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Council approves sign bracket for 114 N. Third, debates LED sign details and HARB review
Summary
Council approved a certificate of appropriateness for a metal sign bracket at 114 North Third Street after Historic Architectural Review Board recommendation; council discussion focused on whether LED messaging and sign size are appropriate for the historic district and whether HARB reviewed attachment details.
The Columbia Borough Council on Jan. 14 approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for a metal bracket to support a sign at 114 North Third Street after the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) recommended approval with conditions.
HARB’s recommendation noted that the bracket should be attached “in the least damaging way” and be reversible — specifically, bolted into mortar rather than drilled into historic brick. Preservation commenters and several council members questioned whether the application packet clearly depicted the bracket and how the LED sign illustrated in the materials would meet sign ordinance requirements for size, brightness and movement in the historic district. One council member recalled a prior case involving Saint Paul’s church where an electronic sign had generated neighborhood opposition; others said HARB and the preservation trust reviewed the submission and recommended approval subject to reversible attachment.
Applicant representatives said the planned sign is 40 inches (3.2 feet) wide, two‑sided, and would use LED lighting for color changes (seasonal color shifts), not for continuous flashing or messaging; they said brightness can be adjusted. Staff said HARB’s jurisdiction covered the attachment and whether the bracket was appropriate and that the sign itself met the borough’s sign ordinance requirements; HARB recommended approval with the reversible-attachment condition.
Why it matters: the decision balances historic-preservation principles with commercial signage needs in Columbia’s historic district. HARB’s condition — attaching the bracket to mortar rather than brick and ensuring reversibility — is intended to preserve the building fabric while permitting limited signage.
Next steps: sign installation must comply with HARB’s condition and applicable sign code provisions; staff advised that any electronic messaging must conform to brightness, size and movement restrictions in the sign ordinance.
