Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Downtown venue owner urges review of Historic Zoning Board and flexible lighting rules
Summary
Brian Ponder, proprietor of a downtown venue and former Jackson Theatre volunteer, asked the board to review the Historic Zoning Board’s consistency and to consider updated lighting guidelines after disagreement over fixtures used on his venue’s facade.
Brian Ponder, owner of a downtown venue and a long‑time local volunteer, told the board he has concerns about the town’s Historic Zoning Board and how its members apply rules, especially regarding lighting and signage.
Ponder said he supported new lighting technologies and that the Jackson Theatre uses 95% LED fixtures and uplighting on its exterior. He said his venue seeks to use a flexible fixture (described as a ‘‘go boat’’) that can change light patterns and colors quickly for programming and that the current historic-sign and lighting guidelines do not cover that fixture. He told the board he was willing to make the fixture available for town use but said his recent experience with the Historic Zoning Board left him concerned about consistency and impartiality in enforcement.
Ponder asked the board to conduct a hand-check or review of the Historic Zoning Board and to convene a representative committee to discuss town-wide coordination among boards and departments. He said better coordination would reduce conflict and improve downtown operations around events.
