HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HARC_02.13.2013_Sign SubcommitteeHARC Sign Subcommittee Page 1 of 2
Meeting: February 13, 2013
City of Georgetown, Texas
Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee Meeting
Minutes
Wednesday February 13, 2013 4:00 pm
Georgetown Municipal Complex
300‐1 Industrial Ave, Georgetown, TX 78626
Members present: Sarah Blankenship, Chair and Ray Wahrenbrock.
Absent: Tim Urban
Staff present: Matt Synatsch, Historic District Planner; Valerie Kreger, Principal Planner; and
Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
Call to order by Blankenship at 4:05 p.m.
The Historic and Architectural Review Commission Sign Subcommittee is responsible for
hearing and taking final action on sign applications, by issuing Certificates of Design
Compliance based upon the City Council adopted Downtown Design Guidelines. This is a
regular scheduled meeting of the Sign Subcommittee, for consideration and possible action on
the following:
1. Review and possible action on the minutes from the December 13, 2012 Sign
Subcommittee meeting
Motion by Wahrenbrock to approve the minutes as written. Second by Blankenship.
Approved 2 – 0.
2. Public Hearing and possible action on a Certificate of Design Compliance for signage at
Lost Addition, Block 66 (s/pt), for law offices located at 1112 S. Rock Street (CDC‐2013‐
001)
Synatschk presented the staff report. The applicant seeks Certificate of Design
Compliance approval from HARC for replacing an existing sign to reflect the current
tenants. The existing sign was installed by the previous tenant. The new sign will utilize
the existing sign posts, trim and color palette. The sign consists of ½” MDO and
measures 4’ by 8’. Synatsch explained that the application had one too many colors but
since the white and cream were similar, he recommended approval of the application.
Ray Shawley, of Affordable Signs, the applicant’s agent, pointed out that there was a
mistake in the application and that only cream would be used as the background for the
signage, not white so it meets the Guidelines.
Wahrenbrock asked if the sign could be lowered. Shawley explained that the sign was
already lowered 6” on the previous application and that lowering it anymore would
make it difficult to read because of the white picket fence in front of it.
Blankenship opened the Public Hearing at 4:08 and with no speakers coming forth
closed it.
Blankenship began the commenting. She stated the sign was “busy” and quoted Design
HARC Sign Subcommittee Page 2 of 2
Meeting: February 13, 2013
Guideline 9.15: A simple, easy‐to‐read sign design is preferred. She suggested putting
just the service instead of all the names, logo and phone numbers. Shawley explained
that the owners had reduced the amount of lettering as much as they were willing to do,
the tenants expected their names on the sign, and that the red lettering at the bottom of
the sign was required by law.
Wahrenbrock asked for the size of the lettering. He explained that he had a chart for
measuring the distance that a sign could be read while driving by at a certain speed.
Shawley stated the applicant was placing the sign so that it could be read by people on
Rock Street, realizing that traffic on University would be going too fast to read all the
wording.
Blankenship asked if the red on the sign would be the same as that on the window trim.
Shawley stated it could be.
Motion by Blankenship to approve the application as submitted with the lighting of
this sign to be brought to staff for administrative approval. Second by Wahrenbrock.
Approved 2 – 0.
3. Adjournment. Blankenship adjourned the meeting at 4:20 p.m.
The Subcommittee may forward these items to the next meeting of the Historic and
Architectural Review Commission for its consideration. That meeting is scheduled for February
28, 2012.
________________________ _____________________________
Approved, Sarah Blankenship., Acting Chair Attest, Raymond Wahrenbrock