Clemson BAR approves revised non-lit sign, asks to shift panel and repaint facade at 19 Old Greenville Highway

The Clemson Board of Architectural Review approved a revised sign at 19 Old Greenville Highway after planning staff and the applicant agreed to a series of design changes and placement conditions.

Jacob Peabody, planning staff, told the board that the application had been revised so "the sign will not be lit" and that lighting and conduit currently on the façade would be removed. Peabody described the proposed sign as "3 millimeter thick cutout letters mounted on ACM panel," and said the applicant had reduced the overall sign size from the earlier submission.

Applicant Tim Leonard of Tim Leonard Signs and Graphics said he planned a slight standoff for the letters so they would read better against the brick and described using an aluminum frame to mount the sign. "I'm Tim Leonard with Tim Leonard Signs and Graphics," he said during his presentation.

Board members pressed the applicant on horizontal alignment. Several members recommended centering the panel with the middle column rather than aligning to the bottoms of the windows; they also recommended painting the white-painted portion of the wall a lighter tan to match the cornice and to avoid a jarring white finish. A committee member said centering over the column would address an "off by 6 inches" visual imbalance.

After discussion the chair moved to approve the project with the conditions to shift the panel to be truly centered with the middle column, to paint the brick/painted area a tan closer to the lighter cornice color, and to remove conduit and lighting; another member seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by voice/hand vote.

The board recorded no formal roll-call tally in the transcript; staff noted that relief for the letters (a shallow standoff) and the proposed metal channel/raceway were acceptable.

Next steps: the applicant may submit final mounting details to staff consistent with the board's direction.