Historic Zoning Commission

Brownlow School H-1: Level II

10-E-15-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Installation of signage (revised from 10-15-15)

(Revised from 10-15-15)

INFORMATION SIGNS
Two parking-related signs are permitted. Retain two 24"x18" parking signs as follows:

1) Location A on site plan, photograph Sign A, and Sign A Rendering
Mounting: The sign will be mounted on two wooden 4"x4" posts with a finial on top of each. The top of the sign will be 36" above the ground.
Location: The sign will be installed just east of the driveway, facing northwest.

2) Location C on site plan and photograph Sign C
The parking-related sign currently exists on the property. In addition to the parking sign at issue, the signpost also displays the following signs posted by the City when the building was redeveloped in 2009:
? One unregulated, building-facing STOP sign and one unregulated, directional, street-facing 24"x24" DO NOT ENTER sign.
Mounting: The signs are mounted on a metal channel pole.
Location: Edge of the property on the east side of the driveway exit

IDENTIFICATION SIGN
1) Location B on site plan and Sign B Rendering
Material: Wood (with a natural wood color stain)
Lettering: Routed letters painted white
Size: 7'x3-½' (24-½'square)
Mounting: The sign will be mounted on natural-stained wooden posts The bottom of the sign will be 12" above the ground with the top of the sign at 3-½ feet above ground.
Location: The sign will be located parallel to Glenwood Avenue, facing the street, approximately 20' from the property line (approximately 30' from the sidewalk) in front of the guest parking spots. The sign will be located in the middle of a landscaped bed that is approximately 10' wide.

Site Info

The Brownlow Elementary School building, constructed in 1913, served as a school until it closed in 1996. The three-story red brick building of 45,570 square feet sat vacant until 2007 when when it was redeveloped as condominiums. It is situated on 1.8 acres of land. (Contributing)

1) The sign code for the underlying zoning on this property, R-3, provides the maximum size and number of signs allowed, as well as the type. The HZC may elect to approve smaller and fewer signs than the code allows as long as safety is not impacted.

2) The Secretary of Interior's Standards (SIS) do not specifically address signage except for commercial properties. The SIS recommendation is too keep nonhistoric signage "simple." There is no guideline recommending that signage must have a historic appearance. But the HZC has the authority to review the aesthetics for any exterior changes/additions to individually landmarked property such as the Brownlow School.

3) The zoning code excepts signs of 2 s.f. from regulation.The one "No Thru Traffic" sign is 1/2 square foot and therefore is not regulated.

4) The code allows direction signs within a parking lot at each entrance and exit with a maximum sign area of nine (9) s.f. and a maximum sign height of forty-two (42) inches.

5) The zoning inspector has noted that there are two parking lots, a front lot and a back lot; therefore, the zoning code allows (two) 2 parking-related information signs of up to 12 s.f. and 8 feet high that face the street. There are 2 parking-related signs proposed at 3 square feet each. The black posts with finials will make the sign more compatible with the architecture of the building.

7) The "Brownlow" panel of the sign will be made using a portion of the existing "Brownlow Elementary School" sign used on the property prior to the school's closing in 1996. The proposed wooden identification sign is appropriate and the size and placement of the sign meets the requirements of the zoning code.