ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MINUTES April 5, 2010

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1 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MINUTES April 5, 2010 The Albemarle County Architectural Review Board met on Tuesday, April 5, 2010, 1:00 p.m., Meeting Room #241, County Office Building, Charlottesville, Virginia. Those members present were Bill Daggett, Vice Chair; Charles T. Lebo, Fred Missel, Chairman; Paul Wright and Bruce Wardell. Mr. Lebo and Mr. Wright arrived at 1:05 p.m. Mr. Wardell arrived at 1:08 p.m. Staff members present were Margaret Maliszewski, Eryn Brennan and Brent Nelson. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Missel called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. and established a quorum. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Missel invited public comment. There being no public comment, the meeting moved to the next item. REGULAR REVIEW ITEMS ARB : Hollymead Shops Freestanding Sign - Certificate of Appropriateness for a Sign (Tax Map 32, Parcel 37C1) Proposal: To install an internally illuminated monument sign. Staff Presentation: Brent Nelson summarized the staff report and recommended the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. The proposed use of EPS and synthetic stucco for the sign base and decorative elements of the sign. 2. The comprehensive sign criteria for the tenant panels. Staff recommends approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness pending staff administrative approval of the conditions outlined in the staff report. Background information for the ARB to consider is as follows: ARB Action Memo: 5/4/09 Synthetic stucco is acceptable for signs if mounted on a solid surface such as concrete block and if limited to use as a flat surface as a background for lettering. Styrofoam backing is not acceptable. ARB Sign Guidelines (Freestanding Sign, pg. 10) Materials used in both the sign and support structures should be complementary. They should also support the aesthetics of the building and/or complex being served by the sign, although a direct duplication is not necessary. It is preferred that the base material match one of the primary building materials unless the design of the sign represents itself as a freestanding element complementing the building. Ben Foster and Beth Robinson, with Hightech Signs, represented the request. ALBEMARLE COUNTY ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD - PAGE 1

2 Mr. Foster distributed pictures of signs and asked the ARB to indicate which used synthetic materials. The question is whether the aesthetics of the sign are appropriate. In their business they use synthetic materials far more today than twenty years ago. They use PVC for signs just like contractors. From 2 away someone cannot tell the difference between metal and plastic. The question today is not whether synthetic materials are appropriate because they are just part of life. These types of signs are becoming more common place rather than being the exception. The manufacturer can simulate whichever finish they would like to match the brickwork of the building. He presented a sample for the ARB to review. He requested approval to use synthetic materials because they could get better looking products with lower cost. Board Discussion: Mr. Wright questioned the durability and longevity of the fake brick, particularly with lawn mowers and weed wackers. The surface needs to be more durable to stand up against any sharp flying objects. It was not just the aesthetics. Mr. Lebo questioned why there would be a weed wacker next to it if there was planting around the sign. Mr. Daggett noted that it was a longstanding practice of the ARB to maintain a visual consistency amongst all of the elements of a project. The context is more important than the material. The two signs in the same entrance should have compatible bases since they were so close and the brick colors were similar. Mr. Missel noted that the consistency and the long-term maintenance were concerns. The two materials may appear to match at first but long-term, with wear, they probably would not. Motion: Mr. Daggett moved for approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness for ARB , Hollymead Shops Freestanding Sign pending staff administrative approval of the following conditions: 1. Revise the sign drawing to indicate the sign base material shall be split face block or brick to match the materials used in the building it serves, and the sign cornice and molding at the cabinet base shall be metal. The block base is considered more appropriate. 2. Revise the sign drawing to indicate that all tenant panels shall meet the following criteria: Text and logo colors: black, dark blue (PMS 287C) or dark green (PMS 3308C) Background color: white Illumination: internal with opaque background; only text and logo shall illuminate. 3. Revise the sign drawing by replacing the term cabinet sign with the term tenant panel and adding the following note: Only the text and logo of the tenant panels shall illuminate. The proposed text 3455 and HOLLYMEAD shall not illuminate. 4. Provide a landscape proposal for this sign structure, including shrubs and groundcover, integrating the sign structure with the existing plantings. 5. Revise the sign drawing to indicate the proposed tenant panel material, the width of the ntelos wireless text and logo, and the proposed width of the tenant panels and height of the base. Mr. Wright seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 4:1. (Mr. Lebo voted no.) ARB : Union Bank Forest Lakes - Wall Sign Certificate of Appropriateness for a Sign (Tax Map 46B4, Parcel 1D) ALBEMARLE COUNTY ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD - PAGE 2

