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Carpinteria ARB reviews signage and mural for new Coyote Market; staff notes mural falls outside sign program limits
Summary
The Carpinteria City Architectural Review Board reviewed a sign application and mural concept for Coyote Market (4945A Carpinteria Avenue). Staff said the tenant’s signage is within the sign program size limit but the proposed hand‑painted mural requires ARB feedback because the sign program does not address murals.
Carpinteria City planning staff presented a sign application for a new tenant, Coyote Market, at 4945A Carpinteria Avenue and asked the Architectural Review Board to provide feedback on a proposed mural that the property’s existing sign program does not govern.
Staff told the board the site’s sign program allows a cumulative maximum of 25 square feet and that the tenant’s proposed signs total under 13 square feet excluding mural work. Because municipal code requires ARB review of mural elements that lie outside the sign program’s guidance, staff asked the board to review the mural concept alongside the awning and door lettering.
One of the business owners described the market as a specialty store emphasizing local meat and seafood and said the mural was developed with a local artist. "The spirit of this mural honestly came from…we have a friend who's an artist and she makes textiles and she created a custom handkerchief for us and we just loved the icons that she put on it," the applicant said, describing icons for fish, chicken, avocados, a blue heron and California poppies. The applicant also said the rear mural would include historic Santa Barbara County cattle brands and noted that portions would be hand painted by the artist.
Board members asked whether mural elements would count against sign‑area limits; staff replied that murals do not count toward the sign program square footage. Members also questioned material and color choices and whether the front signage would clearly identify the space as a market; the applicant pointed to vinyl lettering on the awning and the door and a printed vinyl logo at the corner entrance and offered to add more explicit "market" wording if needed.
The board offered supportive comments and no formal motion was required for the matters‑by‑staff item. Staff indicated applicants should proceed with additional detail submittals if needed, and the applicants thanked the board and left the meeting.
Next steps: the applicant will continue working with staff on final sign and mural details and follow submittal procedures for any changes to the sign program or mural elements.
