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Applicant seeks 18‑ft blade sign at 99 East Main; staff flags lettering and area
Summary
Sean Sullivan proposed a vertical blade sign at 99 East Main Street to improve visibility. Staff said the three‑sided lettering and an estimated 45 sq ft area exceed the district guidelines and recommended review by the Historic Zoning Commission; commissioners urged a smaller profile or removal of the third side’s lettering.
Sean Sullivan, the applicant for 99 East Main Street, told the Design Review Committee on February 2026 that “our main goal is to change our sign” to make the restaurant visible from multiple approaches.
Staff said the proposed vertical blade sign would measure 18 feet tall, 20 inches wide and 10 inches thick, with lettering proposed on three sides. Staff estimated the total sign area would be about 45 square feet and noted that lettering on the third side is not traditionally permitted in the historic districts; staff recommended the application be submitted to the Historic Zoning Commission for guidance on size, scale and lettering placement.
Several commissioners said removing the lettering on the third side would prevent that face from counting toward the sign area under the guidelines. One commissioner asked about comparable local blade signs and noted the Harper Square sign appears smaller; staff later confirmed a Harper Square approval appeared to be roughly 13 feet tall. Commissioners repeatedly encouraged a smaller, less busy treatment and asked for drawings showing the proposed sign in relation to the building and nearby blade signs.
The committee also discussed projection from the facade (applicant noted roughly 2 ft 4 in projection) and illumination (applicant said no lighting is currently proposed). Staff and commissioners recommended external lighting only where appropriate and asked the applicant to show the sign’s relationship to brick patterning and window headers so the proposal will not obstruct architectural features.
The DRC did not take a vote and asked the applicant to return with scaled comparisons, sample lettering and a submittal to the Historic Zoning Commission for final guidance.
