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Home My WebLink AboutHDC2023-016 Staff Report FullJune 1, 2023 1 ITEM NO.: ONE FILE NO.: HDC2023-016 NAME: Signage LOCATION: 523 E. Capitol Ave. OWNER/AUTHORIZED AGENT: Brad Spradlin & Nathan Price Associated General Contractors of Arkansas 523 E Capitol Little Rock, AR 72202 Figure 1. 523 E. Capitol, Little Rock, AR June 1, 2023 ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2023-016 2 AREA: 0.26 acres NUMBER OF LOTS : 1 WARD: 1 HISTORIC DISTRICT: MacArthur Park Historic District HISTORIC STATUS: Non-Contributing CURRENT ZONING: UU – Urban Use A. BACKGROUND Location The subject property is located at 523 E. Capitol. The property’s legal description is “Trapnell Block of Stevensons Addition, East 75 feet of the North 150 feet, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.” Context The subject property is the site of a two-story brick commercial structure, built d. 1974. The structure is a Non- Contributing resource identified in the 2007 National Register survey form, PU2780, as a two- story office building in the 20th century standard commercial style with frame construction, brick cladding, on a continuous concrete foundation. The structure has a rectangular plan with a pyramid roof. At the center of the roof is a skylight. Brick detailing includes cornice level courses, window lintels and sills, brick pilasters, and decorative courses along the foundation. Windows are stationary and arranged in groups of four vertical, rectangular panes. Figure 2. Location of 523 E. Capitol within the MacArthur Park Historic District. June 1, 2023 ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2023-016 3 According to a 1972 zoning casefile (Z-2665-A), the structure was designed by John V. Robinson with the intention of being compatible with the surrounding historic district—before the district became an LOD. In the application, the structure was called the “Prestige Building”. Figure 4. Z-02665-A Site Plan 3, Planning Commission casefile, 1972. Figure 3. 523 E. Capitol, Prestige Building, 1978 QQA Survey. June 1, 2023 ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2023-016 4 The entry door was modified sometime between August 2014 and June 2015. Between 1978 and 1988, several first-floor windows were modified to have louvered panes on their lower half. Recent/Previous Action In 1981, a COA (HDC1981-002) was issued to Associated General Contractors for the installation of a new ground mounted sign. Sign was a 6’ x 2.5’ metal box on 2’ supports. In 2009, a COC (HDC2009-003) was issued to Associated General Contractors to replace sign after it was vandalized. The replacement sign was 6’ x 4’ vinyl applied to plastic poly frame. No other actions were found. B. PROPOSAL/REQUEST/APPLICANT’S STATEMENT: The application requests to install a free-standing sign at the front of the property and window signage on the front and rear entrances. See Attachment B. C. EXISTING CONDITIONS: See site photos (Attachment A) and application packet (Attachment B). D. NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS: At the time of distribution, there were no comments regarding this application. All owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site and all neighborhood associations registered with the City of Little Rock that surround the site were notified of the public hearing. E. ANALYSIS: The application requests the installation of four (4) signs: one (1) free-standing ground mounted sign facing northeast at the front of the property and three (3) window signs on the front and rear entrances. Sign #1: The proposed free-standing sign is 96” x 54” x ½” double sided acrylic and vinyl lettering and graphics on MDO panel. MDO panel (medium density overlay) is a plywood surface with a weather-resistant resin overlay bonded to the wood by heat and pressure. The MDO will be attached to 60” x 18” square brick June 1, 2023 ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2023-016 5 masonry posts with 1’ brackets. The sign will be located 5 feet from the front and side property lines and be oriented northeast, facing the intersection of E. Capitol and Sherman Street. See site plan in Attachment B. Sign #2-4: The window signs are vinyl adhesive lettering and graphics. Signage for the Associated General Contractors will be placed on the front and rear entry doors and signage for Wright’s Shine Parlor will be placed on the upper portion of the right sidelight. Section VII. E. “Design Guidelines for Site Design: Signs” of the MacArthur Park Design Guidelines state: “Signs should be subordinate to the architecture and overall character throughout the district. Historic signs should be preserved, including “ghost” signs on the sides of buildings.” “1. Attached to Building: Signs attached to a building should not cover or obscure architectural features. Signs may be painted on windows, doors, or small panels at entrances or on awnings. Small signs may be flush-mounted on a building wall; may be hung on porches between posts; or may project from the structure. A sign on a masonry wall should be mounted in the mortar, not the masonry. 2. Free-Standing Signs: Free-standing signs should be low, small, and constructed of wood or a non-shiny finish. The recommended size should not exceed six square feet in area. These signs should be located in landscaped areas. All ground mounted (free standing) signs in the UU zoning district must be approved by the Board of Adjustment in addition to the Historic District Commission. […] 3. Materials for signs: Materials used for signs should be traditional, such as finished wood, glass, copper, or bronze, not plywood, plastic, unfinished wood, neon or other internally lighted materials, or flashing lights. Materials should be compatible with the building materials. 