Council approves projecting sign at 1 Cambridge Street, asks applicant to revise wall sign

The Historic District Commission Sign Advisory Council approved a temporary projecting sign for a seasonal tenant at 1 Cambridge Street but held the proposed long wall sign for revisions after commissioners raised concerns about width and proportion.

Patrick, who said he is renting the shop for the summer, described a hand-carved, two-sided projecting sign featuring a bowl motif adapted from surfboard logos. He told the board the projecting sign is temporary and "only there until my lease is through September 11, and then I'm out." He said the piece is hand-carved and will show chisel marks and texture.

Commissioners generally welcomed the hand-carved approach but objected to the proposed quarter-board wall sign, which the applicant presented as 60 inches wide. Member Ben Norman said the wall sign "is representing a food, but this is a retail clothing store," raising a concern about symbol appropriateness; others said the 60-inch width looked excessive for the doorway proportion and recommended scaling the design to the door width or submitting alternatives.

The council approved the projecting sign by motion and voice vote (moved by Kevin Kuester; seconded by Mark Catone) and voted to hold the wall sign application for revisions, asking the applicant to submit scaled mock-ups, photos of a held-up sample and alternative font options for review at the next meeting. Staff agreed to add the revised item to the following week's agenda if updated materials arrived promptly.

The applicant indicated he would try patina treatments and sizing options and bring revisions back to the board for final consideration.