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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB202000028 Staff Report 2020-06-11ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #/Name ARB-2020-28: North Point Community, North Entrance — Sign Review Type Certificate of Appropriateness for a Sign Parcel Identification 03200-00-00-02000 Location On the east side of Rt. 29 across from Northside Drive Zoned Planned Development Mixed Commercial (PDMC)/Entrance Corridor (EC) Owner/Applicant CWH Properties Limited Partnership / Great Eastern Management Company (David Mitchell) Magisterial District Rivanna Proposal To install a freestanding sign in the median of the entrance to the subdivision. The proposed location in the VDOT right-of-way requires a Special Use Permit. Context Significant clearing and grading of the site has occurred. The surrounding area includes a mix of wooded and cleared land, single family residences, and small commercial buildings. Visibility The sign will be readily visible from the EC street. Mock-ups of the sign pedestal and sculptures are in place. ARB Meeting Date June 15, 2020 Staff Contact Margaret Maliszewski PROJECT HISTORY DATE Review Type RESULT October 31, 2017 ARB-2017-69: North Pointe Certificate of Appropriateness issued for a proposal for signage and landscaping at the Community North Pointe middle entrance, including landscaping extending approximately 200' north and 800' south of the middle entrance. Entrance aligns with Northside Drive. June 4, 2018 ARB-2017-137: North Approved proposal to provide landscaping at stormwater management facility #2, Pointe Middle Entrance located east of Rt. 29, south of the middle entrance. Stormwater Facility February 18, 2020 ARB-2020-28: North Pointe Application received. Review comments provided on March 17. Response received Community Entrance Sign March 31. Need for a revised sign location discussed (zoning issue), with need for revised plan. The applicant decided to request a Special Use Permit for the proposed location and submitted an application under the May 18 submittal deadline. ARB comment will be provided to the Board of Zoning Appeals for their meeting on July 7. ANAYLSIS REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION 4b Scale and Size: Signs located within the Entrance Corridor may not Overall sign height is proposed at None. exceed the size, height and setback requirements as outlined in 13'6". This includes a 3'-tall base Section 4.15 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance (unless the and 10'3"-tall sign panels. 16' is sign has received a variance). the maximum allowed height in this zoning district. Proposed sign area is 31.5 sf, which meets ordinance requirements. The sign is proposed in a public right-of-way; consequently, a Special Use Permit is required. 1 Create a consistent and unified design approach along the Proposed sign materials include Add a note to the Entrance Corridors. The placement, size, illumination and colors of stone (natural stone veneer) for the drawings stating that the signs can create unity along the corridor, or they can create a base and aluminum panels painted stone for the sign and disjointed, visually competitive environment. Consistent and unified to resemble corten steel as backer sculpture bases will sign design allows the businesses located along the Corridor to have panels for channel letters. The match the stone equal standing in visibility. It also provides a pattern of sign stone base is intended to match the approved for the walls placement that makes the business locations and entrances more stone retaining walls approved along Rt. 29. easily recognizable to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. along the EC street, extending north and south from the site 2 Establish simplicity and reserve as preferred characteristics for sign design in these areas. This reflects the historic character of the entrance, although this is not noted area and enhances the aesthetic qualities of the Corridor. To this end, on the drawings. The designs of the overall design of a sign will be evaluated concurrently with that buildings to be located nearby have of the building on which it will be installed. The design of a not yet been submitted for review. building's walls, window locations, parapets and other architectural features will influence the Board's evaluation of appropriate signage. The proposed sign has an unusual Likewise, a freestanding sign is evaluated in the context of the form and orientation. Panels are 3' overall development in which it will be placed. Because each site is wide and 10' 3" tall. Letters are F composed of a variety of elements that work together to create a 2" tall. There is minimal space unique character and appearance, ARB review of each sign proposal between letters and edge of panel — is guided by these sign guidelines within the context of the specific approximately 3" to the outside site for which the proposal is made. edge of the panel and 5" to the top and bottom edges. The letters are 4c Materials: Materials used in both the sign and support structures should complement the building and/or multiple business center (see arranged in two side -by side page 14) being served by the sign. vertical columns. Because a horizontal arrangement of words is 8b Materials used in both the sign and support structures should be REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION complementary. They should also support the aesthetics of the familiar, the side -by -side letters, building and /or complex being served by the sign, although a direct unrelated textually, have a duplication is not necessary. It is preferred that the base material somewhat jarring effect. match one of the primary building materials unless the design of the Nevertheless, they are legible and sign represents itself as a freestanding element complementing the they are contained within the panel building. with clear space at the sides, top and bottom. 