HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200800146 Staff Report 2008-11-17ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #: Name
ARB- 2008 -146: Alltel Wireless Sign
Review Type
Certificate of Appropriateness for a Sign
Parcel Identification
Tax Map 78, Parcel 17D1
Location
100 Riverbend Drive: Located at the southwest corner of Route 250 East and
Riverbend Drive.
Zoned
Commercial (C -1), Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner
Parkway Place, LLC
Applicant
Southern Betsy Permitting & Signs, Nelson Moore
Magisterial District
Rivanna
Proposal
To reface an existing freestanding sign and to install three channel letter wall
signs.
ARB Meeting Date
November 17, 2008
Staff Contact
Eryn Brennan
SITE/PROJECT HISTORY
The current application is for the refacing of an existing freestanding internally illuminated cabinet
pole sign and three new channel letter wall signs mounted on raceways.
The internally illuminated pole sign has been refaced with a temporary sign for which the applicant
did obtain a permit. The temporary sign design matches the proposed permanent sign design.
June 2, 2003, ARB2003 -61, B B & T Signs, Certificate of Appropriateness to install three channel
letter wall signs and one freestanding internally illuminated cabinet pole sign. The ARB approved the
certificate with the following conditions:
1. Reduce the area and height of the freestanding sign until it measures 32 square feet in area
and 12 feet in height.
2. The pole cover shall be gray.
3. Existing shrubbery shall remain.
CONTEXT
The proposed signs are to be located at the southwest corner of Route 250 East and Riverbend Drive along the
frontage of three facades at 100 Riverbend Drive. The existing freestanding internally illuminated cabinet pole
sign is located on the northeast corner of the building approximately 40 feet south of the EC. The surrounding
area is characterized by widely dispersed large commercial buildings surrounding by parking lots.
VISIBILITY
Given the structure's close proximity to the EC and the lack of nearby large tree growth, all the signs under
review will be highly visible from the EC (Richmond Road).
PROPOSAL
Sign 1: Refacing of Freestanding Sign
Type: Existing cabinet mounted on a pole
Cabinet Sian Faces:
Colors: Background: 3M Intense Opaque Blue
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Cabinet trim and pole: PMS Color Cool Gray
Text: "Alltel wireless" (letters and logo) White.
Letter Sizes: "Alltel" 22" high
"Wireless" 5.5" high
Existing Cabinet Size: 7' 7 3 /a" (W) x 3' 7'/2" (H)
Illumination: Existing internal florescent illumination to remain, with opaque background.
Sign 2: Wall Sign — East Fagade
Type: Channel letters
Materials: Vinyl, Aluminum, Plexiglass
Size: 4' 8" (W) x 12" (H)
Text: "Alltel Wireless"
Colors: Logo: 3M Intense Blue
Text: "Alltel wireless" (excluding logo) Black
Returns and Trim Caps: Black
Raceway: Painted to match cornice
Location: In the cornice, centered above the double window located right of the of the entrance bay.
Letter Std 2 fonts
Illumination: "Alltel ": Interior, Sloan LEDs
"wireless ": Non - illuminated
Mounting: Letters mounted on raceway
Sign 3: Wall Sign — West Facade
Type: Channel letters
Materials: Vinyl, Aluminum, Plexiglass
Size: 9' 4" (W) x 2' (H)
Text: "Alltel Wireless"
Colors: Logo: 3M Intense Blue
Text: "Alltel wireless" (excluding logo) Black
Returns and Trim Caps: Black
Raceway: Painted to match white fascia
Letter Std 2 fonts
Location: Centered left to right and top to bottom within the drive - through gable end.
Illumination: "Alltel ": Interior, Sloan LEDs
"wireless ": Non - illuminated
Mounting: Letters mounted on raceway
Sign 4: Wall Sign — North Fagade
Type: Channel letters
Materials: Vinyl, Aluminum, Plexiglass
Size: 8' 3" (W) x 3' (H)
Text: "Alltel Wireless"
Colors: Logo: 3M Intense Blue
Text: "Alltel wireless" (excluding logo) White
Returns and Trim Caps: Black
Raceway: Painted to match brick wall
Letter Style: 2 fonts
Location: Centered vertically between the top of the door and the peak of the gable roof, off - center from left to
right under the peak of the gable roof.
Illumination: "Alltel ": Interior, Sloan LEDs
"wireless ": Non - illuminated
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Mounting: Letters mounted on raceway
ANALYSIS (based on 4 sign drawings received October 14, 2008)
Issues: Color
Comments:
• The blue used in the logo portion of the channel letter wall signs and the background of the
freestanding cabinet pole sign is too bright and not appropriate for signage in the EC.
• The blue color used in the temporary sign recently installed in the existing freestanding cabinet sign is
accurate. The darker blue shown in the sign drawings submitted for the application is not accurate.
• The proposed blue for the signage is not compatible with other shades of blue used in nearby signage
in the EC.
• Colors that may be appropriate for the EC include but are not limited to PMS 301C, PMS 2945C, and
PMS 294C.
Recommendations: Revise the blue color for the logo portion of the channel letter wall signs and the
background of the freestanding cabinet pole sign to one that is less bright, less intense, more subdued, and
more compatible with other shades of blue used in nearby signage in the EC. Submit a color sample of the
proposed blue.
Issues: Location of channel letter wall sign on east fagade
Comments:
• The cornice above the double window and projecting entrance bay on the east fagade is not an
appropriate area to place a channel letter wall sign for the following reasons:
• The channel letter wall sign proposed on the east fagade obscures the cornice detail above the
double window.
• The dimensions of the wall sign conflict with the appearance of the wall sign as it is shown in
the drawing.
• The size of the wall sign appears to overcrowd the cornice because there is very little
unoccupied space above or below the sign.
• A small panel sign between the projecting entrance bay and the double window could have am
appropriate appearance.
Recommendations: Revise the channel letter wall sign on the northeast elevation to a small panel sign located
between the projecting entrance bay and the double window.
Issues: Additional information required on the drawings
Comments: The sign drawing submitted for the refacing of the freestanding cabinet pole sign does not state the
type of material to be used for the new faces. The three channel letter wall sign drawings do not state the
amount of illumination to be emitted from the LED lights.
Recommendations: Revise the sign drawing submitted for the refacing of the freestanding cabinet pole sign to
state what type of material will be used for the new faces. Include the following statement on the three channel
letter wall sign drawings: The level of illumination provided by the LED lights will not exceed the illumination
produced by a single stroke of 30 milliamp (ma) neon.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion:
1. The proposed blue sign color.
2. Location of the channel letter wall sign on the east fagade.
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Staff recommends the following comments on the submitted drawing:
Revise the blue color for the logo portion of the channel letter wall signs and the background of the
freestanding cabinet pole sign to one that is less bright, less intense, more subdued, and more
compatible with other shades of blue used in nearby signage in the EC. Submit a color sample of the
proposed blue.
2. Revise the channel letter wall sign on the northeast elevation to a small panel sign located between the
projecting entrance bay and the double window.
3. Revise the sign drawing submitted for the refacing of the freestanding cabinet pole sign to state what
type of material will be used for the new faces. Include the following statement on the three channel
letter wall sign drawings: The level of illumination provided by the LED lights will not exceed the
illumination produced by a single stroke of 30 milliamp (ma) neon.
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