Delray Beach board denies Hyde Park canopy signs, approves Gabriela's blade sign at Atlanta Crossing

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — The Site Plan Review and Appearance Board on May 28 denied a request from Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse for two additional canopy signs at the Atlanta Crossing development but approved a separate request from Gabriela's for a single projecting blade sign.

The decisions came after the board reviewed amendments to the Atlanta Crossing master sign program for Phase 1, Buildings 1 and 3. Susie Rodriguez, senior planner for the City of Delray Beach, entered file number 2025148 into the record and summarized the history and standards, saying the development’s master sign program was approved in 2021 and that amendments are required when tenants seek more or larger signage than the program allows.

Rodriguez told the board the development was approved in 2013 and is being constructed in phases; Phase 1 has four buildings and has had prior amendments. "Amendments to the master sign program are only required when a tenant is wanting to do more than what is allowed in the master sign program," she said.

Anna Manresa of Amazing Signs, representing the applicants, described the proposals. Manresa said the Hyde Park request would add two canopy-mounted signs measuring "15 square feet on each side" of the restaurant canopy (two signs total on the canopy, in addition to corner wall signs the tenant already holds). Manresa described the Gabriela's request as "the blade sign for Gabriela's, 7.5 square feet, non illuminated," placed in the pedestrian walkway between Buildings 1 and 3.

Board members discussed aesthetic consistency, precedent and spacing. Board member Jose Alvarez said he had "no problem with the signs as long as there's is it consistent with some of what the other tenants are doing," asking whether other tenants have a similar number of signs. Rodriguez and the applicant pointed to examples previously approved by amendment, including tenants with multiple signs on different frontages.

Several board members said the Hyde Park signs appeared clustered at a single corner. Board member Christina Morrison said she struggled to identify how the four signs would appear on the building and said, "I am a no on Hyde Park, but I am okay with Gabrielle." Wenske Villanue said she had concerns about Hyde Park having four signs; Robert Lewis and Annette Gray said they did not have a problem earlier in the discussion.

The board voted first on Hyde Park’s request to add the canopy signs and approved the motion to deny that amendment. The roll call on the denial registered Christina Morrison: yes (vote to deny); Jose Alvarez: no; Wenske Villanue: no; Robert Lewis: yes; Annette Gray: yes. The denial therefore carried by a 3–2 vote.

The board then voted to approve the amendment to allow Gabriela's one projecting blade sign on the south façade of the east corner tenant in Building 3. The approval vote was unanimous among members present: Christina Morrison: yes; Jose Alvarez: yes; Wenske Villanue: yes; Robert Lewis: yes; Annette Gray: yes.

Rodriguez reminded the public that board decisions are final but appealable to the City Commission; she said the item would be listed on the City Commission land-use agenda for June 17 as an appealable report. No members of the public spoke on the item, and there was no cross-examination or rebuttal.

The board’s action resolves the two separate amendment requests as follows: Hyde Park’s request for two additional canopy signs was denied; Gabriela's request for a 7.5-square-foot, non-illuminated projecting sign was approved. The master sign program remains otherwise in effect and will be revisited as future tenants or phase-2 amendments are proposed.

Staff announcements at the end of the meeting noted the city will launch a full electronic permitting system on June 17 and invited board members and the public to an in-person demonstration at City Hall.