HDC_10 14 20131
LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
Monday, October 14, 2013, 5:00 p.m.
Board Room, City Hall
I. Roll Call
Quorum was present being seven (7) in number.
Members Present: Julie Wiedower
Chris Vanlandingham
Randy Ripley
BJ Bowen
Toni Johnson
Mark Brown
Kwadjo Boaitey
Members Absent: None
City Attorney: Debra Weldon
Staff Present: Walter Malone
Citizens Present: Brian Duncan
II. Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Commissioner Julie Wiedower to approve the minutes of September 9,
2013 as submitted. Commissioner Randy Ripley seconded and the minutes were approved
with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 noes.
Notice requirements were met on all applications to be heard tonight.
III. Deferred Certificates of Appropriateness
None
IV. Certificates of Appropriateness
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334
Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435
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DATE: October 14, 2013
APPLICANT: Brian Duncan, Digital Print and Imaging
ADDRESS: 902 South Cumberland
COA REQUEST: Signage
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION:
The subject property is located at 902 South
Cumberland. The property’s legal description is “Lot 9-12,
Block 25, Original City of Little Rock, Pulaski County,
Arkansas."
This building was built around 1960. The 2006 survey
form states: “this commercial building has international
style influences with shallow roof coping, ribboned
horizontal banding of contrasting brick and window set
flush with the exterior. This was renovated in 2002.” It is
considered a "Non-Contributing Structure" to the
MacArthur Park Historic District in both the 1988 and
2006 survey.
This application is a result of an enforcement action.
Signage was installed on the Cumberland Street
windows without a COA by the HDC. The project
includes signage in the windows as installed before, new
signage on the 9th and Cumberland Street sides.
PREVIOUS ACTIONS ON THIS SITE:
On January 26, 1999 administrative approval was given for landscape renovations.
On December 3, 1998, a COA was approved and issued to Knights of Columbus to replace
windows, close the 9th street entrance and install an overhead door in the gym. A portion of
this work was completed (new windows) but the rest was not started. The COA is considered
void with new ownership.
STAFF REPORT
ITEM NO. A.
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
723 West Markham Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334
Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435
Location of Project
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Existing 9th Street elevation ca. 2006 Existing Cumberland St elevation ca. 2006
PROPOSAL AND WRITTEN ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION BASED OFF OF INTENT
AND GUIDELINES: The application has three parts: Window signage, 9th Street entrance sign
above door and Cumberland Street sign above door.
The guidelines state on page 78:
5. Signs on Commercial Structures:
Signs on commercial buildings should be in proportion to the building and should
be made of historic materials, such as finished carved wood, glass, copper, or
bronze letters. Signs of plastic, plywood, or unfinished wood are not appropriate.
Signs should be placed at traditional locations, such as on storefront beltcourses,
upper façade walls, hanging or mounted inside windows, or projecting from the
face of the building. Lighting for signs should be concealed; up-lit or spot lighting
is recommended.
“Ghost” signs (historic painted wall signs, frequently on sides of brick buildings)
should be preserved and not removed.
The window signage was the subject of the enforcements issue.
To restate, the Guidelines on page 78 state that the “Signs on commercial buildings should be
in proportion to the building and should be made of historic materials…” What is in proportion to
the building? To assist, here is the applicable codes from the City of Little Rock that would be
applicable.
From Sec. 36-530 Definitions:
Sign means any device, structure, fixture or placard using graphics, symbols, and/or
written copy designed specifically for the purpose of advertising or identifying any
establishment, product, goods or services.
Window sign means a sign installed inside a window and intended to be viewed from the
outside.
Identification sign means a sign whose copy is limited to the name and address of a
building, institution, or person and/or to the activity or occupation being identified.
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Incidental sign means a sign, emblem or decal informing the public of goods, facilities or
services available on the premises, e.g., a credit card sign or a sign indicating the hours
of business.
On this application, most of the signs in the windows are Incidental Signs.
From Sec. 36-557(e)
Within the institutional and office, commercial and industrial districts, each premises may
utilize incidental signs not to exceed twenty (20) square feet in aggregate sign area per
occupancy.
On this application, the Incidental Signs would be the signs as shown in the windows with the
exception of the business name and logo. All incidental signage over 20 square feet would not
be in compliance with the city sign ordinance. The windows are estimated to be slightly over 5’
wide and 5’ tall. That would be 25 square feet per window. One window would be 25 square
feet in area, which would be the entirety of the allowable incidental signage for the premises.
From Sec. 36-553.(a)(2). a.
Wall or mansard signs not to exceed ten (10) percent in aggregate sign area for that
occupancy's facade area.
On this application, the wall signs over the doors are well under the 10% rule.
From Sec. 36-553.(a)(3).
Where a building is on a corner or has more than one (1) main street frontage, one (1)
wall sign and one (1) additional freestanding sign will be allowed on the additional
frontage, not to exceed the size of other wall and freestanding signs
Signs that were installed without COA. They have been removed.
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On this application, the sign on 9th Street and the one on Cumberland Street have street
frontage and would be in compliance with the sign code. The proposed changes to the signs
over the doors will be the same materials and attached to the building the same way the
previous signs are.
