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Design Review Board

Level 1: Sign

1-C-19-DT

Installation of an internally illuminated projecting sign that is 27" tall by 47" wide (approximately 8.8 sqft) with a sidewalk clearance of approximately 16'-5". The black background of the sign will be metal with the letter and design elements routed out. The white acrylic backer will be on the back side of the metal face to allow the logo and text to illuminate. The sign will hang from a 6'-0" long metal pole that is attached to the masonry base of the second and third story pilasters above the storefront sign board. The pole will be anchored to the building airplane cable similar to the adjacent Phoenix Pharmacy sign to the right.

Location
418 S Gay St
Applicant Request
Installation of an internally illuminated projecting sign that is 27" tall by 47" wide (approximately 8.8 sqft) with a sidewalk clearance of approximately 16'-5". The black background of the sign will be metal with the letter and design elements routed out. The white acrylic backer will be on the back side of the metal face to allow the logo and text to illuminate. The sign will hang from a 6'-0" long metal pole that is attached to the masonry base of the second and third story pilasters above the storefront sign board. The pole will be anchored to the building airplane cable similar to the adjacent Phoenix Pharmacy sign to the right.
Staff Comments
This building is located in the Gay Street Commercial (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.

Staff is recommending that the guide wires not be attached to the second and third story pilasters (columns) because the guidelines recommend not damaging historic architectural elements and the rounded pilasters would be more challenging to fix if damaged than the flat brick façade.

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 TRADITIONAL GRID DISTRICT)
These recommendations for signs in the traditional grid district recognize that certain types of signs are more pedestrian-friendly and should be encouraged within the grid district.
GUIDELINES:
1a. Wall signs on sign boards that are above a transom or first story and mounted flush to the building façade.
1b. Projecting signs of modest size (9 square feet, maximum); a larger sign must be approved by the board.
1c. Window signs, less than 30 percent coverage, including neon signs.
1d. Building name sign and/or building directory.
Applicant

Signs N Such

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