MINUTES
CITY OF GOOSE CREEK
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2011, 6:30 P.M.
MARGUERITE H. BROWN MUNICIPAL CENTER
519 N. GOOSE CREEK BOULEVARD

 

I. Call to Order -Chairperson Sharon Clopton

Ms. Clopton called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Present: Joel Arenson, Sharon Clopton, Jeri Haga, Racheal King, and Fred Smith
Absent: Tom Risso
Staff Present: Daniel Ben-Yisrael and Sarah Hanson

II. Review of Minutes - May 16, 2011

Motion: Mr. Smith made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted. Ms. King seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: Four voted in favor; Mr. Arenson abstained due to his absence from the meeting.

III. New Business - Minor Applications

A. Extra Space Storage - Freestanding and Wall Mounted Signs

Mr. Schafstall with Miller Signs presented the application. He explained the wall sign was only a face change; there would be a new cabinet installed upon the existing foundation of the freestanding sign. Mr. Arenson questioned the brightness of the interior LED lamps, and Mr. Miller stated there was no difference with interior LED from interior fluorescent bulbs.

Motion: Mr. Arenson made a motion to accept the application as submitted. Mr. Smith seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

B. Cash for Gold Express - Freestanding and Wall Mounted Signs

Mr. Chaney, the owner of Cash for Gold, presented the application. Ms. Clopton asked about the differences between the information on the sign permit application form and the sign information form. Ms. Hanson answered that to meet the ordinance requirements, modifications had to be made to what had been requested on the permit application form, so Staff's sign information form reflected the necessary changes and the signs being requested. There was discussion regarding the sign case and its being repainted. There was concern about the appearance of a painted sign case as well as the "boxiness" of the proposed design. There was discussion about the fact that being an existing location, the existing landscaping is sufficient as long as it is cleaned up and any dead plantings replaced. Mr. Chaney stated after painting there would be no evidence there was a sign case on the building fascia.

Motion: Mr. Smith made a motion to accept the application as submitted. Ms. Haga seconded the motion.
Discussion: There was discussion about allowing a portion of the signage to be on the back of the building in lieu of it being on the front of the building and centering the remaining front signage on one of the front facades. There was discussion about the drive through signage on the property. Mr. Chaney stated there would be signage painted on the parking lot and signage on the freestanding sign referencing the drive through. There was discussion about how much of the sign cabinet would be lighted. Ms. Haga suggested her preference would be to have all the trim painted one color and white individual letters applied to the trim.

Because of the time consideration for the other agenda items, the Chairperson asked that the motion be withdrawn and the discussion continued following the other agenda items to allow for additional consideration.

Mr. Smith withdrew his motion and Ms. King withdrew her second to the motion.

C. Liquidation Outlet - Wall Mounted Sign

Mr. Witherspoon, the business owner, presented the application.

Motion: Mr. Arenson made a motion to accept the application as submitted. Ms. Haga seconded the motion.
Discussion: There was discussion about the tenant panel, and it was decided the landlord would bring it for approval.
Vote: All voted in favor.

D. Harvest Time Academy - Freestanding Sign

Mr. Brown, the business owner, presented the application. Ms. Haga asked about the brick base, and he answered it was an existing base. Mr. Brown stated this was a new sign and that the sign would not be lit. There was discussion about the scale of the sign and the concern that the sign will be smaller than desired. Mr. Brown stated the sign size was intentional, and they are comfortable with the size. Mr. Arenson confirmed the sign would not be lighted. Mr. Arenson questioned the distance from the sign to the curb. There was discussion about whether the brick base is an existing structure. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated Staff would insure the distance requirement was met for both the base and the signage.

Motion: Mr. Arenson made a motion to accept the sign as submitted, contingent upon Staff determining the existing distance from curb to base satisfies the City's ordinance. Ms. Haga seconded the motion.
Discussion: There was additional discussion about the ordinance in reference to the distance from curb. Mr. Ben-Yisrael explained in this instance this is considered a new sign installation, and any foundation or base of the sign must comply with the zoning ordinance. It was confirmed with Mr. Brown that he understood the base location must be in accordance with the City's ordinance.
Vote: All voted in favor.

