Commissioners approve Acadia Matthews elevations and master sign plan; Publix signage sizes noted

The Town of Matthews Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two related planning items for the Acadia Matthews development on Nov. 10: revised side elevations for proposed townhomes and a master sign plan that adjusts signage allotments across the retail and residential portions of the site.

Planning director Jay Camp told the board the applicant submitted side elevations and that front elevations remained unchanged; staff offered to answer commissioner questions. When the master sign plan was presented, consultant Darren Holman and representatives from Pappas Properties and Southwood explained the plan reallocates square‑foot signage allotments to allow a larger presence for an anchor grocer. The applicant said Publix would seek up to a 156‑square‑foot main sign and a 78‑square‑foot secondary wall sign, with smaller tenants retaining remaining allocations.

Commissioners asked how the proposed signage would be lit and whether illumination could be disruptive to nearby properties. A Southwood representative described standard channel‑letter signs that are "internally illuminated" with options for face‑lit or back‑lit treatments and said the lighting is "just so you can read the letters" rather than to brightly illuminate parking lots.

Commissioner Ken McCool moved to approve the revised side elevations and later moved to approve the master sign plan for the site; both motions passed with unanimous votes. Staff noted monument sign heights would remain under the 10‑foot district maximum and that the plan includes directional and freestanding signage placements.

What’s next: Approved elevations and the master sign plan will be incorporated into permitting and sign‑permit review; staff said any outstanding lighting decisions would be addressed during sign permit review and by applicable ordinance limits.