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Historic zoning commission approves convenience parking signs, adds post-review and finial condition
Summary
The Franklin Historic Zoning Commission approved two convenience-signage applications (108 4th Ave S and 435 Main St) as compliant with recently changed state law, and required staff review of sign posts with a small finial detail added to the 435 Main Street approval and retroactively applied to 108 4th Avenue South.
The Franklin Historic Zoning Commission on Jan. 12 approved two applications for rear-parking convenience signs at 108 4th Avenue South and 435 Main Street, finding the proposals comply with a recent change in state law even though they differ from the commission’s own sign guidelines.
At 108 4th Avenue South, staff told the commission the proposed signs measure 18 by 24 inches (3 square feet), would be mounted approximately 72 inches above grade and would be minimally visible from the right of way. Staff recommended approval with conditions, noting the newer state law governing commercial parking-lot signage supersedes some local prescriptive design requirements. The commission voted to approve the application with staff conditions.
Michael Evans, the applicant for both properties, said the July state law change removed earlier prescriptive design elements, creating an opportunity to ‘‘update the design of the signs’’ and make them ‘‘Franklin appropriate’’ by using a darker background and reduced color palette.
When considering the 435 Main Street application, commissioners asked for details about mounting posts and ornamentation. Staff and the applicant said the posts would be 2-inch square metal, painted black to resist rust. A commissioner offered an amendment requiring staff to review the post design and for the post to include a ‘‘small, simple finial’’ on top. The commission approved the amendment and then passed the amended main motion to approve the signs at 435 Main with staff conditions.
After the 435 Main Street vote, the commission voted to reopen the prior 108 4th Avenue South approval and apply the same post-review and finial requirement retroactively; the applicant indicated he was amenable to that addition. Staff will follow up with the applicant on compliance and implementation steps.
The approvals were recorded by voice vote; the transcript records unanimous ayes but does not list individual roll-call tallies.
