Commission adds rooftop sign to town historic inventory to aid preservation during renovation

The NEM Historical Commission voted unanimously at its June 15 meeting to add a rooftop sign on a building undergoing renovation to the town’s historic inventory, a move members said could give the owners stronger grounds to request that the Design Review Board treat the sign as a grandfathered feature.

Commissioners discussed that rooftop signs are no longer automatically grandfathered under current design-review rules if a building undergoes substantial renovation, and that formal inventory designation could provide “leverage” in a subsequent review. The commission heard from staff that both the building owner and the new owners, named in discussion as Onyx, support the inventory nomination and that the commission does not need a finished inventory form before voting to add the sign.

Members cautioned that inventory listing is not a guaranteed protection: if the Design Review Board refuses the renovation or requires removal, designation alone may not prevent the sign’s removal; moving a sign from its current location can also jeopardize protection. Commissioners agreed the inventory listing is a pragmatic first step and discussed follow-up actions such as notifying the Design Review Board and generating public interest to build community support.

The commission recorded the motion to add the sign to the historic inventory and then voted. The motion passed 5–0 (two members absent). Staff and volunteers agreed to prepare the supporting inventory materials and to notify the chair and relevant boards after the paperwork is filed.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to add the rooftop sign (building owner: Onyx) to the historic inventory — approved 5–0 (two absences).
- Administrative approvals that meeting recorded: minutes from April 13 (approved; recorded tally in meeting: four in favor, one abstention, two absences) and May 18 (approved 5–0, two absences). Officer elections for 2026–2027 were also recorded as unanimous in favor (5–0, two absences).

What happens next
Staff will finalize the inventory documentation and transmit the nomination to the Design Review Board and other relevant town offices. Commissioners said they expect to follow up with outreach and possible publicity to build additional community support if the Design Review Board review proceeds to a public hearing.

The commission moved on to other agenda items after the vote.