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Design Review Board

Level 1: Minor alteration of an existing building/structure
Level 1: Sign

5-B-10-DT

This proposal is for new signs and awnings for the retail space adjacent to the Regal Theater ticket office and the pedestrian walkway.

The proposed projecting signs will be located on the front façade and on the side of building along the pedestrian walkway (see attachd drawings). The sign on the front façade has 3 faces, each face being 3 feet 3 inches wide and 9 feet 3 inches tall (30 sqft), and will be 14 feet above the sidewalk. The sign in the pedestrian walkway has 2 faces, each face being 2 feet 9 inches wide and 8 feet tall (22 sqft), and will be 14 feet 6 inches above the walkway. The projecting signs will be made of metal and will have two layers on each face. The silver area with the name "Nama" will be raised 1.5 inches from the red background. The Nama letters will be made of acrylic and will be pushed through the routed aluminum panel .5 inches. The letters will be internally illuminated with LED's or fluorescent lamps. The fish logo will be made of .25 inch plate aluminum. The raised silver panel will have red LED's or neon around the top and right side for halo lighting.

There are awnings proposed for the first and second floor of the front façade, and an awning for the for the first floor level in the pedestrian walkway (see attached drawings). The awning material will be Ferrari vinyl. The first floor awning on the front façade will extend 9 feet 6 inches from the façade and maintain a clear height with the sidewalk of 9 feet. This awning is proposed to have posts that extend to the sidewalk. There will be a 36 inch metal railing with metal mesh screen panels that infill between the awning posts to enclose the proposed outdoor seating. There will be text and images on the valence of the awning that are 5 inches tall. The second floor awnings are rounded and will be placed over the three second story windows . They will extend 3 feet 5 inches from the façade and will be 4 feet tall by 7 feet 8 inches wide. There will be text and images on the valences that are 6 inches tall. The awning in the pedestrian pathway will have a minimum clear height with the walkway of 9 feet and will extend 8 feet from the face of the building. The overall width of the awning is approximately 60 feet.

Location
506 S Gay St
Applicant Request
This proposal is for new signs and awnings for the retail space adjacent to the Regal Theater ticket office and the pedestrian walkway.

The proposed projecting signs will be located on the front façade and on the side of building along the pedestrian walkway (see attachd drawings). The sign on the front façade has 3 faces, each face being 3 feet 3 inches wide and 9 feet 3 inches tall (30 sqft), and will be 14 feet above the sidewalk. The sign in the pedestrian walkway has 2 faces, each face being 2 feet 9 inches wide and 8 feet tall (22 sqft), and will be 14 feet 6 inches above the walkway. The projecting signs will be made of metal and will have two layers on each face. The silver area with the name "Nama" will be raised 1.5 inches from the red background. The Nama letters will be made of acrylic and will be pushed through the routed aluminum panel .5 inches. The letters will be internally illuminated with LED's or fluorescent lamps. The fish logo will be made of .25 inch plate aluminum. The raised silver panel will have red LED's or neon around the top and right side for halo lighting.

There are awnings proposed for the first and second floor of the front façade, and an awning for the for the first floor level in the pedestrian walkway (see attached drawings). The awning material will be Ferrari vinyl. The first floor awning on the front façade will extend 9 feet 6 inches from the façade and maintain a clear height with the sidewalk of 9 feet. This awning is proposed to have posts that extend to the sidewalk. There will be a 36 inch metal railing with metal mesh screen panels that infill between the awning posts to enclose the proposed outdoor seating. There will be text and images on the valence of the awning that are 5 inches tall. The second floor awnings are rounded and will be placed over the three second story windows . They will extend 3 feet 5 inches from the façade and will be 4 feet tall by 7 feet 8 inches wide. There will be text and images on the valences that are 6 inches tall. The awning in the pedestrian pathway will have a minimum clear height with the walkway of 9 feet and will extend 8 feet from the face of the building. The overall width of the awning is approximately 60 feet.
Staff Comments
Section 1.C.7 states that projecting signs shall not be greater than 9 square feet (unless approved by the Board); and do not light signs internally. Signs that have only allowed light to penetrate the letters and have halo lighting have been deemed appropriate in most cases in the past and staff feels this is an appropriate location for such illumination because of the proximity to the movie theater. The projecting sign on the front of the building is in a location that may warrant a larger size than the maximum 9 square feet because of its proximity of the movie theater. The Board had previously approved a sign for this same location at 17.25 square feet and approve a sign for couple blocks away at 16 square feet.

Article 2 of the Knoxville Zoning Ordinance defines awning and canopy signs as "a sign that is printed or sewn onto durable material and hung over doorways and storefronts that provide shelter and shade for pedestrians, which shall be limited to street level businesses". This is interpreted to mean that signs on awnings shall be limited to the ground floor, which means the signs on second floor awnings are not allowed.

City Engineering has expressed that they do not favor having awning posts attached to the public sidewalk. Staff agrees with this and suggests removing the posts from the plan.
Applicant

Hutchins Associates P.C.

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