Boerne historic commission approves three business signs with color and material stipulations

The Boerne Historic Landmark Commission on Feb. 4 approved certificates of appropriateness for three commercial signs in the Boerne Historic District, setting color and material stipulations intended to maintain visual consistency along Main Street and adjacent facades.

Commissioners said the decisions aim to balance business branding with the district—s design guidelines and the Unified Development Code. The approvals cover a monument sign at 615 South Main for Native Blends, an attached canopy sign for an annex at 104 East Hosack for Native Blends, and a wall sign at 231 South Main for Texas Treasures Fine Jewelry.

Staff told the commission the site at 615 South Main occupies a contributing building originally constructed around 1923 as the First Baptist Church of Boerne and now used for commercial tenants. Staff described the proposed monument panel as a rectangular wood sign face measuring "1 foot high by 96 inches wide," with a brown background and cream/off-white lettering, two fonts and non-illuminated. Staff recommended approval under the Unified Development Code and the city—s historic district guidelines.

Commissioners voted to approve the certificate for the monument sign with stipulations that the panel use a black background with white lettering and match the material of the other panels on the monument (whether that is MDO wood or metal), citing a desire for consistency with other signage across the street. That motion passed 6-0.

The commission then considered a second, related item for an attached canopy sign on the annex building at 104 East Hosack. Staff described that building as a circa-1950 Sunday-school annex with a concrete masonry unit facade and a shed-style standing-seam metal roof; the proposed canopy panel was described as 20 inches by 48 inches, metal, with a brown background and white border. Commissioners debated whether the East Hosack sign should match the black-background standard set for the monument sign or be allowed to remain brown to better match the wood posts and facade on that side. An initial motion to approve the canopy sign with a brown background failed after the chair cast a tie-breaking negative vote. A subsequent motion to approve the canopy sign with a black background and white lettering passed 4-2.

During the 231 South Main discussion, staff noted a scrivener—s error in the agenda (the item was listed as a canopy sign when the submission and exhibits were for a wall sign). The commission was shown a proposed metal wall sign for Texas Treasures Fine Jewelry measuring 15 feet by 3 feet with a tan background and burgundy lettering and logo. Staff advised that the city does not regulate the commercial message or business name content on signs unless the content is inappropriate; content decisions are generally outside the commission—s scope. The wall sign was approved 6-0.

The commission also approved the consent agenda minutes from Jan. 7, 2025, by a 6-0 vote and adjourned after the action items.

Commission discussion included repeated references to ensuring consistent material thickness and background color across multi-tenant monument signs, and advice to applicants that they may return to revise color choices if needed. Staff clarified the differences among wall, canopy and monument signs when asked and confirmed that the packet exhibits matched the intended proposals despite the agenda wording error for the Texas Treasures item.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (minutes from 01/07/2025): approved, 6-0. - Action Item 5A (615 South Main — monument sign for Native Blends): approved with stipulations (black background, white lettering, matching material), 6-0. - Action Item 5B (104 East Hosack — attached canopy sign for Native Blends): initial motion to approve as brown denied after chair tie-breaker; later approved as black background with white lettering, 4-2. - Action Item 5C (231 South Main — wall sign for Texas Treasures Fine Jewelry): approved as presented (wall sign; agenda listed canopy in error), 6-0.

The commission directed staff to notify applicants of the color/material stipulations and noted applicants retain the option to return with alternative proposals if they decline the stipulated colors.

Ending: The meeting concluded after brief staff comments and a unanimous motion to adjourn.