HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200800130 Staff Report 2008-10-28ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #: Name
ARB- 2008 -130: Armed Forces Career Center Sign
Review Type
Certificate of Appropriateness for a Sign
Parcel Identification
Tax Map 45C, Section 3, Parcel B
Location
920 Gardens Blvd: Located on the east side of Seminole Trail (Route 29
North), in the Gardens Shopping Center, approximately 800 feet north of
Rio Road East (Route 631).
Zoned
Commercial (Cl) and Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner
Todd Needham
Applicant
Talley- Anchor Sign Co., John Yarrington
Magisterial District
Rio
Proposal
To install an illuminated channel letter wall sign and logo.
ARB Meeting Date
November 3, 2008
SITE/PROJECT HISTORY
• On October 1, 2008, staff contacted the applicant regarding the original submittal for the Armed
Forces Career Center sign, noting that several of the sign criteria for this building, including sign
type, sign/logo lighting, and sign location had not been met in the proposed design. The applicant
requested a full review of the original proposal by the ARB.
• February 5, 2007: ARB 2006 -138: 1010 Gardens Boulevard (location of signage under review),
Preliminary Review of a Revised Site Plan and Building Design. Comments, including approved
guidelines for wall signage, were provided to the applicant (Attachment A, Comment 4).
• December 3, 2001: ARB -F (SDP) 2001 -043: Hamrick Building, Final Site Development Plan,
administrative approval with conditions. This building, with its similar design and materials, was
proposed as the Phase 1 companion to the building currently under review. It is located 20'
northeast of the building /wall sign under review. The approval included the following criteria for
wall signage:
• Individual letters in bronze, black, or dark brown for the stucco gable end of the building.
• For the brick portions of the building, signs consisting of individual letters or panels in
bronze, black, dark brown, "gold" or a combination of these colors. Such signs shall not
overlap the decorative brick band above the first story windows.
CONTEXTNISIBILITY
The proposed signage is to be located on the northwest (EC) elevation of the building at 920 Gardens
Boulevard, in the Gardens Shopping Center, approximately 280' east of the Route 29 North Entrance
Corridor. A parking lot and Taco Bell restaurant building are located between (northwest of) the
building /sign location under review and the Corridor. The rear elevation of the north wing of Albemarle
Square is located approximately 150' southwest of the proposed sign location. Proposed signage is
expected to be visible due to its close proximity to the Corridor, the lack of significant vegetation in
ARB 11/3/08, Armed Forces Career Center Sign - Page 1
between, and the open views across existing parking areas situated between the building under review and
the Corridor.
PROJECT DETAILS
Type: Channel Letters
Materials: Aluminum and Acrylic
Overall Sign Size: 30" (H) x 1 F- 2 3/8" (L)
Text: Armed Forces
Career Center
Graphics: Windblown flag
Colors:
Text: Black during the day, white at night
Graphics: Red 3M #33, Blue 3M #36, White
Raceway: BM Mayflower Red HC #49, to match building brick.
Location: Centered vertically and left to right within the brick sign band over the window and door of the
second storefront from the south end of the building.
Illumination: Interior illuminated letters and logo.
ANALYSIS based on:
Sign Drawing: Armed Forces Career Center, date 7/29/08.
Sign Materials
• Red 3M #33 Acrylic
• Blue 3M #36 Acrylic
• 3M Dual Color Black/White Perforated Acrylic
Issue: Sign Type/Lighting/Comprehensive Sign Guidelines
Comments: The applicant has leased three contiguous units at the south end of the building. A channel
letter sign, with internally illuminated letters (black during the day /white at night), is proposed in the
brick area above the window and door of the second (middle) storefront. This location corresponds with
the sign area illustrated on the approved elevation drawings A New Retail Building at the Gardens
Shopping Center, latest revision date 1/30/07. Established sign criteria for this building state:
Wall signs shall be limited to brass, bronze, black, dark brown, or "gold" letters individually mounted or
mounted on panels, with panel material and color coordinated with the letters and building materials.
Lighting for signs shall be limited to minimal building mounted lighting (maximum two fixtures per sign)
shining down on the letters.
Existing signs on the brick portion of this building and the adjacent Phase 1 companion building are all
panel types, located in the sign band above the window and doors, with building mounted down lighting,
if any. The adjacent Phase 1 companion building has an approved channel letter sign Aesthetic Dentistry
in the west (EC) gable. Although established sign criteria for this building designates individual letters in
bronze, black, or dark brown for the gable ends, the ARB allowed the illuminated channel letter to be
approved in that location. The proposed internally illuminated channel letter sign type would have an
inappropriate, uncoordinated appearance (day and night) with the other existing signs on the brick
surfaces of the buildings.
