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Board approves Pied Piper signs with conditions, asks staff measurement before final permit
Summary
The board approved signage for Pied Piper at 3 South High Street but required size and placement adjustments: match the existing corner blade sign, change the post to black, target ground sign clearance ~60 inches and require staff approval of revised drawings.
The New Albany Architecture Review Board approved a revised signage plan for Pied Piper of New Albany at 3 South High Street on Nov. 13, but placed several conditions on final dimensions and mounting.
Staff explained the proposed package: a ground sign on the east frontage (5 square feet per side, 66 inches tall), a two-square-foot wall sign at the main entrance, and a blade (projecting) sign on the north elevation (about 4.33 square feet, 2 inches thick, with a proposed 89-inch clearance). Staff noted that the local sign code requires an 8-foot (96-inch) clearance for blade signs and recommended the board require the applicant to move the sign or obtain a waiver.
Board members raised concerns about visual clutter on the building, sidewalk clearances on the uphill grade, and consistency with adjacent tenant signs — in particular asking that the proposed blade sign match the proportions and soffit clearance of an existing Amy Levine blade sign on the same block. One committee member said, “This is a master class in not how to plan signage for a building,” criticizing the cumulative clutter on the façade and urging consistent proportions and color treatment.
The applicant said the design choices respond to the business’s existing branding (including a colorful logo), but said he could reduce color and adjust post color if the board preferred. The applicant also said his original design was adjusted to meet code requirements for blade-sign dimensions and that reducing width risks legibility of the logo and tagline.
After extended discussion, the board moved to approve ARB-78-2024 with conditions: sign A (ground sign) should match sign B’s proportions where appropriate and the post finish should be black; the ground sign height was recommended to be adjusted toward 60 inches (staff to verify clearance); and sign C (the blade sign) must match the width/clearance relationship of the existing Amy Levine blade sign as measured diagonally from the northeast corner of the building to the outermost edge of the eave; final dimensions to be subject to staff approval. The board noted that staff will re-measure clearances and the applicant will resubmit revised drawings if needed. The motion passed by recorded voice and roll call.
