Zoning administrator: more sign cases will come to Historic Preservation Commission; three review tiers explained

Shannon, the city zoning administrator, told the Historic Preservation Commission the zoning code allows the administrator to refer applications to the HPC and that, to promote consistency, she intends to bring most eligible sign applications to the commission for review.

"The zoning administrator can take all applications to the Historic Preservation Commission," Shannon said, adding she will exercise that discretion "moving forward" so the HPC can weigh design and consistency considerations. She outlined three tiers of review: renovation review (minor work such as repainting or replacing roofing with identical materials), design alteration review (changes to exterior appearance or new paint colors not already approved), and project review (substantial changes such as removing or adding stories) that always come to commission review.

Shannon explained the city code splits sign regulation between chapter 9, which sets technical sign standards (size, height, setbacks), and chapter 7, which houses design guidance for the Historic Preservation Overlay District. She said some preexisting, nonconforming signs may be maintained or refaced without full compliance, but structural alterations, relocation, or a change in land use will require bringing the sign into current code standards. "If the land use changes ... they're going to have to come into full compliance," Shannon said.

Commissioners asked for practical clarifications about window clings, feather signs and internally lit signs. Shannon said some temporary signs are permitted without a permit and may become enforcement concerns if they persist; she also said the HPC may comment on colors and other design elements even when a sign is treated as a continuation of a nonconforming face. The commission requested Shannon forward her presentation as a PDF to members as a reference sheet.

The presentation closes the commission's recent inquiry into which signs must come before the HPC versus which can be handled administratively. Commissioners signaled appreciation for the clarification and staff follow-up.