Commission backs sign and awning design for Max Gee Creech visitor center, forwards recommendation to council

The Town of Selma Appearance Commission voted March 17 to recommend a specific sign and awning design for the Max Gee Creech Visitor Center at 104 West Anderson Street and forwarded the recommendation to town council.

Town staff (Taylor) presented three lettering options and several awning swatches for the building’s white façade. Commissioners expressed a preference for “option 3” (dark-blue lettering on a white background) and discussed matching the awning color to a darker “royal tweed” blue from the town logo palette. The commission asked staff to attempt a striped royal-blue-and-white awning to match the logo; if that was not feasible, the fallback would be a solid royal-blue awning.

Procedural steps and votes

- Motion to open quasi-judicial hearing: moved by Miss Rainer; second by Miss Lacey; hearing opened. - Staff report and evidence entered into the record: motion by Miss Rainer; second by Miss Smith; passed. - Motion to close the quasi-judicial hearing: moved by Miss Smith; second by Miss Rainer; hearing closed. - Motion to recommend Option 3 for lettering and Option 1 (royal tweed striped with white) for the awning with a plan B of solid royal tweed blue if striping is unavailable: mover — Chair (unnamed); second — Miss Smith; voice vote in favor. - Secondary motion: if town council approves the commission's recommendation, staff and chair are authorized to finalize and approve the COA without returning to the commission. Moved by Miss Rainer; seconded by Miss Smith; passed by voice vote.

Discussion and design details

Commissioners and staff discussed lettering color and awning styles. One commissioner recommended the awning color match the visitor center logo’s darker blue. Taylor indicated the proposed lettering would appear in an inset space and that samples and swatches would be shared with the commission and council. Commissioners favored option 3 and asked staff to match awning fabric to the royal tweed blue; if matching exact logo color proved infeasible, the fallback was a solid royal-blue awning.

Outcome and next steps

The commission will forward its recommendation (option 3 for lettering; royal-tweed awning with stripe preference and solid blue fallback) to town council. If council approves the recommendation, staff was authorized to finalize the COA to avoid returning the matter to the commission.

Speakers

- Taylor — Town staff presenter (government). First reference: 00:21:57 - Chair (unnamed) — Chair, Appearance Commission (government). First reference: 00:00:00 - Miss Smith — Appearance Commission member (government). First reference: 00:01:41 - Miss Rainer — Appearance Commission member (government). First reference: 00:00:49 - Miss Lacey — Appearance Commission member (government). First reference: 00:00:49

Authorities

- policy: Selma Land Use Plan 2040 (used as downtown design guidance). Referenced_by: ["104-west-anderson-max-gee-creech-sign-awning"]

Actions

- kind: motion identifiers: {agenda_item_id:"104-W-Anderson-COA"} motion: "Recommend Option 3 (dark-blue lettering on white background) for the Max Gee Creech Visitor Center sign; recommend awning Option 1 (royal tweed striped with white) with fallback to solid royal tweed blue if striping is unavailable; forward recommendation to town council." mover: "Chair (unnamed)" second: "Miss Smith" vote_record: [] tally: {yes:5,no:0,abstain:0,absent:0,recused:0} legal_threshold: {met:true,notes:"Voice vote carried; recommendation forwarded to council."} outcome: "approved" notes: "Staff to provide color swatches to council; recommendation forwarded." amendments: [] implementation: {assignee_dept:"Planning/Visitor Services",follow_up_tasks:[{task:"Provide swatches and finalize design details for council review",due_date:"not specified",status:"planned"}],reporting_requirements:"Council review and staff follow-up"}

- kind: motion identifiers: {agenda_item_id:"104-W-Anderson-COA-secondary"} motion: "If town council approves the commission's recommendation, authorize staff and chair to finalize and approve the Certificate of Appropriateness without returning to the commission." mover: "Miss Rainer" second: "Miss Smith" tally: {yes:5,no:0,abstain:0,absent:0,recused:0} legal_threshold: {met:true,notes:"Voice vote carried; delegation to staff authorized contingent on council approval."} outcome: "approved" notes: "Contingent delegation to expedite issuance if council accepts recommendation." implementation: {assignee_dept:"Planning/Visitor Services",follow_up_tasks:[{task:"If council approves, finalize COA and issue order",due_date:"not specified",status:"planned"}],reporting_requirements:"Notify commission if COA finalized under delegation."}

Discussion_decision

Discussion: Commissioners deliberated lettering options, awning color and stripe vs. solid styles. The commission preferred option 3 lettering and a royal-blue awning matched to the town logo palette.

Decisions: Recommendation to council for option 3 lettering and royal-tweed awning (striped preference) approved; secondary motion authorizes staff to finalize COA if council accepts the recommendation.

Clarifying_details

- property: 104 West Anderson Street (Town-owned building referred to as Max Gee Creech Visitor Center) - design_choice: lettering option 3 (dark-blue lettering on white background); awning preference royal tweed blue striped with white, fallback solid royal tweed blue - process: staff to provide swatches and coordinate with council; secondary motion delegates authority to staff/chair contingent on council approval

Proper_names

- 104 West Anderson Street - Max Gee Creech Visitor Center (as referred to in the meeting)

Community_relevance

- geographies:["Downtown Selma","West Anderson Street"] - funding_sources:[] - impact_groups:["visitor services","tourists","downtown merchants"]

Meeting_context

- engagement_level:{"speakers_count":5,"duration_minutes":44,"items_count":6} - implementation_risk:"low" - history:[{"date":"2025-03-17","note":"Recommendation to council made; council review pending."}]