11/12/1996 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-?6- r theu image. Mr. Brennan stated that he had seen the store in Berea, and the sign was much different; there was no blue, there was neon banding, but the sigu was wlute on an all gray background. He noted that tlus development had many stores and if every store put up whatever they wanted across the fiont, it could be a real mess. Mr. Kline explained that this uuit is the end cap of the building, and there would be a Border's across the alleyway in the adjacent building thus creating an entertainment area in the building. Mr. Calmer, a resident who was present for another proposal, stated that this center has an architectural ambiance, and by individualizing every store that goes in, the arclutectural ambiance will be interrupted. If every tenant did what he wanted, it would destroy the look and would be a group of store fronts. Mr. 1Vlauning stated that the commission was trying to have a common theme on all the plazas. Mr. Kline stated that variety is the spice of life, and that a city planner had written a book in which he explained the concept that variety is the gist of life and that it is differences that makes individuals interesting; Hollywood Video would like to be individual. They would, however, like to work with the city but would prefer to use this particular concept for their direction. This is the direction the prototypical store follows and they have built several free standing units using this concept. He believed that creating unanimity in a plaza could become monotonous and the ambiance of this center has a staid quiet look, and they would like a more exciting look. Mrs. O'Rourke stated that Border's wliich will be in the adjacent building, is not a glitzy type store and would bring in a different look. Mr. Kline does not laiow how Border's is going to do this store, but he has doue others which have a much brighter and unique image than the older stores have. Mr. Manving asked if they could keep the uniqueness with just the style of the frontage and only lighting "Hollywood Video". Mr. Kline believed that they needed some level of the concept, even if it meant bringing it down, so that it would be tighter to the signage. In Berea they reduced the area of the background and could do that here, but the elements of the program are important to them. They might consider eliminating the spot light rays, but the mountain profile and edging are important to the Hollywood Video theme. Mr. Gonway asked the architect for the owner of the building, who was in the audience, if he had any drawings done of the Border's unit. Mr. Shill, the architect, has not received them as yet. Mr. Conway stated that since the city is trying to get some conformity, the commission might like to look at the whole center. He advised that the grandfather clause for signs would be coming up in January of 1998, and this might be the time to get the center to bring their concept into conformauce. He suggested that Mr. Kline present an expanded elevation plan with Border's included. They should get some input from the architectural review board before they go on to board of zoning appeals. Mrs. O'Rourke would like to eliminate the ends of the sign and just have it over the door. Mr: Brennan and Mr. Herbster believe that the sign should conform to the codes. Mr. Archer, a sign contractor representing another proposal, pointed out that he is familiar with the Hollywood Video concept, and he believed that they are not trying to get additional square footage of sign area, they are trying to gain their image, and he, personally, has done several of these through out the country. He maintained that if the mountains were taken away, it would be like taking "M" away from McDonald's. He believed that if all the signs in the plaza were the same, people would not recognize them as they drove down the street. Mr. Brennan believed that if they had a good product, people patronize them anyway. Mr. Archer noted that Block Buster's needed to keep their ticket image on their. signs. Mr. Kline stated that there would be no pylon sign on the street. He stated that it was very important to d.ifferentiate this business from the competition, if a company cannot distinguish themselves, customers will not come in. He clarified that the spotlights on the sign would not shine off the building or spill over into the parking lot and he noted that because the building was 350 feet off the road, it was important that the scale of the sign be significant enough to be seen easily from the street. Mr. Brennan believed that North Olmsted wanted to restrict signage and clean up their image, and North Olmsted is not times square in New York. Mr. Kline noted that the center at Brookpark and Lorain, where Office Maaox and Sun TV are located, all the tenants have a sign mounted on a panel over a canopy so this is not unusual, the only difference with this sign is that the panel is not a 3