MINUTES
CITY OF GOOSE CREEK
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MEETING
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 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, Racheal King, Tom Risso, and John Sanders
Absent: Jeri Haga
Staff Present: Daniel Ben-Yisrael and Sarah Hanson

II. Review of Minutes - October 17, 2011

Motion: Mr. Risso made a motion to approve the revised minutes as previously amended. Mr. Arenson seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

III. New Business - Minor Applications

A. Bersatu - Wall Mounted Sign and Tenant Panel

Lynn Gadsen, owner of the business, presented the application. She explained that the printer colors were incorrect for their initial application in September, so she was presenting the actual colors for their signage.

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

B. Liberty Tax Service - Freestanding Sign

The applicant was not present, so the application was skipped.

C. Verizon - Exterior Painting

Mr. Bruce Watford, general contractor for Verizon, presented the application. The application was to paint the sides and front of the store, including the brick front. There was extensive discussion about why they wished to paint the brick, and Mr. Watford stated it was to match the entire building to the Verizon color schemes. He reiterated that the back of the building was not to be painted. Ms. Clopton stated she felt the brick matched the color scheme used and was in good condition. Mr. Risso confirmed the location is in the overlay district.

Motion: Mr. Risso made a motion to deny the application as submitted. Ms. King seconded.
Discussion: Mr. Risso and Ms. King stated they did not wish to have the brick painted.
Vote: All voted in favor. The motion was denied.

Mr. Watford asked if he would have to come back to request that just the block be painted. He confirmed he had the authority to speak for Verizon in the decision. Ms. Clopton asked that he wait until the end of the agenda to discuss other possible options.

D. Sherwin Williams - Freestanding Sign

A representative from B&C Sign Service presented the application. He confirmed the sign face was being refreshed and replaced, and the sign poles were to be painted. There was brief discussion about the lack of base landscaping.

Motion: Mr. Arenson made a motion to accept the application as submitted. Mr. Sanders seconded.
Discussion: Ms. King explained that landscaping was required and suggested a planter box be installed at the base of the sign for landscaping.
Amended Motion: Mr. Arenson made a motion to approve the application contingent upon landscaping being added to the base of the sign. Mr. Sanders seconded.
Vote: All voted in favor.

E. D&R Gunsmithing - Wall Mounted Sign and Tenant Panel

Rich Rogers, owner of the business, presented the application.

Motion: Mr. Risso made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Mr. Arenson seconded.
Discussion: Ms. King asked how the sign would be lighted. Mr. Rogers stated there would be LED low voltage flood lights located on the bottom corner of the bottom panel; the left light would be at the "s" side of the word "sales", and the right light would be at the "a" side of "and" on the bottom sign.
Vote: All voted in favor.

 

F. Charleston ENT - Wall Mounted Sign and Freestanding Signs

Rob Morris with Charleston ENT presented the application. Mr. Morris confirmed the three businesses within the complex shared the signs. He stated the Tidewater signage was not changing in design or color from what is presently on the signs. Mr. Risso asked if they would be able to landscape the base of the sign, and Mr. Morris stated they would.

Motion: Ms. King made a motion to approve the application, contingent upon landscaping being added to the base of the signs and color samples being submitted for the record. Mr. Risso seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

G. Liberty Tax Service - Freestanding Sign

The application was recalled.

Mr. Warren Frazier, owner of the business, presented the application. He confirmed that the application included the portion of the sign for the Post Office. He confirmed that the sign was landscaped.

Motion: Mr. Risso made a motion to approve the application as submitted. Mr. Arenson seconded.
Discussion: Ms. King asked if the landscaping had been removed, and Mr. Frazier stated he had just trimmed it down to about 2-1/2 feet.
Vote: All voted in favor.

H. Verizon - Exterior Painting

Ms. Clopton recalled Mr. Watford. Mr. Risso explained the concept of the downtown overlay district and stated he didn't feel the painted brick fitted the concept. Mr. Watford suggested the application be amended to exclude the brick portion of the store front.

Motion: Mr. Risso made a motion to reconsider the previous vote. Mr. Arenson seconded the motion.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

Ms. Clopton explained the Board had previously denied an application to paint the brick and had a lengthy discussion with Verizon about not painting the brick, as it is attractive and in good shape.

Motion: Mr. Risso made a motion to accept the application as submitted with the exception of painting the brick. Mr. Sanders seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

IV. Election of Chair and Vice Chair for 2012

Tom Risso nominated Sharon Clopton. There were no other nominations. Mr. Arenson volunteered to be considered for Vice Chair, and Tom Risso nominated Mr. Arenson. The Board approved the nominations unanimously.

V. Approval of Board Calendar for 2012

Motion: Tom Risso made a motion to accept the calendar for 2012. Ms. King seconded.
Discussion: There was none.
Vote: All voted in favor.

VI. Comments from ARB

Ms. Clopton mentioned that Stickled Pink still had a sign on the freestanding sign. In reference to a question from Ms. Clopton, Mr. Ben-Yisrael brought them up to date on Tread Quarters and Hardees. Mr. Arenson asked about the status of the new Sonic, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated the applicants had closed on the property within the past couple of weeks. Mr. Sanders asked about the process for the citations written for Tread Quarters and Hardees, and Mr. Ben-Yisrael explained the court procedure. Mr. Arenson asked for a copy of the Overlay District for reference. Ms. King asked when the Thomason Blvd. street lamps would be turned on, and Mr. Sanders asked about the current number of outstanding citations for sign violations. Ms. Clopton asked about Ethan Allen parking truck trailers in the Whitfield Shopping Center, and Ms. King asked about Econo Lodge allowing trucks to park at their location, stating the owner of the hotel charges the trucks to park there. Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated it was a situation Staff had been made aware of and would follow up on again, particularly with a potential upgrade of Seewee Drive. Mr. Sanders mentioned the award received by Goose Creek as the best place in South Carolina to raise a family and stated he felt it was due in part to Planning and the boards and commissions, and they were all to be congratulated on the award.

VII. Comments from Staff

Mr. Ben-Yisrael stated the members with expiring terms had been reappointed to the Board. Mr. Ben-Yisrael announced to the Board that Fred Smith had resigned from the Board due to health considerations. There was brief discussion about there still being candidates who had previously applied. There was discussion about the requirements stated in the Ordinance, referring to Board members having experience in landscaping and design.
VIII. Adjournment

Mr. Risso made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Arenson seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The meeting adjourned at or about 7:23 p.m.