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Board allows directional signs for Looking Upwards/Lily Frog, continues decision on building signs
Summary
The board approved two off-site directional signs to improve wayfinding and safety for Looking Upwards and Lily Frog at 1184 East Main, but continued consideration of larger building-mounted signs to the next meeting so applicants can provide revised designs and the board can evaluate precedent.
The Portsmouth Zoning Board voted to approve two off-site directional signs for Looking Upwards and Lily Frog at 1184 East Main Road while continuing consideration of three proposed wall-mounted building signs to the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Attorney Jeffrey Castle, representing the organizations, told the board the entry to 1184 is reached from Beaupre Avenue off East Main and that parents and visitors often miss the turn. "We want to put a sign there… to make sure from a safety and access perspective that they know exactly where 1184 is," Castle said. He and Executive Director Carrie Miranda emphasized that the site houses a pre-K program (Lily Frog) and an administrative office (Looking Upwards), with enrollment and drop-off traffic that increase the need for clear wayfinding.
Board members reviewed ordinance calculations and precedent concerns: staff explained the town’s sign rules (permitted sign area by frontage and the special-use permit process) and worked through the requested sign areas—examples in the packet included building signs measured at roughly 5x25 and 5x20 (125 and 100 square feet) and a proposed 6x7 wall sign (~42 sq ft). Several members said the directional signs are important for safety and that building-facing sign sizes warrant further refinement to avoid setting broad precedent.
The board then split the petition: members moved to vote on directional signs 2B and 3B and approved them "as designed" to provide safer access. On the larger wall-mounted signs (items 4B, 11B and 12B), the board voted to continue the application to the next regular meeting to allow the applicant to return with adjusted designs and additional information on sightlines and proportionality. The transcript records the board’s preference to separate directional wayfinding from branded building signage and to allow more time to address precedent and visual scale.
The outcome lets the applicant install the approved directional signs but requires further review of the larger building signs. The continued items will return to the board at its next scheduled meeting.
