DATE: April 4, 2019
TO: Members of the Northfield Heritage Preservation Commission
FROM: Scott Tempel, City Planner
Title
Sign Permit - 502 Division
Body
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
The HPC is asked to consider a sign permit for 502 Studio & Gallery
BACKGROUND:
A new art gallery is coming to downtown. 502 Studio & Gallery will be opening in the Holland Block and has applied for signage.
ANALYSIS:
The applicable sections of the Downtown Historic District regulations in the sign ordinance include the following (Staff response is shown in bold):
1. Placement: Signs shall be positioned so they are an integral design feature of the building; signs shall complement and enhance the architectural features of the building. They shall be placed so that they do not destroy architectural details such as stone arches, glass transom panels, or decorative brickwork. Unless other placement is specifically approved by the Heritage Preservation Commission for reasons stated in the certificate of appropriateness by the Commission, signs may be placed only as follows:
a. At or above the horizontal lintel, cornice, or beltcourse, or above the storefront windows;
b. Projecting from the building;
c. Applied to or painted on canvas awnings;
d. In areas where signs were historically attached.
Staff response: The signs meet placement requirements. A wall sign will be added to the horizontal lintel. A projecting sign will also be added. The projecting sign would be lower than allowed by code except that the sign will not be above the sidewalk, rather over an adjacent basement stairway.
3. Sign Shape: Signs shall be designed to match the historical time period elements and regional location of the City, which primarily exclude such features as cut corners and non-rectangular shapes. In most cases, the edges of signs shall include a raised border that sets the sign apart from the building surface or hanging space. Individual raised letters set onto the sign area s...
Click here for full text