Design review board approves Fountain Mortgage wall sign at Lee Lofts

The Downtown Design Review Board on Aug. 28 approved a certificate of compatibility for a 16-square-foot wall sign identifying Fountain Mortgage on the south facade of the northernmost Lee Lofts building, with a condition that any significant changes return for staff review.

The approval matters because the Lee Lofts complex sits within the Business Improvement District and in the C-4 zoning district, where exterior signage is regulated to preserve downtown character and pedestrian scale.

Planning staff presented the application (CC 25-16) by Gleason and Sons Signs on behalf of Fountain Mortgage. The proposed sign is 8 feet wide by 2 feet tall, constructed of a polymetal backing with a vinyl logo and lettering, non-illuminated and attached to the brick facade. Staff said the sign is intended to sit approximately 5 feet above ground facing the atrium between Buildings 1 and 2, adjacent to the business entrance where it will be visible to pedestrians.

Staff reported that the Lee Lofts complex has 544 linear feet of building frontage and that the C-4 zoning district allows 3 square feet of signage per linear foot, yielding up to 1,632 square feet of allowable signage for the zoning lot. Staff also listed existing signage on the lot — a projecting leasing-office sign, a 20-foot wall sign for Lee Hardware Co., and two 15-foot wall signs identifying buildings 1 and 2 — and calculated that adding the proposed 16-square-foot sign would bring the combined total to about 69.94 square feet, which conforms with the C-4 limitations.

Staff said the sign appears proportionate to the building facade, will not obscure architectural features, and does not affect character-defining features that would trigger Heritage Commission review. Staff noted a minor discrepancy between the sign's elevation as depicted in the rendering (approximately 4.125 feet above grade) and the measurement stated in the application (5 feet), and said the sign will be non-illuminated and mounted flat to the brick.

After staff presentation, the board heard from Tiffany Nagel, the applicant's representative, who did not offer additional comments. No members of the public were present in person or on Zoom to comment.

Board members voted to approve the application subject to the condition recommended by staff that any significant changes to design or materials be returned to staff to determine if additional board review is required. The motion carried 4–0.

The board did not require Heritage Commission review and directed staff to monitor any substantial modifications to the sign design.