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Boxborough Design Review Board asks ZBA to confirm dimensions, materials for proposed 25A Stow Road sign
Summary
On June 8, the Boxborough Design Review Board reviewed an advisory sign application for 25A Stow Road and recommended the Zoning Board of Appeals seek confirmed measurements, material details and lighting information; members also urged a muted color palette to fit the adjacent historic building.
The Boxborough Design Review Board reviewed an advisory sign application for 25A Stow Road during its June 8 meeting and asked the Zoning Board of Appeals to obtain missing details from the applicant before approving the proposal.
Board members said the application lacked exact dimensions and material specifications and recommended the ZBA confirm the sign’s height and square footage, whether it will be carved or painted wood, and whether any lighting is proposed. Staff member Alec Mosley told the board the application contained no measurements in the narrative or visual and that the applicant intends to reuse the existing posts and repaint them.
The board read the town’s sign guidance in Section 8100 of the zoning bylaw — which generally limits many town‑center signs to about 10 square feet and discourages flashing or internally lit plastic signs — and flagged two points for the ZBA: confirm the sign fits the size limits, and confirm whether the proposed materials are wooden and compatible with the village’s architecture.
Members also raised aesthetic concerns. Several said the sign’s current palette was too bright for the building, which they described as historic, and suggested simplifying and muting the color scheme so the sign better complements the structure. A community participant, Abby of Boxboro News, told the board she supports recommendations that make the sign fit the corner: "I came actually with two hats on. One is Boxboro News...this is a prominent corner in Boxborough," she said.
The board discussed tenancy and the potential for multiple freestanding signs if a third tenant moved into the building. Members asked staff to confirm the number of units and suggested the ZBA consider conditions or future alterations if the space is subdivided. The board also requested clarity on whether an arm or hanging/open sign would face Mass Ave and whether the existing post lighting would be retained.
Next steps: the Design Review Board agreed to prepare a preliminary memo with questions for the applicant (dimensions, materials, lighting, tenant count) that staff will circulate; the ZBA hearing is scheduled for June 16 at 7:30 p.m. The board said it may hold a brief additional meeting to finalize a recommendation if members are available.
