Design review approved for 700 East Maple; board grants waiver for non‑cutoff lights

The Birmingham City Design Review Board on April 2 approved a design‑review application to refresh the exterior of an existing four‑story office building at 700 East Maple, granting a waiver for the building’s proposed non‑cutoff LED accent lighting and requiring compliance with city department comments.

Nick (staff member) told the board the project would retain the building’s footprint and use as office space and would add fiber‑cement panels, paint and architectural lighting. Staff said the building sits in the Triangle District overlay and recommended approval while noting some existing nonconforming conditions — for example, the building lacks an entrance every 50 feet along its frontage, a condition described as a pre‑existing legal nonconformity.

John Guma, the applicant’s project lead, described the planned LED strips as recessed in the brick columns and intended to “wash the walls” as an architectural accent rather than pathway lighting. Guma explained the meaning of “cutoff” lighting to the board: “Cutoff light basically means it’s shielded from sending light into the night sky,” he said.

Sam Landry moved to adopt the planning department findings and approve the design‑review application for 700 East Maple for Gamma Group with two additions: that the Design Review Board grant a waiver for the proposed non‑cutoff fixtures and that the applicant comply with all city department requests. The motion was seconded (second not recorded in the transcript) and approved by voice vote.

City staff noted signs are not part of the application and require a separate sign permit process. The applicant said no new rooftop equipment or signage is proposed and that landscaping enhancements are planned.

The board’s approval included a direction to place any granted waiver in the motion language to create a clear record of the decision.