Burlington preservation panel approves church sign at 513 West Front Street

The Burlington Historic Preservation Commission on March approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new ground monument sign and two incidental signs for First Reformed United Church of Christ at 513 West Front Street.

Staff introduced the application as a request from the church to install one monument sign and two smaller directional signs. Chair Pennington and other members said staff had reviewed the proposal against the historic-district standards and the city's unified development ordinance sign standards and found it consistent with those rules.

Gary LeFeu, the church's building superintendent, identified himself for the record and said the new sign base will use brick matched to the church's existing exterior. "The only thing I really have to add...is that the new brick for the base of this sign be consistent with the church's existing brick," LeFeu said. He told the commission he had met with M. Smith Solutions, the contractor handling the work, and brought sample photos to compare materials.

Commissioners asked about the building's age and the history of earlier signage. LeFeu said the current church building dates to the early 1940s and was renovated about 20 to 25 years ago; he said an older pole sign had been out of compliance and removed. The commission confirmed the two incidental signs will be aluminum and primarily directional, with one indicating handicap parking at the Tarpley Street lot.

After discussion, a motion (recorded in the meeting as made by John Paceman) to approve the findings of fact carried on a roll-call vote. The commission then moved to approve the application based on those findings; a subsequent roll-call vote recorded the item as approved. Staff said it will prepare a one-page Certificate of Appropriateness and provide a placard to display on-site when work begins. LeFeu said M. Smith Solutions of Gansville, North Carolina will handle the permit filings and installation.

The approval means the applicant may proceed with permit applications and the sign installation consistent with the submitted materials. Staff will follow up with the certificate and permit instructions.