Planning commission approves Creature Boutique sign for 219 Broad Street

The Nevada City Planning Commission on Monday approved a historic‑district sign permit for Creature Boutique at 219 Broad Street, clearing a two‑sided, 9‑square‑foot wood sign that staff said fits the district’s design standards.

Jessica Hinken, the city planner, told commissioners the proposed sign uses wood materials, a vintage serif font and no lighting; staff recommended approval and a finding that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. "The materials, colors and scale are compatible with the historic district," Hinken said.

The applicant’s representative said the graphics were scaled down from an earlier proof to better fit the sign’s profile. "I just wanna preface that I did scale down the graphics a little bit and made it more consistent with the existing sign," the applicant said.

Commissioners asked technical questions about the mounting ring and whether the new graphics would remain within previously approved dimensions; the applicant confirmed the hardware and most dimensions remain the same. Commissioner Tom noted the simplified graphic fits inside the sign triangle and praised the reduction.

A motion to find the project exempt from CEQA and approve the sign with the conditions in the staff report passed on a roll‑call vote. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Commissioners Simmons, Nye, French and Chair Brown.

The approval includes standard conditions of the historical district signage guidelines and the conditions listed in staff’s report.