HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201000017 Review Comments Miscellaneous Submittal 2010-03-30ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #: Name
ARB 2010 -17: Hollymead Shops Sign
Review Type
Certificate of Appropriateness for a Sign
Parcel Identification
Tax Map 32, Parcel 37C1
Location
3479 Seminole Trail, southeast side of Route 29 North, on the southwest
side of the joint entrance with Walgreens.
Zoned
Highway Commercial (HC), Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner
Mary R and George R Mercer, Sr.
Applicant
Hightech Signs, Beth Robinson
Magisterial District
Rivanna
Proposal
To install an internally illuminated monument sign.
ARB Meeting Date
April 5, 2010
Staff Contact
Brent Nelson
SITE/PROJECT HISTORY
• 2/25/2010: ARB 10 -17, Hollymead Shops Sign, Staff conducted an administrative review of the
proposal and determined that the proposed monument sign could not be administratively approved
due to the extensive use of EPS. For this reason, the applicant requested a full review by the ARB.
• 5/4/2009: After viewing the proposal for the Charlottesville Health and Rehabilitation sign (ARB 09-
27), it was the consensus of the ARB that, "Synthetic stucco is acceptable for signs if mounted on a
solid surface such as concrete block and if limited to use as a flat surface as a background for
lettering. Styrofoam backing is not acceptable." The Board felt that EIFS could not crisply render the
detail of decorative elements.
• 9/12/2006: ARB 05 -130, Retail Center at Seminole Trail and Proffit Road, Final Site Plan approved.
LOCATION /CONTEXT
The site is located on the southeast side of Route 29, approximately 300' south of the intersection with
State Route 640 Proffit Road. The proposed freestanding sign is to be located in the lawn area on the
southwest side of the shared entrance with Walgreens. The existing Walgreens monument sign is located
on the opposite, northeast side of this shared entrance. This section of the Entrance Corridor is
characterized by a mix of commercial developments many of which have been approved by the ARB.
VISIBILITY
Due to its proposed location 10' southeast of the Route 29 right -of -way, the double -sided sign is expected
to be highly visible from the Entrance Corridor.
ARB 4/5/10, Hollymead Shops Sign - Page 1
PROPOSAL
Tye
Double -face freestanding monument
Materials
EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), Aggregated acrylic, Aluminum
Location
Southwest side of site entrance, as shown on approved site plan
Overall Size
8' (h) x 8' (w)
Cabinet Size
6' -10" (w) x 4' -6" (h) x 10" (d)
Tenant Panel Size
37" (w) x 13" (h)
Base size
8' -0" (w) x 2' -4" (h) x 2'-4" (d)
Cabinet Text
3455
HOLLYMEAD SHOPS
Tenant Panel Graphic
nTelos logo: arrow with swoosh
(Ntelos) Tenant Panel Text
nTelos wireless
Monument & Cabinet Colors
Text:
3455: Dark Green (PMS 3308C), White oval background
HOLLYMEAD SHOPS: White
Cabinet Background: Dark Green (PMS 3308C)
Tenant Panel Background: White
Cornice & Molding at Cabinet Base: White
(Ntelos) Tenant Panel Colors
Background: White
Logo: Blue (PMS 287C)
Text: n: White; Telos wireless: Black
Illumination
Internal fluorescent
Landscaping
None proposed
ANALYSIS based on revised sign drawings received by email on 3/9/10
Issue: EPS Material
Comments:
The applicant is proposing the use of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), with a 100% aggregate acrylic
"stucco" finish, for all parts of the sign structure (except sign cabinet) including the faux brick base,
cornice and molding at the base of the cabinet. The sign cabinet, shown in dark green in the drawing, is to
be aluminum with the same acrylic finish. The sign drawing describes EPS as a durable, lightweight foam
core material that acts as a structural component in this application. A sample of the EPS and faux brick
design was not included with this submission.
The proposed use of EPS with synthetic "stucco" for decorative elements such as the faux brick base,
cornice and molding does not reflect the ARB's established directive that synthetic stucco is acceptable if
mounted on a solid surface and limited to use as a flat surface and background for lettering.
Entrance Corridor Guidelines encourage the use of materials in both the sign and support structures that
support the aesthetics of the building served by the sign. The guidelines also indicate that a base material
matching one of the building materials is preferred. The Walgreens freestanding sign on the opposite,
northeast side of the shared site entrance has a split stone base matching the split stone veneer used for the
base of the Walgreens building (see Attachment B). Approved materials for the building served by this
sign include a split stone veneer base, brick walls and brick veneer columns. Use of EIFS is limited to the
upper section of the fagade including the sign band area and cornice. The cornice coping and window
ARB 4/5/10, Hollymead Shops Sign - Page 2
awnings are metal (see Attachment A).
The use of synthetic "stucco" for the sign cornice and molding is not expected to crisply render the details
of these decorative elements. Revising the sign proposal to show the cornice and molding in metal would
be more appropriate. The proposed faux brick base is not expected to appear as a convincing imitation of
the brick material used in the building (see Attachment A). Real brick to match the building or a stone
veneer to coordinate with the building and the Walgreens sign would be appropriate.
