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Planning Board approves revised Theory apartment blade sign and zoning waiver
Summary
The board approved a revised sign package and a waiver for the Theory apartment building at 445 East State after the applicant reduced the prominent State Street blade sign and adjusted materials; the entrance blade was set at a smaller size to reduce impact on nearby balconies.
Owners and project engineers presented a revised sign package for the 445 East State (Theory) apartment building and the Planning Board approved the package and an accompanying zoning waiver on May 26.
Brian Bousard of CHA Consulting walked the board through the PRC‑requested changes: the prominent State Street blade sign was reduced from an earlier 42.5 square‑foot concept to a 27 square‑foot blade in the submitted materials, and the primary pedestrian/entrance blade was designed at 12 square feet to conform with residential sign limits. The applicants emphasized exterior downlighting (3,000 K) and non-internally illuminated channel letters.
Board members generally supported the smaller blade. "I vote for either the 15 or the 12 foot sign. Maybe the 12 if only to give the lower balcony owner a bit of a view," one member said; others favored the 12‑foot option as the least intrusive. The board discussed slight visual obstruction from balconies but accepted the tradeoff given the sign’s role in identifying the pedestrian entrance and visibility from a nearby bus stop.
Action: The Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the sign package and then approved the requested zoning waiver as revised to reflect the 27‑square‑foot State Street sign and the projection allowance (18 inches). Ownership and contractors were thanked for incorporating PRC feedback and returning with reduced dimensions.
Next steps: With the board approval and waiver in hand, the project team can proceed to the sign-permit and installation steps required by staff, subject to standard permit conditions.
