Zoning board approves revised signage package for 75 Sylvan Street with conditions

The Town of Danvers Zoning Board of Appeals voted to grant a variance/waiver for a new sign package at 75 Sylvan Street (docket 25-55116), approving a package the applicant said would replace scattered directional signs with four larger entrance signs.

The applicant, 75 Sylvan Street LLC, sought relief under the town's new sign bylaw to allow additional freestanding and wall signs at the multi-tenant industrial complex. Attorney Nancy McCann said the property is "over 15 acres" with "over 260,000 square feet of industrial space" and that the proposal replaces about 15 internal directional signs with four entrance signs and two larger address signs on Sylvan Street and Adams Street.

Board members and the applicant focused much of the hearing on how the new Danvers sign bylaw treats very large sites. McCann said the package totals 184 square feet of signage and argued the design is "a reasonable, attractive, signage that will adequately identify the property, and, but not be overburdensome." Sign consultant Ed Spinney described the applicant's goal as cleanup and legibility: "What we are trying to do is clean up all the clutter and bring a lot of small signs into larger signs into, 4 equal signs, 1 for each entrance area." Planning Director Brian Cicelli and the board said the town is already reviewing the sign bylaw for needed corrections that did not anticipate large industrial frontages.

Public comment included neighbors and one resident who said trucks still arrive overnight and that clearer delivery signage would help. Linda Polcari of Pine Street said trucks still make noise at night and asked that the Adams Street entrance clearly indicate it is Adams Street so drivers and truckers can navigate the site safely.

Board discussion centered on brightness and setback of the proposed signs, tenant signage that was installed without the owner's authorization, and whether the new signs would create light spill onto public streets. The applicant said the proposed signs are LED-lit push-through letters and that illumination is limited to about "2 feet of the sign" and would be set back from the street (most signs about 10 feet from the property line; the corner sign set back further to meet intersection-triangle requirements).

After deliberation the board amended the applicant's request to match the site renderings and approved a variance/waiver permitting three double-sided signs and one single-sided sign, rather than the two-and-two described earlier in some paperwork. The board recorded three conditions: that the illuminated light arc of the signs not extend past the property line; that the applicant work with the town to remove a tenant sign that had been permitted in error; and that all existing directional signs targeted for removal be taken down.

The board voted in voice to approve the motion; the record does not contain a roll-call tally.

Impact and next steps: The applicant will coordinate removal of the smaller directional signs and work with town staff to ensure the tenant sign is removed or corrected. Separately, town staff and the planning department said they will pursue corrections to the new sign bylaw to better account for large industrial sites.

Docket: 25-55116