Board presses applicant to scale historic-district signs, agrees to work with staff

The Florence City Design Review Board reviewed and conditionally approved proposals for new signage at 135 North Dargan, a building in the H-1 Historic Overlay District that will host two restaurants and second-floor apartments. Staff said the application includes refacing a first-floor blade sign, a 22-square-foot second-floor illuminated sign identifying 'Urban Flats,' a 50-square-foot internally illuminated rear wall sign for a restaurant, a 9-square-foot alley blade sign and three 1-square-foot directional signs.

"Generally, they prefer externally illuminated signs, like with gooseneck lighting," a staff presenter said, but noted a small number of internally illuminated signs have been approved on a case-by-case basis. The applicant, Terrence Thomas, said some signs are necessary to direct patrons to a rooftop bar and to indicate elevator access for disabled patrons. Dennis of ASL Signs described design iterations and said they had reduced earlier, larger concepts.

Board members questioned the size and placement of the 50-square-foot rear sign and the 22-square-foot second-floor sign and recommended staff and the applicant work together to reduce scale or reposition elements. The board indicated it could offer a partial approval or condition the certificate on subsequent staff coordination. No formal roll-call vote on detailed conditions is recorded; staff will work with the applicant on final scaling and placement to meet historic-district guidelines before issuance of final approvals.

The record lists proposed sizes and sign counts so future permit review can verify compliance with the Historic Overlay District's design guidelines and the underlying Central Business District zoning standards.