Volunteer Bank seeks to re‑use previous bank signs at 230 Public Square; DRC asks for smaller, lower front sign and revised fonts

Volunteer Bank representatives asked the Design Review Committee for feedback on a signage plan for their new location at 230 Public Square, proposing five signs including a front wall sign, a directory sign, a small hanging projecting sign, and an ATM surround. City staff and DRC members said the proposed wall signs exceed the nine‑square‑foot recommendation, the front wall sign is too high from grade, and the proposed quantity and placement exceed the guidelines; they asked the applicant to resubmit scaled options and to test more traditional fonts and smaller layouts.

What the applicants presented

Rodney Jarvis and a Volunteer Bank representative said they moved from 302 Public Square to 230 Public Square and seek to replace signage similar to the previous bank. They also propose an ATM surround to the left of the front door to help pedestrians locate the machine. The team said the only new sign is a small hanging/projecting sign on the side; the other signs are replacements in existing locations.

Staff findings and committee feedback

Elizabeth (staff) summarized that the package includes five signs, and that the proposed wall signs exceed the recommended 9 square feet. She said the front wall sign’s height is “not appropriate” and additional information was needed to verify heights of other wall signs (including whether any are less than 12 feet from grade). She also recommended installing any stud mounts through mortar joints to avoid damage to historic masonry.

Committee members gave practical guidance:
- Reduce the front wall sign size and bring it lower on the façade so the sign reads at pedestrian scale; several members suggested studying a quieter/traditional font rather than the bank’s contemporary logo type, and testing a compact mark (for example an initial or emblem) in lieu of long wordmarks to reduce square footage.
- Reconsider the additional hanging/projecting sign: blade signs are appropriate when placed near primary pedestrian entrances; a small side blade may not meet the guidelines or may count toward the total allowed sign quantity for the building façade.
- On the ATM surround, the committee said a modest surround near the existing wall ATM (a through‑the‑wall unit) was appropriate but asked for a photo or flush‑mounted detail at the next meeting.

Next steps requested

Staff and the DRC asked the applicant to:
- Resubmit sign elevations and a sign packet showing signs sized to meet the guidelines, and show a front façade version that meets the nine‑square‑foot limit at a lowered height.
- Provide the exact proposed square footage for each wall sign and show how stud mounts would be installed (through mortar joints rather than through the brick face).
- Bring photos/details of the ATM surround and alternatives for the side projecting/blade sign or consider deleting it.

Ending

Volunteer Bank representatives said they would rework the packet, test alternative fonts and sizes, and return. Staff said a COA (Certificate of Appropriateness) application would still be required for any signage that does not meet the guidelines.