Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Commercial Signage Awning Lighting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves signage with limits, modifies proposed awning and backs applicant on lighting at 94 East Main Street
Summary
The Design Review Commission approved signage with conditions, approved a modified awning (columns removed and depth limited) and approved the applicant’s selected lighting fixture for 94 East Main Street after discussion and an amendment to remove columns.
The Design Review Commission considered a multipart application for 94 East Main Street — covering signage, an awning and lighting — and took separate votes on each element, approving signage with staff conditions, approving the awning with an amendment removing proposed columns and limiting its depth to the previously existing projection or less, and approving the applicant’s preferred lighting fixture despite staff recommending denial of that particular lantern style.
Staff reported that 94 East Main Street is part of a combined set of buildings at the gateway to the Downtown Franklin Historic District and described three sign types proposed on two facades: a wall sign (14.75 square feet) on a false-front building, three window signs on that same false-front façade, and on the adjacent frame building two window signs and a flag sign. Staff noted the wall sign exceeded the design-guideline recommendation of 9 square feet and was located at about 16 feet from grade (guideline maximum 12 feet); the zoning ordinance permits wall signs on a parapet but the proposal did not meet guideline recommendations. Staff recommended approval of the awning and rear lighting and recommended denial of the front K-style lanterns, asking the commission to review the lantern K and K1 dimensions before deciding.
Aubrey Olaski, the applicant for 94 East Main Street, presented color samples and said the owners preferred a muted solid green awning with cream piping; she also explained the preference to keep gold-leaf window lettering and the top wall sign as priorities for branding. Commissioners and staff discussed quantity, placement and sizing. Staff’s conditions for signage required limiting the false-front building façade to three signs (one sign removed), reducing the wall sign to 9 square feet and installing it no higher than 12 feet from grade, applying window signage fully within the interior and capping window coverage at 15% of window or grouped window area; staff also required material samples for awning fabric and submission of lantern details for review.
The commission voted to approve signage with staff conditions. On the awning the commission first moved to approve the awning in solid green but later adopted an amendment that removed the proposed four columns and required that the awning’s depth match the previous span or be less; the amended main motion passed. Commissioners asked the applicant to provide a more technical drawing from the tent/awning company showing angles and column details for staff review, and staff will review those details.
On lighting, the commission heard that the existing fixtures were larger and some commissioners favored the replacement “in kind.” One commissioner moved to approve fixture style K (the applicant’s choice) over staff’s recommendation against the more elongated K fixture; the motion passed with a majority. Commissioners directed that all fixtures be matte black and asked staff to receive lantern specifications prior to permitting.
No public commenters spoke against the application during the meeting; the applicant agreed to supply fabric samples and the vendor’s technical drawings as requested by staff.