Proposed signage on 9th Street
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Staff believes that the fixed signage (over the 9th and Cumberland doors) is proportional to the
building. Staff believes that the incidental signs pictured in the photo above contribute to clutter
in the district and are inappropriate if they are applied to every window on a facade. Staff
believes that the incidental signs should be limited to two windows of the building, not on the
same façade. Staff acknowledges that if more than 20 square feet of window incidental signage
is installed, it would require another hearing for a variance to the sign ordinance.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS AND REACTION: At the time of distribution, there were no
comments regarding this application.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval with the following conditions:
1. Obtaining sign permits for each sign.
2. Submit application to appropriate board for public hearing if more than 20 square feet of
incidental signs are used.
Proposed signage on Cumberland Street
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COMMISSION ACTION: September 9, 2013
The applicant was not present for the hearing, and under the bylaws, an application cannot be
heard without a representative present. A motion was made to defer to the next regular
meeting. The motion passed with a vote of 5 ayes, 1 absent (Vanlandingham) and 1 recusal
(Brown).
STAFF UPDATE: October 14, 2013
The item remains the same, Staff and Commission needs to clarify exactly which windows and
how much of those windows will be covered in advertising signage. Staff believes that the
incidental signs should be limited to two windows of the building, not on the same façade. Staff
acknowledges that if more than 20 square feet of window incidental signage is installed, it would
require another hearing for a variance to the sign ordinance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval with the following conditions:
1. Obtaining sign permits for each sign.
2. Submit application to appropriate board for public hearing if more than 20 square feet of
incidental signs are used.
COMMISSION ACTION: October 14, 2013
Walter Malone, Staff, made a brief presentation to the Commission concerning the project
stating that this is a result of an enforcement issue.
Brian Duncan, the applicant, spoke about owning a printing business on Roosevelt and then
buying Graves Litho (the current location.) He stated that they are now doing retail sales and
needed advertising. He noted that he did not know that he was violating any rules with the
signage. He continued that he still had signs in the windows by the parking lot, and were
waiting to see what happened at the meeting tonight. The business signs are as before, only
with different wording. The signage on the windows is reversible.
He spoke of the signage above the doors and clarified that it would be changing the name of the
company, but the signs would look very similar to what they have now.
Concerning the window signs, he would propose to spread the 20 square foot over the various
windows. Commissioner Julie Wiedower commented that his letter stated that the windows were
a little over 36 square feet per double windows and stated that if he put one square feet of
signage in each window that would be his 20 square feet. Mr. Duncan stated that he would not
cover the entirety of the window and would opt for some text in most of the windows. He
asked that on the 9th street side, the window that used to be door, would change periodically for
Monthly Specials.
Commissioner Wiedower asked about the doors on 9th Street. She asked if they had additional
doors other than the doors on the south side of the building. He stated not but said that they
would like to have something that had hours of operation on those doors.
Chairman Chris Vanlandingham asked how the city measured the signage, individual letters or
area, etc. Mr. Malone said that the distribution of the signs would depend on variables, and
would probably be the whole area around the word, not just the letters. The area would also
count graphics and illustrations. Commissioner Wiedower stated that the graphic provided
appears to not exceed one square foot per window.
She continued that there may be fewer windows with signs to get the size of text that they
needed for visibility. Chairman Vanlandingham wanted to make sure that the applicant
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understood that the maximum area was 20 square feet total. The Applicant stated that they
would do the math to meet the requirement. Commissioner Ripley stated that he thought the
intent was to reduce clutter in windows. He thought this was within the intent of what was
required.
Commissioner Wiedower stated that the Commission was delighted the he decided to locate his
business in the district and welcomed hi m to the district.
Chairman Vanlandingham stated that any change to the business or building must come to this
Commission. The applicant stated yes, he understood. Mr. Malone stated that signage such as
“No Trespassing” would go to Staff for approval and did not think the it had to go to the
Commission.
Chairman Vanlandingham clarified what was in the application. The business name signs over
the doorways (one on 9th adn one on Cumberland) in addition to windows signs in the type of
font and color as shown on the graphic not to exceed 20 square feet total. The applicant will
take the other signage down. The applicant will have to get sign permit for the signs.
Mr. Duncan stated that other businesses appear to be in violation of signage, including the Art
Center. Commissioner Wiedower stated that we could have Staff research the issue and did
not know if the Guidelines cover temporary signs.
Commissioner Wiedower made a motion to approve the COA as presented wit h the conditions
of obtaining sign permits and incidental signage not to exceed 20 square feet total regardless of
number if windows installed in. Commissioner Ripley seconded and the motion passed with a
vote of 7 ayes and 0 noes.
VI.
V. Other Matters
Enforcement issues:
Mr. Malone did not report any enforcement issues to the Commission.
November Agenda:
Mr. Malone stated that there were two items, a nomination to the National Register for 410
Battery and the demolition of a building at 901 Scott. He stated that it was an abandoned gas
station.
Citizen Communication:
There were no citizens present at this time.
Adjournment
There was a motion to adjourn and the meeting ended at 5:29 p.m.
Attest:
L
air
Secretary /Staff
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