DATE: April 4, 2019
TO: Members of the Northfield Heritage Preservation Commission
FROM: Scott Tempel, City Planner
Title
Advisory Sign Review for Take Five Guitars
Body
SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED:
The HPC is requested to provide input on a sign for a new store at 307 Division St. S. Take Five Guitars would like to install a wall sign on the front of the building. The property is immediately adjacent to the Historic District.
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 sign meets placement requirements. The sign will be located on the horizontal lintel.
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 surface are also preferred.
Staff response: The sign does not meet shape requirements. The sign is shaped like an electric guitar. It does not match the hist...
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