brick courses. Staff and board members discouraged concealing the brick arch and asked the applicant to consider options that would preserve the visible soldier courses and the corbeling while keeping letter height legible from the street. Staff and board members suggested using standoffs, narrowing the cabinet depth, or extending the wordmark configuration so the cabinet could be narrower and avoid covering the masonry detail.

Tony, the applicant’s representative, confirmed the sign is proposed with a brushed aluminum finish and black/green vinyl face elements and said the cabinet would be mounted flush to the wall unless the board preferred standoffs to clear the corbeling. Staff advised that at the corbelled arch there are approximately eight courses of brick between the soldier course and the corbelling — roughly 21 inches — and asked the applicant to ensure the sign clearance preserves that masonry.

Votes at a glance
- DRB motion to approve sign design for MPT at 178 South Main Street with conditions (submit green color sample to staff; resize so it does not conceal corbelling or soldier courses; final approval by staff). Vote: 7–0 in favor.

Why it matters
The board’s conditions prioritize preserving visible historic or notable masonry details on commercial storefronts while allowing businesses to update signage. The staff‑approval path is intended to expedite small revisions without returning to the full board, provided the applicant meets the stated masonry‑preservation requirements.

What’s next
Applicant to provide a physical green color sample and a revised drawing showing the narrower cabinet or standoff detail; staff will review and issue final sign approval when the masonry clearance and color are confirmed.