E. Cash for Gold Express - Continuance of Sign Application

Ms. Clopton recalled Cash for Gold Express.

Upon recalling the applicant, Mr. Arenson stated his wish to have a rendering with the actual sign included that illustrated the proposed sign exactly. Ms. Clopton stated the applicants are not required to submit that, though it would be preferable. Ms. Haga asked about whether the existing illuminated sign that is proposed to be painted black would be obvious when painted. Mr. Chaney stated he would be removing the existing vinyl lettering and there would be no difference in the appearance of the painted sign cabinet from the other building trim.

There was extensive discussion about the overall aesthetics, explaining that the location is within the downtown business district. After extensive discussion about the Board's concerns with the placement of the proposed signs as well as the colors suggested, Ms. Clopton asked Mr. Chaney for suggestions for changes to the proposed signage. He suggested revising the front fascia to provide a continuous front fascia and then centering the signage on the fascia. He agreed to provide a sign centered over the front door that meets the square footage allowance for the building which states "Cash for Gold Express". Ms. Haga suggested using individual white letters on the black trim. There was discussion about the proposed colors matching the shopping center behind this location, using black for the fascia trim and keeping the building the same color as present. There was then discussion about the sign to be placed on the side of the building and the fact that the Board preferred not having a lit sign at this location. Mr. Chaney stated there was no need to have a backlit sign, as they are not open at night.

Motion: Ms. King made a motion to approve a wall mounted sign, as labeled #1 on the application, to be centered on the front of the building, that being the only sign mounted on the front and at a size allowed by the zoning ordinance for the building front, with the applicant adding to the building fascia so that the fascia is continuous across the building front. Additionally, the fascia is to be painted black, the sign lettering is to be white, and the sign will not be lighted. Mr. Arenson asked if this meant that all signs would be unlit, with black background and white letters, and Ms. King answered yes. Ms. King added to the motion to approve the freestanding sign as submitted, clarifying that the freestanding sign is to be lighted. Additionally, the sign labeled as #2 on the application is to be eliminated. Mr. Smith seconded.
Discussion: Ms. Clopton stated she felt it only fair to the applicant that the freestanding sign be lit. Mr. Arenson asked if the sign labeled #3 was to be white lettering on a black background, and unlit as well, and Ms. King answered yes.
Vote: All voted in favor.

IV. Comments from ARB

Mr. Arenson stated his concern about the Cash for Gold Express application coming in following the prior approval for another application for the property, and there was discussion about how long an ARB approval stands and when an applicant would have to come back before the Board, as at the moment there is no expiration for an ARB approval within the zoning ordinance. Ms. King asked about the ability to put a time limit for an approval within the motion, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael asked that he be able to give that some thought and bring it back for discussion at a later time. There was discussion about an approved but undeveloped project no longer being compatible with the area. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated there is language within the Ordinance to then require the applicant to revise the project and come back before the Board for approval.

V. Comments from Staff

Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated he would like to discuss what standards the Board wishes to see and what information they would like to have included in the applications. Ms. Clopton stated she would still like to have a workshop in which the applicable ordinances can be discussed. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated that in the past Staff has been flexible, as some of the applications are for mom and pop businesses, and Staff tries to be sensitive to their start up costs. Staff tries to work with them and come to the Board with a close to approvable application, trying to strike a balance. However, because that can be cumbersome, and in the long term interest of the City, perhaps there needs to be a higher standard for the applications, requiring more information upfront. In that effort, it would be helpful to Staff to know the standards the Board wishes to see. There was discussion regarding requiring professional renderings for all sign applications, and it was agreed that would be the standard for future applications. Mr. Arenson suggested the Board review the standards from other municipalities, and Ms. King stated she also felt a workshop would be helpful. There was discussion about referring applicants to the area colleges for design help as well as stating the new application requirements and options in the application packets. Mr. Smith asked about Royal Lanes' sign installation, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated Staff has been in contact with them; because of the landscaping installed on Central Avenue they are having to rethink their sign location.

Mr. Ben-Yisrael suggested holding a 30-45 minute workshop following the August agenda to continue the conversation about Board standards and future applications.
 

VI. Adjournment

Mr. Arenson made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Smith seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at or about 8:10 p.m.