Prescott commission approves small illuminated sign for Speakeasy, allows LED retrofit up to 3,000K

The City of Prescott Preservation Commission on July 11 approved HP25-003, allowing a new 3-square-foot illuminated wall sign and a 26-square-foot replacement face for an existing cabinet at the Hotel Saint Michael, 207 West Gurley Street, with an LED retrofit capped at 3,000 kelvin.

The decision matters because the Hotel Saint Michael sits in the Courthouse Plaza historic district, where the commission applies district guidelines and the City’s land development code to signage and lighting decisions.

Kaylee Nunez, a city preservation staff member who presented the application, summarized the proposal and staff analysis. Nunez said the project would add a small aluminum sign over a stairwell that leads to a basement speakeasy and would replace the face of an existing east-side cabinet. "The face change is 26 square feet and then the new sign is 3 square feet," Nunez said. She told the commission the cabinet is already in place, so staff treated the replacement as a panel swap rather than a wholly new cabinet.

Nunez analyzed the application under Chapter 8, Courthouse Plaza District guidelines and the City’s land development code. She told commissioners that the guidelines discourage box-type cabinet signs and prefer incandescent lighting, but that the existing cabinet is grandfathered in and that the commission must consider the proposal in that context. Nunez also said the land development code limits outdoor lighting color temperature: "Our land development code specifies outdoor lighting cannot be more than 3,000 k. So that'll be part of the planning approval." The commission made the LED limit part of the motion.

Robert Markoff, who identified himself as representing MorganSign, described material and color choices and confirmed the applicant would use warm-white LEDs. "The attempt was to use either 3,000 or 4,000 Kelvin LEDs in there, to keep it more of a warm white," Markoff said; he added the panels would be an "ivory translucent" for the letters. Commissioner Diane Travis asked specifically for a lower color temperature, saying she preferred "the lower" option; Markoff replied that 3,000 K was acceptable.

Commissioners also asked whether the proposed graphics constituted advertising for an alcohol brand. Commissioner Jim McCarver and others pressed staff to confirm that the design was the speakeasy’s business logo and not a reproduction of a liquor label. Nunez said the logo provided by the owner appears to be the business’s own mark and not a liquor brand, but commissioners requested written confirmation from the applicant. The commission’s motion included approval "with the LED retrofit not to exceed the 3,000 level," and commissioners directed staff to obtain owner confirmation by email; Nunez said staff would require removal or revision of the graphic if it proved to be advertising.

Janelle Volhansseff made the motion to approve and Diane Travis seconded. The commission voted in favor; the chair announced the vote carried unanimously.

Next steps: staff will document the LED specification in planning approval and request written confirmation from the applicant that the graphic is the business’s logo and not a branded liquor reproduction. If staff determines the panel reproduces advertising, the application will be returned for revision.