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Board conditionally approves expanded signage for 135 Dargan Street, asks staff to work on size and placement
Summary
The board granted a COA for multiple signs at 135 Dargan Street in the H1 Historic Overlay District—allowing two internally illuminated wall signs, a refaced blade sign and alley directional signage—but required staff and the applicant to work on the size and placement of the largest signs.
The Florence City Design Review Board conditionally approved a certificate of appropriateness for multiple signs at 135 Dargan Street, but directed staff and the applicant to refine the scale and placement of the largest elements to better fit the H1 Historic Overlay District.
Staff said the proposal (case DRB2026-O2) includes replacement of an existing blade sign (not illuminated), a new 22-square-foot internally illuminated wall sign on the front to identify second-floor “Urban Flats,” and a proposed 50-square-foot internally illuminated wall sign at the rear to identify a restaurant and bar accessible from the alley. The package also includes a 9-square-foot hanging blade sign and three 1-square-foot directional signs on the alley side.
Terrence Thomas, who identified himself as the property owner, explained the wayfinding rationale: coming down North Dargan toward the site, it can be difficult to tell the rooftop bar and rear entrance are separate from the front restaurant and apartments. “Coming from South Dargan to North Dargan, it's hard to see that…to really understand that the rooftop bar is back there,” Thomas said, arguing the additional wall-mounted directional signage would help patrons find entrances and an accessible elevator.
Sign contractors and designers described technical constraints for halo-lit channel letters and said they had reduced the proposed sign size from earlier drawings but could work with staff if the board wanted smaller dimensions. Staff reminded the board that the historic overlay generally favors externally illuminated signs, though internally illuminated signs have been approved on a case-by-case basis.
Board members expressed concern about the number of wall signs and the 50-square-foot rear sign’s scale relative to building facade constraints in the historic district; they also questioned the placement of the 22-square-foot front sign above the typical sign band. The board made a motion approving the signage package while explicitly directing staff and the applicant to work together to reduce or reposition the two most sensitive signs so they better fit the historic streetscape. The motion passed and the certificate will be issued with those conditions.
Specific elements referenced in staff’s presentation: a 22-square-foot illuminated front wall sign, a 50-square-foot illuminated rear wall sign, a 9-square-foot hanging blade sign, and three 1-square-foot directional signs.
