Planning commission approves Community Foundation sign after size trimmed to ordinance limit

The City of Martinsville Planning Commission approved a historic-district sign for the Community Foundation’s planned space at 88 North Main Street on July 22, subject to a reduction in projection to comply with the district rule limiting overhangs to 36 inches. Kim Cole, president of the Community Foundation, told the commission the organization applied to place a two-sided hanging sign on the Tom Fillory (Fenneman) building and would not manufacture the sign until the commission approved the design. Commissioner Steve Bode moved to approve the sign on condition that the projection not exceed 36 inches and that the bottom edge remain at least 8 feet above the sidewalk; the motion carried with one commissioner opposed. Commission members noted the city’s historic sign ordinance restricts how far signs may project over sidewalks and asked staff to provide applicants a simple form showing building frontage and allowed sign area to streamline future reviews. The applicant said she would work with a local sign shop to resize the proposed sign to meet the 36-inch limit. The commission’s motion specified the approved sign dimension was no more than 36 inches across; the applicant may select the sign height so long as the bottom clears 8 feet above the sidewalk. The applicant also said the space should be available to the Community Foundation by the end of summer.