Recommendations: Revise the sign proposal by replacing the channel letter sign with a sign consisting of
individual letters or panels in brass, bronze, black, dark brown, "gold" or a combination of these colors,
with the panel material and color coordinated with the letters and building materials. Such signs shall not
ARB 11/3/08, Armed Forces Career Center Sign - Page 2
overlap the decorative brick band above the first story windows. The drawings should be dimensioned
and clearly indicate that the sign will be located in the approved sign area over the window and door, with
lighting, if any, provided by building mounted down - lights (maximum two fixtures per sign). Provide cut
sheets of any proposed building mounted down - lights. Revise the sign drawings to indicate the fixture
color, black or bronze is preferred. Any fixture that meets or exceeds 3,000 lumens shall be a full cutoff
style fixture.
Issue: Logo /Coordination with Sign/Colors/Lighting
Comments: The applicant is proposing an internally illuminated logo of a windblown American flag (30"
high x 401 /a" long) to the left of, centered with, the sign text. In daylight, the overall sign would have 4
colors: black text with a red, white, and blue flag logo. At night, the sign would have 3 colors: white text
with a red, white, and blue flag logo. The proposed colors do not observe the established sign criteria for
this building which require that
Wall signs shall be limited to brass, bronze, black, dark brown, or "gold" letters individually mounted or
mounted on panels, with panel material and color coordinated with the letters and building materials.
The use of 4 colors (in daylight) does not observe the General Sign Guidelines which state that
The use of three colors or fewer is more appropriate for signs in the Entrance Corridor.
The windblown flag logo, as presented, does not appear as an integral part of the overall sign. The
proposed size and colors of the logo visually overpower the sign text. This effect will be intensified at
night with the flag logo illuminated. There are no existing internally illuminated logos on this building or
its Phase 1 companion; therefore, the result would be a visually distracting, uncoordinated appearance at
night. A small red, white, and blue vinyl flag, not exceeding 12" x 18 ", applied to the inside of the glass
door would be a more appropriate alternative.
Recommendations: Resize and revise the logo to a panel sign, in bronze, black, dark brown, "gold" or a
combination of these colors, with a design that is more integrated with the sign text without overpowering
it or replace the windblown flag logo with a small red, white, and blue vinyl flag, not exceeding 12" x
18 ", applied to the inside of the glass door or window. Established General Sign Guidelines state that Two
window signs, not exceeding 12" x 18" in size each, that substantially maintain the transparent quality of
the window or storefront, are exempt from ARB review. This window /door sign would need to observe
additional established guidelines for window signs that include:
• The total area of such signs should not exceed nine (9) square feet maximum per business
frontage.
• Such signs must remain in proper proportion to the window and storefront.
• Illumination of window signs is discouraged when the window sign is not the only sign because it
is distracting and competitive with the main wall sign.
Issue: Neon Window Signs
Comments: Currently, the transom in each of the 3 leased storefronts contains a neon window sign that is
illuminated day and night. These signs were installed without a sign permit or ARB review and approval.
The neon sign colors include green (ARMY), blue (NAVY), and red (MARINES). Existing window signs in
other storefronts are limited to storefront window and door locations, mitigating their appearance from the
Corridor due to their height, while still providing the desired occupant identification. Window signs in the
transom location have a higher visibility from the corridor that is only intensified by the day -glo quality
of the sign colors. White vinyl letters and/or graphics applied to the inside of the glass storefront window
ARB 11/3/08, Armed Forces Career Center Sign - Page 3
or door would have a very limited visibility from the Corridor and therefore a more appropriate
appearance.
Recommendations: Remove the existing neon window signs "ARMY ", "NAVY ", and "MARINES"
located in the 3 transoms. As an alternative, consider the use of white letters and/or graphics applied to
the inside of the storefront windows or doors, not the transoms, as a means of differentiating the Army,
Navy, and Marines offices. Established General Sign Guidelines state that Two window signs, not
exceeding 12" x 18" in size each, that substantially maintain the transparent quality of the window or
storefront, are exempt from ARB review. These window /door signs would need to observe additional
established guidelines for window signs that include:
• The total area of such signs should not exceed nine (9) square feet maximum per business
frontage.
• Such signs must remain in proper proportion to the window and storefront.
• Illumination of window signs is discouraged when the window sign is not the only sign because it
is distracting and competitive with the main wall sign.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion:
1. The proposed sign/logo type and method of illumination.
2. The 3 existing neon signs located in the transoms.
Staff recommends approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness for the Armed Forces Career Center sign,
pending staff administrative approval of the following conditions.
