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Design review board approves two front-facing signs for 1858 Coffee House at 131 S. Santa Fe
Summary
The Salina Design Review Board approved a certificate of compatibility allowing two vinyl wall signs applied to the transom windows of 1858 Coffee House at 131 South Santa Fe, with a condition that significant design changes return to staff or the board.
The Salina Design Review Board on Thursday approved a certificate of compatibility allowing two new wall signs for 1858 Coffee House at 131 South Santa Fe.
Staff said the proposed 18-inch-by-65-inch vinyl signs would be applied directly to the transom glass on either side of the building entrance and would total about 8.125 square feet each, covering roughly 63% of the transom window area. That exceeds the city’s 33% window-coverage threshold in the sign code, which triggered the certificate-of-compatibility review.
The signs are intended to increase visibility for the coffee shop from Santa Fe Avenue, staff said. Planning staff reported the proposed lettering and placement would be “coordinated with the overall façade composition,” subordinate to the building’s features and in conformance with the C-4 zoning district’s numeric sign limits. The C-4 standard allows up to 3 square feet of sign area per lineal foot of street frontage (50 feet here, or up to 150 square feet total) and a maximum of four signs per business and ten signs per zoning lot.
Todd Welsh, who identified himself as owner of Salina Homes and operator of 1858 Coffee House, told the board that customers had trouble seeing the small projecting sign now in place and that front-facing vinyl signs would improve wayfinding for people driving and walking on Santa Fe. “We have had complaints from consumers… that they can’t see that small sign,” Welsh said.
Staff recommended approval with a standard condition that any significant changes to the approved design be submitted to staff for review and potentially returned to the board. A board member moved to approve that option; a colleague seconded. The board voted 3–0 to approve the certificate of compatibility with the condition.
The approval allows the applicant to proceed with the transom vinyl signs as presented. If the applicant proposes substantial design changes later, staff may require a return to the board for additional review.
