Commission weighs code changes to let designated buildings bypass some downtown design rules and to permit interior vinyl window signs

The Historic Preservation Commission spent significant time reviewing proposed development-code amendments that would affect downtown design standards and signage. Staff recommended policy language that would allow properties that are locally designated, or are within designated districts, and that have an approved Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) to rely on the COA review and not be strictly bound by some downtown design standards for alterations.

Staff member Sarah explained the proposal as a way to avoid applying standards intended primarily for new construction to historic, small-scale downtown buildings. “To essentially say that if you're designated, if you have an approved C O a, you can ignore these design standards. You can pull from them. You can look at them,” Sarah said. She said the change would let staff and applicants focus on what is historically appropriate for older buildings rather than forcing a design standard intended for new construction onto historic facades.

Sarah noted that any formal code change must follow the city's public process: the planning commission makes a recommendation and City Council must pass ordinance readings, including first and second reading. She told commissioners they would be able to review and sign off on proposed language before it proceeds to planning commission and council.

Signage was a separate but related topic. The city's downtown sign zoning code currently requires signs on glazing to be silk-screened, back-painted, metal-leafed or sandblasted, and expressly prohibits vinyl letters or other vinyl applications on windows. Staff noted that those techniques can be expensive and, when windows must be replaced to change a sandblasted sign, replacement cost can be high. Staff proposed allowing interior-applied vinyl decals (referred to in the meeting as "bridal" vinyl) as a lower-cost, temporary alternative in non-protected circumstances while retaining size and placement limits from the sign code.

Commissioner Robert articulated a common concern: allowing vinyl could create a broad range of visual outcomes downtown. “If we add bridal. I think and have no control over content color, etcetera. Then this whole world of wacky has opened up in a way it didn't exist before,” Robert said. Sarah responded that legal limits prevent the city from regulating content; the city can regulate material, size and placement but not the sign's message. She also suggested quality controls such as requiring sign work to be done by a sign contractor or meet commercial-grade standards (and noted ASTM standards exist for some sign materials).

Commissioners discussed adopting an administrative, staff-level review for many signage approvals so that temporary or modest signs would not need to come before the commission. Sarah warned that introducing administrative review for signage is a new process and could be seen as an extra step, but she added that staff-level approvals move faster than public hearings.

Direction and next steps: commissioners asked staff to compile examples from similar jurisdictions, including sample vinyl signage that would be acceptable and sample language for administrative review of signs. Staff also will clarify which code chapters (the downtown design standards versus the separate sign code) are affected by any proposed change and will return recommended ordinance language for review before it goes to planning commission and City Council.