Commission continues Sociology coffee-bar sign plan after applicant fails to respond

The Planning Commission on Oct. 7 continued off calendar a Master Sign Plan amendment for the Sociology coffee bar at 564 Main Street after staff reported the applicant had not submitted requested revisions or responded to multiple contact attempts.

Carol Kendrick, the city’s director of development services, told commissioners staff had emailed and phoned the applicant (identified in the record as Kyle Stillman) following the Planning Commission’s Sept. 2 meeting and that no revised plans were received. “Given the applicant's unresponsiveness and failure to provide revised plans, staff recommends continuing this item off calendar without discussion,” Kendrick said.

Members of the public — including resident Vince Darwin and downtown merchants Greg Rezak and Don Tornincasa — urged the commission to be accommodating and to allow the business more time, saying Main Street merchants rely on signage to attract customers. “If we're gonna be pro business, allow him the time to come up with a plan and give him some latitude with his wall so that we don't have another business closing on Main Street,” Darwin said.

Some commissioners said the commission has historically proceeded without a project proponent when needed, while others argued for giving the proprietor additional opportunity to respond. Commissioners discussed setting an abandonment timeframe for inactive applications; staff said city code currently provides flexibility but can be revised later.

Commissioner Smith moved to continue the matter off calendar; the commission voted to continue the item off calendar by roll-call, with Commissioners Sylvester, Stratton, Smith and Chair Keeney recording aye votes.

Kendrick said staff will continue efforts to contact the applicant, and that the continuation allows time for the applicant to resubmit revised plans that address the commission’s prior concerns about mural scale and design. The commission’s continuation is subject to the city’s standard timelines and the possibility of later rescheduling once the applicant engages with staff.

Attempts to contact the applicant as recorded by staff included an email on Sept. 2, 2025 and phone calls on Sept. 2 and Sept. 12, 2025; staff’s recommendation to continue was grounded in the absence of any revised submission by the Oct. 7 meeting.

The commission’s roll-call was recorded on the record as four ayes and no nays; the commission asked staff to continue efforts to work with the proprietor so the business can obtain signage that fits the environment.