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Herndon ARB continues sign application at 621 Alabama Drive after material concerns; board asks for in‑place examples
Summary
The ARB continued a proposed 4x6-foot freestanding monument sign for 621 Alabama Drive to the July 15 meeting, asking the applicant to provide photos of installed examples and additional material samples so staff can evaluate HDU foam's compatibility with adjacent brick.
The Herndon Architectural Review Board on June 17 continued a freestanding monument sign application for a property at 621 Alabama Drive so staff and the board could review additional in‑place examples and decide whether the proposed high‑density urethane (HDU) foam material adequately mimics the adjacent brick building.
Ms. Jones, the town’s lead planner, summarized the proposed sign as a non‑illuminated monument sign 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide with a 30‑inch deep base and a 12‑inch deep sign panel, to be fabricated from HDU foam to simulate a brick base and anchored with embedded steel poles near the Van Buren Street sidewalk. She noted the ARB’s 2017 review of a similar HDU proposal for a previously installed freestanding sign in the area and said staff had concerns about the material’s durability and visual compatibility. "Staff recommends a continuance of this application to the July ARB meeting cycle," she said, and explained the submission deadlines for photographs and revised materials.
Applicant representative Burton Francois of Beebold Science Studio presented a physical sample and said the material has been used locally and nationally. "It's guaranteed not to rot, crack, or peel," he said, adding that the product is lightweight, can be power-washed, and has been installed in Fairfax and Alexandria. Board members asked for photos of long‑installed examples—particularly to see how corners and transitions age in place—and requested that the applicant provide those photos rather than a small mockup.
Several board members expressed a design preference for the flat post‑cap option among the applicant’s two revised designs but reiterated staff’s concerns about compatibility with the adjacent brick building. The board voted unanimously to continue the public hearing to the July 15 ARB meeting and keep the hearing open so re‑advertising would not be necessary.
