Boxborough ZBA approves sign permit for 25A Stow Road with conditions

The Boxborough Zoning Board of Appeals voted June 16 to approve a special permit for new signage at 25A Stow Road, authorizing a freestanding sign substantially as shown in an approved exhibit while attaching conditions on materials, height and appearance.

The decision matters locally because the property sits in the Town Center District, where the zoning bylaw and the town—enter design guidelines set stricter rules on sign materials, size and text. The board adopted conditions requiring that the sign substantially conform to Exhibit F, be installed in the same location as the original sign, be recorded with the South Middlesex Registry of Deeds prior to issuance of a building permit, and be subject to on-site approval by the building commissioner.

Applicant Barbara said she had relied on a sandwich board for 11 years and that the property owner, Deborah Jensen, recently agreed she could use the existing two-post sign structure. Barbara presented three logo versions and an "open" garden flag. She told the board she preferred the logo but would follow guidance on color: "I would love the telephone number, but if you don't do it, but you leave everything else alone and I can add my finials, you know, I'll just pray about it," she said, arguing that a phone number helps customers contact a small studio.

Board members and staff noted the Design Review Board had recommended muted colors, a white background and painted white posts. The planner and several members also pointed to the zoning bylaw's town-center provision that "shall be stone or wood," prompting a substantial discussion about whether modern cellular PVC that mimics wood should be treated as an acceptable material. Member Mark Barbadoro argued that other nearby historic districts now permit cellular PVC where it is indistinguishable from wood, while others emphasized the bylaw's mandatory wording and said a bylaw amendment would be required to change the material restriction.

The board balanced those concerns by drafting conditions intended to preserve the town-center character: the accepted exhibit uses a white background, muted palette and an outline (pin-striping) around letters to aid legibility; the board set a 7-foot maximum to the top of the sign and asked that posts be painted white. The board also stated it would not itself authorize banner/temporary signs and left those to the building official under the zoning provisions for temporary retail signs.

Planner-drafted conditions included recording the decision at the registry of deeds, constructing the sign in conformance with Exhibit F, installing it in the same location as the original sign, providing final as-built measurements after installation, and subjecting final placement to the building commissioner—or on-site approval. The board added language about finials and pin-striping to the approved exhibit before voting.

The board closed the public hearing, voted to accept the decision with the stated conditions, and directed the chair to sign the decision on the board's behalf. The applicant was advised to pursue a building permit concurrently with the written decision to expedite installation.

Record: The hearing was opened under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40A and Boxborough zoning bylaws (Town Center design guidelines and Section 6.5 on signs).