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Design Review Board

Level 1: Sign

1-A-19-DT

Installation of two internally illuminated projecting signs and one non-illuminated wall sign.

The projecting signs are each 25" tall by 51" wide (approximately 8.8 sqft), one located on the Central St. elevation above the northern (left) storefront, and one on the east (right) end of the Willow Ave. elevation. Both signs will have a sidewalk clearance of approximately 13'-5". The faux wood background of the sign is a laminate that will be applied to a metal face. The letters will be push thru acrylic. The signs will be attached to the signboard of the building using two 2" square metal tubes.

The wall sign will be painted on the signboard over the Willow Ave. storefront and will be 20" tall by 53" wide (approximately 7.4 sqft).

1
Location
109 Willow Ave
Applicant Request
Installation of two internally illuminated projecting signs and one non-illuminated wall sign.

The projecting signs are each 25" tall by 51" wide (approximately 8.8 sqft), one located on the Central St. elevation above the northern (left) storefront, and one on the east (right) end of the Willow Ave. elevation. Both signs will have a sidewalk clearance of approximately 13'-5". The faux wood background of the sign is a laminate that will be applied to a metal face. The letters will be push thru acrylic. The signs will be attached to the signboard of the building using two 2" square metal tubes.

The wall sign will be painted on the signboard over the Willow Ave. storefront and will be 20" tall by 53" wide (approximately 7.4 sqft).
Staff Comments
This building is located in the Southern Terminal & Warehouse (National Register) Historic District, so the Historic Resources section of the guidelines apply (Section 1.C). The Historic Resources guidelines recommend that signs not be internally illuminated. The board has approved internal illumination in the past but has consistently only approved it when light is able to penetrate only a portion of the sign face, such as the letters and decorative elements; or neon illumination. A metal sign face is usually used to keep the background opaque, however, this proposal is to paint the acrylic face and add a laminated faux wood laminate to the outside of the acrylic. This method should make the background opaque and the laminate finish will visually mask that the entire sign face is made of acrylic.

Applicable guidelines:

Section 1.C.7. (RECOMMENDED SIGNS - HISTORIC RESOURCES)
Commercial establishments need to advertise. However, advertising signs should be effective and appropriate to historic areas without contributing to visual clutter. Primary concerns are a sign's location, size, material, and illumination.
GUIDELINES:
7a. Locate signs above storefront windows, below second-story windows on the sign board, or on the storefront windows themselves (30% is maximum coverage), or off the front of the building as a projecting sign (maximum size: 9 square feet).
7b. Create signs that are proportional to the building where they are located.
7c. Do not light signs internally.
7d. Allow painted signs on building walls in the warehouse area along Jackson Avenue, and in some other locations along Gay Street.
7e. Preserve signs that are historic elements of buildings.

Section 2.B.1. (RECOMMENDED SIGNS - THE WAREHOUSE DISTRICT)
The entire Warehouse district is already listed on the National Register of Historic Places and these buildings are also eligible for local overlays. Signs should therefore be governed by historic standards. These recommendations recognize that certain types of signs are dominant in the Warehouse District and should be encouraged in the future.
GUIDELINES:
1a. Projecting signs of modest size (9 square feet, maximum); a larger sign must be approved by the board
1b. Wall signs on sign boards mounted flush to the building facade
1c. Painted wall signs
1d. Painted or new window signs, less than 30 percent coverage, including neon signs
1e. Building name sign and/or building directory
Applicant

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Planning Staff
Mike Reynolds
Phone: 865-215-3827
Email: mike.reynolds@knoxplanning.org
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