Community Appearance Board approves two storefront sign permits

The City of Conway’s Community Appearance Board voted to approve two certificates of appropriateness during its meeting. Staff said a revised rendering for 1400 Main Street had just been received and that the submitted wall sign and an existing monument sign refacing meet dimensional and design standards.

“Yes, ma'am. I will um preface this by the rendering that you all received in your packet has since changed,” said Miss Dennis, the staff presenter, describing the updated wall-sign rendering and noting that the monument sign would be refaced with no size change. She said the wall sign’s background color was changed to blue to comply with Historic District/Design Review rules, and that the raised lettering and dimensions now meet requirements.

Board members asked about materials and precedent for raised aluminum letters. Staff clarified that the wall sign uses ACM (aluminum composite material) with aluminum raised letters and that the monument sign is three-dimensional and therefore treated differently for dimensional standards. One board member said the size and dimensional treatment appeared appropriate and moved to approve both the monument and wall signs for 1400 Main Street; another board member seconded the motion and the board voted in favor. The transcript records the affirmative as “I” and does not identify the mover or seconder by name.

The board then considered an application from SassyC's Boutique at 1118 3rd Avenue for window decals. Staff presented the coverage calculations: the larger window is proposed at 16.5 square feet (maximum allowed 16.63 sq ft) and the smaller at 2.7 square feet (maximum allowed 5.79 sq ft). Staff said the proposed graphics meet Unified Development Ordinance limits. A board member moved to approve the window decals, a second followed, and the motion passed; the individual votes were recorded only as affirmative and are not named in the transcript.

Staff also announced that the South Carolina Historic Preservation Conference will be held April 24 at the South Carolina Archives and History Center in Columbia and said the City of Conway will cover registration for board members who wish to attend. Staff reminded members that early-bird registration ends March 31 and explained that most sessions count toward the board’s three-hour continuing-education requirement, though asterisks next to some classes denote sessions intended for local government staff.

The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn by board member Mackenzie. A member thanked Katie (staff) by name before the meeting ended.

Votes at a glance - 1400 Main Street (wall sign and monument sign refacing): motion to approve passed; mover/second not named in transcript; votes recorded as affirmative without roll call. - SassyC's Boutique (window decals): motion to approve passed; mover/second not named in transcript; votes recorded as affirmative without roll call.

All attributions in this article are taken from the meeting transcript. Where the transcript did not record a speaker’s name for a motion or vote, this article notes that those details were not specified.