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Board grants variance allowing new Royal Sonesta signage, chair opposes
Summary
The Board granted a variance permitting replacement rooftop signage for the Royal Sonesta Hotel, finding hardship tied to the building’s size and orientation; the chair dissented and the vote was 4–1.
Carolyn Parker represented the Royal Sonesta Hotel and explained the hotel’s application to replace two rooftop signs. She said each existing sign is about 587.9 square feet, the bylaws permit a total of 200 square feet per lot, and the proposed work would reduce overall sign area by roughly 21% while updating the copy (adding the word "the"). Parker said there are few alternative mounting locations because of the building’s siting along the Charles River and tree-lined streets.
City staff from Community Development had flagged four areas where the proposed signage does not conform to sign regulations: total area, placement, height and illumination. Board members discussed whether the applicant had demonstrated the substantial hardship required for a variance; the chair questioned whether updating the name alone amounts to a hardship. Several members said the existing larger sign and the building’s orientation support a finding of hardship.
On a motion grounded in the ordinance’s hardship standard related to the shape and orientation of land and structures, the board granted the variance. The chair, Jim Monteverdi, recorded the lone opposing vote; Carol Agate, Zaria Miranda, Michael LaRosa and Daniel Gonzales voted in favor. The board’s action includes the condition that work conform to the approved drawings (dated and initialed by the chair) and incorporated the supporting statements on file.
Board discussion also referenced replacement of the mounting panel to stainless steel and the visual appearance shown in the submitted elevations.
