Needham Design Review Board continues sign special-permit for 1032 Highland Avenue, directs applicant to file full sign-by-sign materials

The Needham Design Review Board on Monday continued consideration of a special-permit application for signage at 1032 Highland Avenue to its March 23 meeting and told the applicant to submit complete, sign-by-sign documentation so the board and the public can review the proposal.

Board Chair Mark Glusing opened the remote meeting at 7:32 p.m. and said the board had not received supporting documents for the application. “We did not receive any supporting documents, so we don't really have anything to review,” Glusing said, noting the board has a 35-day review window for newly filed materials.

The applicant, Jamal, said he had previously sent paperwork to a town contact and later to town staff and that a private sign company, SignsNow, had replaced some signs and told him a permit was not required. “I sent all this paperwork to Joe about last year with the lettering, the size, dimension of every single sign at the gas station,” Jamal said. Glusing disputed the company’s assertion, saying town building and community development staff would not have advised that all sign changes could proceed without permits.

Town staff member Alisa Litchman confirmed she had received signage information recently but told the applicant he still needed to submit an application form and attachments for each sign, including images and dimensions. Glusing told the applicant to identify which two signs would be the by-right primary signs and to apply for the remaining signs as special-permit signs.

After discussion the board voted to continue the application to the March 23, 2026 meeting so the applicant could provide the required materials. The motion to continue was moved, seconded and approved; members voting “yes” when called were Steve, Felix and Chair Glusing.

While the meeting’s substantive item was the 1032 Highland Avenue application, the board also approved its February 9 minutes by unanimous vote and then adjourned.

The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for March 23, 2026; applicants and interested residents were directed to submit documentation to town staff for posting on the Town of Needham website so the public can review it prior to that meeting.