Alpharetta board delegates final approval for 131 Roswell Street sign after design concerns

The City of Alpharetta Design Review Board on Friday took up a joint signage request from New Vitality Medical and Heritage Closing for 131 Roswell Street, ultimately denying the application as submitted and delegating final sign approval to staff.

Don Karl, representing New Vitality Medical, and Paul Yaku of Heritage Closing presented a two-line sign concept that combined both tenant names to meet the city's 40-square-foot limit. Karl told the board the applicants had reduced earlier, larger proposals and "we feel we are absolutely 100% in compliance with your code," while describing the proposed lighting as a halo-style, backlit condition that would avoid prohibited internally lit box signs.

Board members and staff expressed concerns about the sign's placement relative to building geometry, existing soldier-course brick bands and two crepe myrtles near the front façade. Members noted the building's pitched roof and the existing painted signage on the building's side mean the high-parapet option could be obscured from the street; several members recommended centering the sign over the central, client-facing entry and adding a painted or framed backer panel to improve legibility and to separate the two business names.

Brett Schroeder, planning staff, advised the applicants on materials and code limits for halo backlighting and recommended a painted raceway to match surrounding brick if a mid-facade placement were used.

After discussion the board adopted a motion to "deny the application as submitted and delegate final approval back to staff considering the comments from the board today." The motion, made by Mr. Swing and seconded by Mr. Portkel, passed 7-0. The board recorded no public comments on the item.

Staff will work with the applicants on final placement (including centering over the front entry), backer or dual backers to visually separate the two tenant names, exact color samples and the halo-backlight details. The record shows the board recommended the applicants also evaluate modifications to the monument sign and to remove or re-locate a crepe myrtle if needed and permitted by the property owner, but final direction and approval were left with staff.

The decision obliges the applicants to return to staff with materials and a final layout that addresses the board's concerns; the board did not specify a variance or a specific relief from the code.