Recommendations: Revise the sign drawing to indicate the sign base material shall be split face block or
brick to match the materials used in the building it serves, and the sign cornice and molding at the cabinet
base shall be metal.
Issue: Coordination of Tenant Panels
Comments: The proposed sign includes space for four tenant panels, only one of which is proposed at this
time. Some level of coordination among the panels is required to provide an integrated and unified
appearance for the overall sign. The sign drawing included in this submission shows an nTelos wireless
sign in the upper left tenant panel; details of this sign are provided in the Proposal section of this report.
The proposed nTelos wireless sign panel with the white and black text, dark blue logo (PMS 287C) and
white background provides the simplicity and reserve the sign guidelines encourage. Limiting the colors
of future tenant panels to the Ntelos colors or the green of the cabinet would be appropriate. Staff
recommends the following design criteria for future tenant panels in this freestanding sign:
• Text and logo colors: black, dark blue (PMS 287C) or dark green (PMS 3308C)
• Background color: white
• Illumination: internal with opaque background; only text and logo shall illuminate.
Recommendations: Revise the sign drawing to indicate that all tenant panels shall meet the following
criteria:
• Text and logo colors: black, dark blue (PMS 287C) or dark green (PMS 3308C)
• Background color: white
• Illumination: internal with opaque background; only text and logo shall illuminate.
Issue: Illumination
Comments: The sign drawing contains a note stating Per County Regulations: Cabinet signs shall have a
non - illuminated background, or an opaque (zero light transmission) background. The applicant has
verbally indicated that the term "cabinet sign" refers only to the tenant panel signs and their desire is to
have both the text and logo illuminate. Whereas the Guidelines encourage the use of external illumination
for logos, negative impacts of internal illumination are expected to be sufficiently mitigated by the size
limitation of the tenant panels. The applicant also verbally indicated a desire to have the text 3455 and
HOLLYMEAD SHOPS not illuminate; however, this is not indicated on the sign drawing. To clarify the
applicant's lighting proposal, the sign drawing needs to be revised by replacing the term "cabinet sign"
with the term "tenant panel" and adding the following note: Only the text and logo of the tenant panels
shall illuminate. The proposed text "3455" and " HOLLYMEAD" shall not illuminate.
Recommendations: Revise the sign drawing by replacing the term "cabinet sign" with the term "tenant
panel" and adding the following note: Only the text and logo of the tenant panels shall illuminate. The
proposed text "3455" and " HOLLYMEAD" shall not illuminate.
Issue: Landscape Plan
ARB 4/5/10, Hollymead Shops Sign - Page 3
Comments: Drawings included with this submission show the proposed freestanding sign in the lawn area
on the southwest side of the shared site entrance as per the approved site plan. A landscape proposal,
including shrubs and groundcover, integrating the sign structure with the existing plantings, was not
included with this submission.
Recommendations: Provide a landscape proposal for this sign structure, including shrubs and
groundcover, integrating the sign structure with the existing plantings.
Issue: Drafting Omissions
Comments: The following information required by the sign application/checklist was not included with
the submittal:
• The proposed material for the tenant panels is not indicated.
• The proposed width of the text and logo on the nTelos sign is not included.
• The proposed dimensions for the width of the tenant panels and the height of the base are not
included.
Recommendations: Revise the sign drawing to indicate the proposed tenant panel material, the width of
the nTelos wireless text and logo, and the proposed width of the tenant panels and height of the base.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion:
1. The proposed use of EPS and synthetic "stucco' for the sign base and decorative elements of the sign.
2. The comprehensive sign criteria for the tenant panels.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness pending staff administrative approval of
the following conditions:
1. Revise the sign drawing to indicate the sign base material shall be split face block or brick to match
the materials used in the building it serves, and the sign cornice and molding at the cabinet base shall
be metal.
2. Revise the sign drawing to indicate that all tenant panels shall meet the following criteria:
• Text and logo colors: black, dark blue (PMS 287C) or dark green (PMS 3308C)
• Background color: white
• Illumination: internal with opaque background; only text and logo shall illuminate.
3. Revise the sign drawing by replacing the term "cabinet sign" with the term "tenant panel" and adding
the following note: Only the text and logo of the tenant panels shall illuminate. The proposed text
"3455" and "HOLLYMEAD" shall not illuminate.
4. Provide a landscape proposal for this sign structure, including shrubs and groundcover, integrating the
sign structure with the existing plantings.
5. Revise the sign drawing to indicate the proposed tenant panel material, the width of the nTelos
wireless text and logo, and the proposed width of the tenant panels and height of the base.
ARB 4/5/10, Hollymead Shops Sign - Page 4
Attachment A
3479 Seminole Trail
Existing building to be served by the freestanding sign
ARB 4/5/10, Hollymead Shops Sign - Page 5
Attachment B
Existing Walgreens Monument Sign
Located on the northeast side of the site entrance
ARB 4/5/10, Hollymead Shops Sign - Page 6