3 Proposal: To install one new internally illuminated wall sign in the gable of the EC-facing elevation. Eryn Brennan summarized the staff report recommending the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. The location of the proposed sign. Staff does not recommend approval of the sign as proposed, but could recommend approval of a revised sign design that meets the following conditions: 1. The sign shall not obscure any architectural features on the building. 2. Sign height shall be limited to a size that allows sufficient clear space above and below the letters, such that the sign does not appear to overcrowd the architectural elements of the building. Mike Jackson, Facility Director with Union First Market Bank, said that he had received another suggestion and was surprised that staff did not have it. The revision was simply for channel letters right across the gable end, which said Union First Market Bank. Ms. Brennan replied that staff received that revised elevation, but was told not to consider that because the client did not want that. Staff had responded positively to that revision. The client indicated that they wanted to go with the logo and shorter name. Mr. Jackson noted that they want to have a sign facing Route 29. Board Discussion: Mr. Daggett asked if the circular louver were not part of that elevation would staff have an objection to the scale and location of the sign. Ms. Brennan replied that she felt it would meet the guidelines in that the sign would not be obscuring an architectural element on the building. It is an option that has been discussed. The applicant was asked if the louver was functional. Mr. Missel supported approval of the request with the existing staff comments that provide the applicant with the flexibility to decide how to best meet the guidelines. Motion: Mr. Daggett moved for approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness for ARB , Union Bank Forest Lakes Wall Sign pending staff administrative approval of a revised sign design that meets the following conditions: 1. The sign shall not obscure any architectural features on the building. 2. Sign height shall be limited to a size that allows sufficient clear space above and below the letters, such that the sign does not appear to overcrowd the architectural elements of the building. Mr. Wardell seconded the motion. ALBEMARLE COUNTY ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD - PAGE 3

4 OTHER BUSINESS Staffing Issues: Mark Graham, Director of Community Development Mark Graham, Director of Community Development, discussed staffing issues with the ARB, indicating that ARB staff would be reduced by one FTE, from 2½ to 1½ FTEs, likely by November or December. EC ZTA and County-wide Certificates of Appropriateness: Categories and benchmarks Proposal: To revise the categories and benchmarks proposed for county-wide Certificates of Appropriateness Motion: Mr. Daggett moved for approval of the revised benchmarks as proposed by staff, including the attachments, with the following proposed additions: For #3, add a definite maximum feet above the building in front, or use a ratio to prevent an over-towering building behind; For #10, maybe a percentage change could trigger it, for example, 50% Mr. Lebo seconded the motion. ARB : Loan Max Sign: Size, color and type issues Motion: Mr. Lebo moved for approval of the Loan Max sign on the east elevation as illustrated. (The ARB determined that the design, as presented, complements the existing sign on that side.) Future signs on the Rt. 29 face shall complement the main building sign ( Rio/29 ) and shall be coordinated in color, type and location with that sign. Mr. Wright seconded the motion. ARB : Brownsville fence: Revised design Motion: Mr. Lebo made a motion to approve the revised fence design with the actual fence color to be submitted to staff for review to check that the dark green is dark enough. Mr. Wardell seconded the motion. The motion carried by a vote of 3:2. (Mr. Wright and Mr. Daggett voted no.) ARB : Singleton (AT&T): Appeal update Staff informed the ARB that the appeal of ARB Singleton (AT&T) was scheduled for May 5 at the BOS. Mr. Wright and Mr. Missel expressed interest in attending the meeting. Approval of Minutes: March 15, 2010 Motion: Mr. Lebo moved for approval of the minutes of March 15, 2010 as submitted. ALBEMARLE COUNTY ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD - PAGE 4

5 Mr. Wardell seconded the motion. Other issues from the Board: Revisions to Design Guidelines: Mr. Missel expressed interest in updating the EC Guidelines. He noted issues of timing, coordinating with the City s corridors for consistency, and the possibility of establishing separate districts (for example, Pantops, Route 29 North, etc.). Mr. Wright left the meeting at 2:39 p.m. Moment of Silence: In recognition of the loss of Peter Sheeran, an architect who had presented many projects to the ARB, the board members observed a moment of silence. Screening Fences: In response to questions from staff, the ARB indicated that they would be interested in establishing some pre-approved examples of screening fences, as has been done for security fencing. Design issues that will need to be considered include: fence configuration, how the fence steps to adapt to slope, incorporation of planting along/on the fence, materials/colors (and their relationship to the buildings on site), the durability of the proposed material and its long-term appearance, coordination with architectural features of the buildings on site, location of the fence on site and its distance from the EC. Next ARB Meeting: April 19, 2010 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:51 p.m. to the next ARB meeting on May 19, 2010 in Room 241, Second Floor, County Office Building at 1:00 p.m. Fred Missel, Chairman (Recorded and transcribed by Sharon C. Taylor, Clerk to Planning Commission & Planning Boards) ALBEMARLE COUNTY ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD - PAGE 5