4d Lettering and Typeface: Lettering should be in proportion to the A simple block style lettering is None. sign and the building for visual clarity and overall balance. illustrated in the sign drawings, but Proportion of lettering includes font (size) and typeface (style). The a note indicates that the final letter use of three typefaces or fewer is more appropriate for signs in the style has not been chosen. Entrance Corridor. Additional typefaces may be approved only if Maximum letter size is noted as they contribute to a balanced, legible, unified sign design. 113" x 1'. 4e Color: Colors must be harmonious with each other. Colors must not The stone base is proposed in None. clash with other elements on the site, both when viewed in daylight shades of tan. The metal panels and at night, whether the signs are externally or internally lit. Overly would have a variegated rust color. intense color, such as but not limited to dayglo or fluorescent colors, The channel letters are proposed are prohibited. with polycarbonate (or similar) faces and returns, which are The use of three colors or fewer is more appropriate for signs in the illustrated as white (ivory). The Entrance Corridor. Black and white are counted as colors. letters would illuminate white at Additional colors may be approved if they contribute to a balanced night. These colors are harmonious and unified sign design. and are expected to be compatible with the surroundings. The coreten For raceway -mounted channel letters, raceways shall match the wall color is expected to be a strong color. color, but not overly intense. 4f Trademarks, corporate logos and graphics: The ARB may require The proposed sign does not look None. that the color and scale of standard templates for trademarks, service like a trademark design. marks, corporate logos and graphics be modified. When used, trademarks, service marks, corporate logos and/or graphics should be incorporated as an integral part of the overall sign. 5 Lighting: The purpose of ARB review is to ensure that new The proposed sign is both Limit lighting to external development in the Entrance Corridors is compatible with the historic internally and externally fixtures that illuminate architecture of the County and to promote orderly and attractive illuminated. The channel letters the entire sign. development. There is no historical precedent for internally that are attached to the metal panels illuminated signs. However, the ARB recognizes the need to identify have internal illumination that businesses to help the traveling public find their destination and exit shines through the letter faces. The REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION the highway safely. plan also shows 2 ground -mounted lights at the base of the sign with 5a When illumination is required, the preferred solution is to externally illuminate the sign — in other words, to shine a light on the sign. LED lamps (2100 lumens) that External illumination is preferred because it allows consistency with have a warm white color. Two the daytime image of the sign. External lighting appears to the viewer additional fixtures are proposed at as reflected light and allows the focus of the sign to be the original the bases of the sculptures. overall shape, color and complete design of the sign. Internal lighting produces a fragmented, rather than unified, sign image at Internal illumination is typical for night compared to external lighting and may project light that is channel letters, but channel letters distracting to the viewer. Similarly, exposed light sources that form are more typically used for wall the body of a sign (such as, but not limited to, exposed or bare neon) signs. External illumination can are not appropriate for the Entrance Corridors. They can produce help maintain a consistent image glare and, generally, do not achieve the subtle character and for the sign from daytime to compatibility that is the goal for the Entrance Corridors. nighttime (by making the entire sign visible at night), but it isn't 5b Since external illumination does not fit every case, individual channel letters — a type of internally illuminated sign that has less visual entirely clear what impact the clutter impact on the Entrance Corridors — may also be approved. external illumination will have on Channel letters are generally the preferred type of internally this sign when combined with the illuminated wall sign because they project the total sign and are internally illuminated channel identifiable with the daytime image of the sign. When channel letters letters. There is a potential that the cannot be adequately accommodated, internally illuminated cabinet channel letters will appear as a signs may be considered. If cabinet signs are utilized, the bright glow, disassociated from the backgrounds of such signs must be made opaque (zero light panels, from a distance along the transmission). EC street. Limiting lighting to external lamps that illuminate the 5f Internal Illumination: Any internal illumination is considered to contribute to visual clutter and will be limited. entire sign would provide for a consistent, unified image. 