1. Revise the sign proposal by replacing the channel letter sign with a sign consisting of individual
letters or panels in brass, bronze, black, dark brown, "gold" or a combination of these colors, with the
panel material and color coordinated with the letters and building materials. Such signs shall not
overlap the decorative brick band above the first story windows. The drawings should be dimensioned
and clearly indicate that the sign will be located in the approved sign area over the window and door,
with lighting, if any, provided by building mounted down - lights (maximum two fixtures per sign).
Provide cut sheets of any proposed building mounted down - lights. Revise the sign drawings to
indicate the fixture color, black or bronze is preferred. Any fixture that meets or exceeds 3,000
lumens shall be a full cutoff style fixture.
2. Resize and revise the logo to a panel sign, in brass, bronze, black, dark brown, "gold" or a
combination of these colors, with a design that is more integrated with the sign text without
overpowering it or replace the windblown flag logo with a small red, white, and blue vinyl flag, not
exceeding 12" x 18 ", applied to the inside of the glass door or window. Established General Sign
Guidelines state that Two window signs, not exceeding 12" x 18" in size each, that substantially
maintain the transparent quality of the window or storefront, are exempt from ARB review. This
window /door sign would need to observe additional established guidelines for window signs that
include:
• The total area of such signs should not exceed nine (9) square feet maximum per business
frontage.
• Such signs must remain in proper proportion to the window and storefront.
• Illumination of window signs is discouraged when the window sign is not the only sign because it
is distracting and competitive with the main wall sign.
3. Remove the existing neon window signs "ARMY ", "NAVY ", and "MARINES" located in the 3
ARB 11/3/08, Armed Forces Career Center Sign - Page 4
transoms. As an alternative, consider the use of white letters and/or graphics applied to the inside of
the storefront windows or doors, not the transoms, as a means of differentiating the Army, Navy, and
Marines offices. Established General Sign Guidelines state that Two window signs, not exceeding 12"
x 18" in size each, that substantially maintain the transparent quality of the window or storefront, are
exempt from ARB review. These window /door signs would need to observe additional established
guidelines for window signs that include:
• The total area of such signs should not exceed nine (9) square feet maximum per business
frontage.
• Such signs must remain in proper proportion to the window and storefront.
• Illumination of window signs is discouraged when the window sign is not the only sign because it
is distracting and competitive with the main wall sign.
ARB 11/3/08, Armed Forces Career Center Sign - Page 5
Attachment A
�� OF ALg
�'IRGINZ�
COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE
Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road, North Wing
Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 -4596
Phone (434) 296 -5832 Fax (434) 972 -4012
February 27, 2007
Todd Needham
788 Jefferson Dr
Palmyra, VA 22963
RE: ARB- 2006 -138: 1010 Gardens Boulevard - Preliminary review of a revised site plan and
building design (Tax Map 45C, Section 3, Parcel B)
Dear Mr. Needham:
The Albemarle County Architectural Review Board reviewed the above noted item at its meeting on Monday,
February 5, 2007. The Board unanimously approved the request, pending staff administrative approval of the
following conditions:
1. Specify paint and trim colors. Submit all material/color samples for review.
Materials /colors shall be compatible with the materials /colors of the existing Phase 1
building. Include an exterior finish schedule on sheets A3 and A4.
2. Revise General Note #20 on the site plan to read "Mechanical equipment shall not be
visible from the Entrance Corridor."
3. Revise the plan to show all trees and shrubs in workable locations (sufficient planting
area, no conflicts with pedestrian traffic, etc.). If trees are proposed within the sidewalk,
provide a workable tree grate detail on the plan. Revise the Plant Schedule to reflect the
proposed changes to the plan.
4. Include the following note on the elevation sheets: "Wall signs shall be limited to brass,
ARB 11/3/08, Armed Forces Career Center Sign, Attachment A
bronze, black, dark brown, or "gold" letters individually mounted or mounted on panels,
with panel material and color coordinated with the letters and building materials.
Lighting for signs shall be limited to minimal building mounted lighting (maximum two
fixtures per sign) shining down on the letters.
Please provide:
1. Two full sets of revised drawings addressing each of these conditions. Include updated ARB revision
dates on each drawing.
2. A memo including detailed responses indicating how each condition has been satisfied. If changes other
than those requested have been made, identify those changes in the memo also. Highlighting the changes
in the drawing with "clouding" or by other means will facilitate review and approval.
3. The attached "Revised Application Submittal" form. This form must be returned with your revisions to
ensure proper tracking and distribution.
When staffs review of this information indicates that all conditions of approval have been met, a Certificate of
Appropriateness may be issued.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Margaret Maliszewski
Principal Planner
Planning Division
MMM /aer
Cc: RLG Architects PLC
1110 East Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902
David E. Pennock
File
ARB 11/3/08, Armed Forces Career Center Sign, Attachment A