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Commission approves three SL Permanent Jewelry signs but denies north-side panel after parking confusion
Summary
After debate about legibility, QR codes and potential parking confusion with adjacent Hamby's, the commission approved three street-facing signs for SL Permanent Jewelry at 455 South Main and denied the north-side sign as presented. An initial 3–3 vote tied and failed before a redo motion passed.
The Boerne Historic Landmark Commission approved most of a sign package for SL Permanent Jewelry at 455 South Main Street on Dec. 2, voting to allow three street-facing signs while denying the north-side sign shown in photo 1.
Ben Simmons presented four proposed signs for the circa-1920 multi-tenant building and said three met the historic-district guidance (colors, materials and a two-font maximum) while the applicant's smaller hanging sign raised legibility concerns because letter strokes would be thin at that scale.
Commissioners discussed whether the north-side sign's placement might mislead drivers into thinking Hamby's parking served the jewelry shop. A representative for Hamby's told the commission his family had no problem with the signs but commissioners expressed continuing concerns about potential customer confusion and the sign's proximity to a parking lot. The commission also discussed QR codes and agreed staff saw no rule explicitly prohibiting them.
Commissioner Nichols moved to approve three signs — excluding the north-side sign shown in the first photo — arguing that the alternative locations reduce confusion. The first vote resulted in a 3–3 tie and was recorded as failed after procedural confusion over tie-breaking. Commissioner Nichols reintroduced the same motion; the commission re-voted and approved the motion to allow the three street-facing signs and deny the north-side sign "as presented." Hamby's representative had told the commission, "I do not have a problem with that," during discussion.
The commission instructed staff to clarify acceptable placement for any future north-side or alley-facing panel and to notify applicants of conditions that could reduce parking confusion.