8e i. External illumination is preferred for freestanding signs. 5d These solutions are intended to reduce glare, visual clutter and distraction along the streetscape, to provide for coordinated appearances along the Entrance Corridors, to increase visual continuity, to achieve a balance of business identification with order and continuity, and to limit negative impacts along the County's Entrance Corridors. 5c External illumination is also preferred for approved graphics/logos; Graphics are not a part of the None. internal illumination may be considered for approval on a case -by- proposed sign design. case basis. The Board will evaluate the specific design for size adjusted in proportion to the accompanying lettering), balance, REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION complexity, and distance from and relationship to the Entrance Corridor. These factors will determine the extent of internal illumination that can be approved. 5e External Illumination: Lighting should be shielded and not create The ground -mounted fixtures are Add a note to the sign glare. Lighting should be aimed so as not to project illumination proposed with "narrow flood" drawings stating that the beyond the sign. All external light sources shall be white. optics. The manufacturer's ground -mounted fixtures information indicates that precise will be aimed to aiming is available. illuminate only the sign. 8e iii. Internal illumination: Channel letters with translucent faces shall The sign drawings indicate that the None. be constructed such that no light spills outward from the top, bottom, letter returns are to be opaque. sides or back. If back -lit (halo -lit), the faces and returns of channel letters shall be opaque. 8a Monument signs are preferred to pole -mounted signs because they The proposed sign is not pole- None. are often of a smaller scale and can be more fully integrated into the mounted. Although the vertical overall development. Pole signs may be considered for approval if orientation is atypical for a existing site conditions rule out the ability to use a monument sign, monument style sign, the stone and only when the pole is in proportion to the sign cabinet or panel. base helps create an integrated appearance. In earlier reviews, the 3 Encourage creative design. The County encourages imaginative and innovative signs consistent with the purposes expressed above and in ARB did not object to the vertical conformance with the regulations of the Albemarle County Code. orientation. 8c The structure of a monument sign shall not overwhelm the sign. The The stone base has a low profile. None. structure and the sign that it supports must be in proportion to each other. 8d Landscaping: Use ground cover, shrubs and/or trees to integrate The perspective views show grass Revise the planting plan freestanding signs into the overall landscape development of the site. at the end of the median. There is to show low landscaping Refer to the Albemarle County Recommended Plants List, which is landscaping in the median east of at the base of the sign, included in the Albemarle County Architectural Review Board the sign, and along the stone walls coordinated with other Design Guidelines and is available on-line at www.albemarle.org. that extend along the EC, but there nearby planting. is no landscaping proposed at the base of this sign. 8e ii. External Illumination: Landscaping for monument and pole signs The ground -mounted fixtures are None. should be designed to shield ground mounted lighting so that it is not "in -ground" models, so there is no visible from any adjacent property or right-of-way. fixture above ground in need of screening. Appropriate aiming would likewise require no screening. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. Proposed illumination: internal and external 2. Sign type: channel letters attached to panels 3. Landscaping at the base of the sign Staff recommends approval of the proposed sign with the following conditions: 1. Add a note to the drawings stating that the stone for the sign and sculpture bases will match the stone approved for the walls along Rt. 29. 2. Limit lighting to external fixtures that illuminate the entire sign. 3. Add a note to the sign drawings stating that the ground mounted fixtures will be aimed to illuminate only the sign. 4. Revise the planting plan to show low landscaping at the base of the sign, coordinated with other nearby planting. I:r 0 l/:Te1:IUV I OW1110 A — North Pointe Middle Entrance Sian Drawings TABLE A This report is based on the following submittal items: Sheet # Drawing Name Drawing Date/Revision Date - Narrative - L 1.00 Vicinity map May 4, 2020 L 1.01 Overall Plans L1.02 Planting Plan L 1.03 Entry Sign Dimensions L 1.04 Entry Sign Materials L1.05 Wall Details L1.06 Walls, Enlarged Elevations L 1.07 Renderings L1.08 Materials Palette L 1.09 Landscape Light