HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201100135 Review Comments Miscellaneous Submittal 2012-01-11Brent Nelson
From: Brent Nelson
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 4:33 PM
To: 'HMSTEW @PANTOPSVET.COM'
Subject: ARB 11 -135, Pantops Vet Hospital Sign, Staff Comments
Dr. Stewart,
I am sending this email as a follow up to our phone conversation this afternoon. As I mentioned, I have
identified the following issues that will need to be addressed to bring the proposal into compliance with
established Architectural Review Board Sign Guidelines before I could administratively approve it.
Red color:
Issue: Your application is proposing Red Pantone 485 for both the text and logo. The Architectural Review
Board (ARB) has determined that Pantone 485 is an inappropriate shade of red for signs. Red Pantone 187 has
been approved as an acceptable substitute. You are welcome to propose another Pantone shade of red for
consideration as long as it is not Pantone 485 which the ARB has directed staff not to approve.
Lettering proportion:
Issue: ARB Sign Guidelines indicate that lettering font size should be in proportion to the sign. The large size of
the text "VET" overwhelms the sign under review and the overall sign structure (including the Southland
Homes sign panel). It does not allow for a sufficient amount of white background (white border) above the text
PANTOPS — resulting in a lack of visual separation between this sign panel and the one above (Southland
Homes).
Logo graphic size:
Issue: ARB Sign Guidelines indicate that the scale of logo graphics may need to be modified to meet the
guidelines and that they should be incorporated as an integral part of the sign. The red belt and hanging tag logo
(like the VET text) appear to be oversized and disproportionate to the overall sign (too wide) — also not allowing
the white background to extend all the way down the sides of the sign, framing the sign panel.
Sign lighting:
Issue: ARB Sign Guidelines indicate that ground mounted lighting should be shielded by landscaping to reduce
the fixtures visibility. The sign application contains a cutsheet detail for the proposed ground mounted LED
sign lighting but does not show its location(s). Revising the proposed planting plan to show the location of the
fixture(s) within the planting bed would address this issue. Also, the ARB requires the following note on
drawings regarding LED lighting intensity:
"The level of illumination provided by the LED lights will not exceed the illumination produced by a single stroke of 30
milliamp (ma) neon. "
Recommendations:
• Revise the sign application by replacing Red Pantone 485 with Red Pantone 187.
• Revise the sign drawing by reducing the size of the text "VET" and the width of the red belt logo. This
should allow for a wider white background (white border) showing above the PANTOPS text. This
would also allow the logo to appear more proportionate with the overall sign and allow the white
background to frame the sides of the sign panel for the full length.
Revise the planting plan to show the location of the ground mounted light fixture(s) within the planting
bed. Include the following note on the sign drawing: The level of illumination provided by the LED lights will
not exceed the illumination produced by a single stroke of 30 milliamp (ma) neon.
• There is a $120 ARB review fee that applies to this application which has not been paid. This will not hold up the
review of the application; however, the sign permit will not be issued until the fee is paid.
As we discussed, I believe the best scale of the VET text and belt logo lies somewhere between that of the
temporary sign and that of the proposed sign. I encourage you to email me any revisions for consideration — that
you feel you could support. We would like to work with you for an administrative (staff) approval — in the
interest of time. Your other option, as I mentioned, is to request a full review before the ARB at their scheduled
meeting, Monday February 6, 2012 at I pm in Conference Room 241, of the County Office Building, Second
Floor, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. A staff report, with recommendations, would go to the
Board and your presence would be required at the meeting.
Please contact me should you have any questions or concerns.
Brent
Brent W. Nelson, Planner
Department of Community Development
County of Albemarle
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, Va 22902
434 - 296 -5832 x 3438