Historic Preservation Commission rejects window-decal signs for mental-health board at 40 N. Sandusky

The Delaware Historic Preservation Commission voted 4-2 on Feb. 26, 2025, to deny a certificate of appropriateness for upper-floor window-decal signs proposed by the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board at 40 North Sandusky Street.

The commission’s decision follows a staff presentation recommending approval with three conditions and a 30-minute discussion in which commissioners raised questions about precedent, limits of the commission’s authority, and the pending city sign-code rewrite. Diane (city planning staff) explained the site is in the downtown historic district, zoned B-2 (Central Business District), and that the 3-story, noncontributing infill building houses multiple upper-floor tenants who say visitors have difficulty locating offices. The applicant, Steve Brown, communications director for the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, told the commission the decals would help clients navigate the building and give the agency a clearer identity in downtown.

Commissioners who voted against the request said they were reluctant to create what they described as an exception while the city is updating sign rules. "Why are we making an exception here if we're not changing our policy?" Commissioner (Keith) Fagan asked, noting the commission’s 2011 condition limiting wall or projecting signs above the first story. Chair Sherry Rivera and Vice Chair Mark Smiles both supported the decals, with Smiles making the motion to approve the application "as written ... including the three conditions." The roll call was: Bolton (No); Ho (No); Fagan (No); Councilman Ryder (No); Vice Chair Smiles (Yes); Chair Rivera (Yes). The tally was two in favor, four opposed; the motion failed.

Staff and commissioners also clarified that the 2011 condition (referred to in the packet as HPC 2011-11660) restricts wall or projecting signs above the first story and does not explicitly prohibit upper-floor window decals. Planning staff said the proposed decals differ from projecting or wall signs and that variances are reviewed on a case-by-case basis; staff added the city is drafting standards for upper-floor signage as part of an ongoing zoning and sign-code update and recommended approval with conditions in the meantime.

Following the vote, staff told the applicant the city will follow up with next steps and options; Diane said she would send a follow-up message to the applicant the next day or Friday. The commission did not adopt any emergency or interim policy changes at the meeting. The question of whether the city should allow upper-floor window signage more broadly — and, if so, what standards should apply — remains pending as staff continues the sign-code update and plans to draft architectural-standard language for upper-floor signs.

The commission’s discussion also referenced prior local examples of upper-floor window signage, including the Delaware Gazette’s decals and the Solar Saloon precedent; planning staff said those examples inform but do not automatically approve other cases because variances are site-specific. The applicant’s request had sought three sets of paired window decals (three sets of two decals) on the Sandusky-, Winter- and parking-lot-facing elevations of 40 North Sandusky. Staff had recommended approval with three conditions listed in the staff report.

Diane confirmed staff will provide follow-up to the applicant explaining options; no further administrative actions or approvals were issued that night.