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Commission approves internally illuminated sign for Boerne Bioworks at 701 South Main despite historic guideline variance
Summary
The Historic Landmark Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for a new sign for Boerne Bioworks at 701 South Main Street, finding the design met UDC and dark‑sky standards even though it does not conform to the historic district guideline prohibiting internal illumination.
The Boerne Historical Landmark Commission on June 3 approved a certificate of appropriateness for a new sign at 701 South Main Street for Boerne Bioworks, a wellness spa, despite the sign’s internal illumination being inconsistent with the historic district guideline.
Planning staff (Foster Simonson) told commissioners the property lies inside the historic district and is classified as a “low contributing” structure originally constructed in 1866. The proposed sign features green and white lettering on a black background, uses two fonts (a sans serif and a calligraphic font) and is internally illuminated. Staff found the sign met Unified Development Code (UDC) requirements and historic design guidelines in several respects — limited number of colors and fonts — but did not meet the historic district guideline that discourages internal illumination. Staff also reported the sign complies with the city’s dark‑sky regulations and recommended flexibility because the property sits at the southern edge of downtown.
The applicant said the sign’s internal illumination already exists and that the project would swap out the sign face without increasing size or scope. Commissioners discussed the prevalence of internally lit signs along Main Street and noted the proposed sign would be relatively dim compared with other existing signs.
Commissioner Mines moved to approve the certificate of appropriateness; a second was recorded verbally and the chair called the vote in favor. The commission approved the sign permit. The minutes show the new sign will be subject to the conditions and standards in the certificate of appropriateness and that further applications (for example, sign mounting or changes to illumination) may require separate approvals.
Three other sign items on the agenda (agenda items 2025‑247, 2025‑248 and 2025‑249, including a proposed sign at 101 South Main Street for Mines Meat Market) were announced by the chair but tabled to next month because the commission did not have a quorum to vote on those items.
