Commission approves Sherlock’s projected neon sign with minor design tweak

The St. Helens Planning Commission approved an architectural review for a projecting neon sign proposed for Sherlock’s Market at 161 First Street, with direction that the applicant add a modest border or use a darker background to reduce the appearance of a plain white box.

City staff said the proposed sign meets size and illumination guidelines: the sign face would be 12.5 square feet (the code allows 20 square feet per sign face) and the lettering height is about 8 inches. Staff noted the code allows neon signs if they do not obscure architectural detail, are appropriately sized and do not flash. Commissioners expressed general support for neon as an authentic downtown element but asked for a border or darker background to make the sign look more historically consistent with existing downtown signs.

Dale Clark of Clark Signs, the sign contractor, and the business owner agreed to add a non‑neon painted or vinyl border, or to darken the background to integrate the sign with the storefront and the building’s awning. The commission moved that the sign complies with architectural guidelines subject to that design refinement; the motion passed by voice vote.