05/26/1998 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Lorain Road allowing area for wall signage on the front of the store; the building will be painted with newer brighter colors; some accent lights will be included; the existing pole sign will be replaced with a monument sign to be in compliance with the current sign ordinance; and the parking lot lighting will be improved by adding one pole on the north side of the parking lot. A - minimum two foot candle level lighting will be utilized within the parking lot lighting. The members reviewed the presentation. Mr. Brennan questioned how lighting up the roof would improve safety. Mr. Forester advised the roof lights are merely accent lights. Mr. Spalding wondered if the residents on the north west side of the property would be impacted at all by the proposed ligliting. Mr. Forester advised the lighting would be minimal at the property line and should not have any negative impact on the abutting residential neighborhood. Mr. Spalding questioned why the hedge mound was not continued along the property line. W. Forester advised he has not addressed the landscaping as a lot of that is maintained and handled on the store level. Mr. Forester presented details on the type of fixtures to be utilized for the lighting, and Mr. Brennan requested that he identify the location of each type of fixture on the photometric plan. W. Forester noted the d.ifferent types of lighting are identified on the site plan and advised: the light on the north side of the building is a 400 watt high pressure sodium fixture which is identified on the cut sheet as an X1 or X2 where the fixture is tilted at a 30 degree angle. Mr. Tallon advised the angle is not acceptable as it must be 90 degrees to the grouud. He further noted the neon and accent lights also would not receive approval of this commission. In reference to the neon, Mr. Tallon advised this commission has not approved neon in the past and the commission considers this excessive signage. Mr. Forester argued the neon falls within the existing square footage. Mr. Tallon elaborated a neon building accent is not acceptable to anyone's standards in this area and the commissions intent is to maintain some aesthetic value. Mr. Forester was unclear on the interpretation is neon considered lighting or signage. Mr. Tallon stated his interpretation is the neon is nothing more than strictly signage. He read from Assistant Builcling Commissioners Memo dated May 20, 1998 regarding the signage variances needed which included: 1) Total business use - 107 square feet would be allowed where they are showing 138.5 square feet (98.25 Building sign & 40.5 Pylon sign); 2) Total business building - 75 square feet would be allowed where they are showing 98.25 square feet which includes 48 square feet of `?neon"; 3) the location ofproposed pylon sign approximately 4 feet from the right- of-way, where 10 feet is required; and 4) Neon on the bu.ilding and possibly the up lighting on the build.iug. Mr. Forester questioned how the calculations were determined. He agreed the monument sign size was correct in the calculations, however the building size was more like 51 square feet. Building Commissioner Conway stated the neon strip lighting is included in the calculation for building signage. Although he did not complete the calculations, Mr. Conway assumed his assistant used the smallest rectangle he could to enclose the neon strip. Mr. Forester . believed there was only 12 square feet of neon on the bu.ilding. Mr. Conway agreed to recalculate the variances if requested, however the issue is more the neon. He elaborated over the past few years this commission has taken the position of not approving neon lighting. Mr: Forester noted Apple Bees, Rallies, and Red Lobster all have neon on their buildings. He stated neon is not prohibited in the sign ordinance. Mr. Conway noted other commercial establishments have no bearing on this facility. In reference to the new light poles, Mr. Forester indicated the location is depicted on page two of the plans (received Apri127, 1998). Per a request from Mr. Tallon, Mr. Forester advised the building is approximately 17 feet high. Mr. Tallon requested that the poles at the base of the light be reduced to 17 feet (a 22 foot height was shown on the plans) so that they are no higher than the building height. In reference to the accent lighting, W. Tallon advised this type of lighting will not work as it not only cheapens the area, but merely brings attention to the building. As there is a residential area to the rear, this type of accent lighting does not conform to the area. Mr. Forester advised the lighting occurs on the front (Commercial) side of the bu.ilding and is minimal 150 watt lamp. He elaborated Olive Garden has this type of accent lighting on 2