4. Design of signs: The design of the signs should be appropriate to the building, in size, lettering, and style. Business logos or symbols are desirable. If several businesses share a building, coordinate the signs. Flashing, rotating, moveable, or portable signs should not be used. 5. Lighting of signs: Lighting of signs should be from remote sources, preferably from the ground aimed directly at the sign and shielded from street view. Lighting should not use visible bulbs, internal sources or luminous paint.” Staff finds the signage request partially consistent with the guidelines. The free- standing sign is not consistent with the guidelines in size and material. The June 1, 2023 ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2023-016 6 guidelines recommend a sign area of 6 ft2. The proposed sign area is 36 ft.2, excluding masonry posts, and 49.5 ft.2, including masonry posts. A sign this large is not typical of the district. The property sits at the corner of an intersection and is easily visible from the public right of way. Staff finds the scale of the structure, nor the circumstance of the property, warrant a large sign. The property’s base zone is Urban Use, where ground mounted signs are discouraged and can only be permitted as a variance. Concerning material, the sign is made of non-traditional material, primarily plywood and vinyl. Instances of ground mounted signs with MDO plywood exist throughout the district. Where found, these signs are made more compatible to the district through size, design, and integration of traditional materials through other features. Below are examples of signs in the district, specifically on E. Capitol, which utilize an MDO panel and are compatible to the district. To make the proposed sign more compatible with the district in size and material, Staff recommends reducing the size of the sign and using wood posts with simple capitals rather than masonry posts. The only instance of the use of masonry posts for a sign in the district is the Cumberland Towers at 311 E 8th Street—an 11-story International Style residential tower. Figure 5. Trapnall Hall, 423 E. Capitol, signage. Figure 6. Rainwater Apartments, 519 E. Capitol, signage. Figure 7. Curran Hall, 615 E. Capitol, signage. June 1, 2023 ITEM NO.: ONE (Cont.) FILE NO.: HDC2023-016 7 Additionally, the property possesses two unpermitted sandwich board signs. Sandwich boards are not permitted in the UU Zone unless meeting specific requirements and obtaining a sign permit. Staff requires the signs be removed for compliance and recommends integrating Wright’s Shine Parlor signage into the proposed ground mounted sign by installing a horizontal sign board below AGC’s signage. “If several businesses share a building, coordinate the signs.” Lighting and landscaping are not mentioned in the application. Concerning the window signage, Staff finds the adhesive graphic signs proposed for the front and rear entrances to be consistent with the guidelines. As designed, the sign for Wright’s Shine Parlor is inconspicuous. Staff recommends relocating the sign for Wright’s Shine Parlor and placing it beneath the AGC sign on the rear entry door with a horizontal line between the two graphics. F. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends denial of the application as submitted, or approval of the application with the following conditions: 1. Obtain required sign permits for all signs on property. 2. Reduce free-standing sign to no more than 24 square feet with a height not to exceed 6 feet. Figure 8. Multi-business sign example from design guidelines, page 63. June 1, 2023 8 Attachment A: Site Photos Figure 10. 523 E. Capitol front facade, looking south. Figure 9. 523 E. Capitol rear facade, looking northwest. June 1, 2023 9 Figure 11. 523 E. Capitol existing signage, looking west. Figure 12. 523 E. Capitol existing signage, looking southwest. June 1, 2023 10 Figure 13. 523 E. Capitol existing rear signage. June 1, 2023 11 Attachment B: Application Packet City of Uttle Rock Department of Planning and Development 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 371.4546 www.littlerock.gov APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS Address of Property: SZ J Ez Ola* b I r'" u-ei (,a e. Z3i- . f e -]vW 'L Legal Description of Property: p r nt✓il l3iv tL Seedew , [s / lc r' 't '1 , t , f pp ;t- 17S`t'J ales dJU r I d ir.rv .l idc1C ?0114n v ITr16a, cif Cr>v t;y S f If, 2S , or' . as ra wtd v pfeSS, STREET ADDRESS: _ 5 [ 7 4 5'r C!{Q end f _ C:. R. / ^t 1 %Zz(, Owner/Agent (Printed Name): yj ,(7 Lt, J r 1 Owner/Agent Street, City, State, &Zip: 3 f rA" , ' l_af9L'fU -L. J' rfi'E1L. I )qV_, i-blia Owner /Agent Phone Number: i`7 u 1 `] 1 - ' `J Owner /Agent Email: _ bSir]tr10 O'Gj G LZ-i- n Name of Applicant as it will appear on all correspondence and in Staff report: 3 ►mod S r dL.ul . - a ►a n P,- te,e, Brief Project Description: rZI-A LA Ad Estimated Cost of Improvements: Pei, &(J1in Zoning Classification: Is the proposed change a permitted usp, , VYes ❑ No Signature of Owner or Agent: NOTE: Should there be changes during construction (design, materials, size, etc.) from the approved COA, applicant shall notify Commission staff and take appropriate actions. Approval by the Commission does not excuse applicant or property from compliance with other applicable codes, ordinances or policies of the city unless stated by the Commission or staff. Responsibility for identifying such codes, ordinances, or policies rests with the applicant, owner, or agent. Application Date: DO NOT FILL IN - FOR STAFF USE ONLY HDC File # HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION DOCKETED LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION ACTION: at 4:00 p.m. _ DENIED _ WITHDRAWN _ APPROVED _ APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS _ SEE ATTACHED CONDITIONS DOCUMENTING OFFICIAL SIGNATURE: DATE: Historic District.dou Page 3 of 5 revised 5/8/2020 '_ J City of Little Rock Department of Planning and Development 723 West Markham Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 LR4 ' Phone: (501) 3714790 Fax: (501) 3714546 www.littlerack.gov NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE LITTLE ROCK HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION ON AN APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS To all owners of land lying within 200 feet of the boundary of property at: 4 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: TI-q KB lr 1 % dL <<' S ✓ Py $ , tS d, i ? r ems,$ d Meg l% f L,Wtlelck— A✓14,51t,'i1✓114 41'k4K,q anl-es N t u o /, f 5, STREET ADDRES/2S:: V 52 3 GCi S 612k,1141 OWNED BY: 1, S p rRa1,v1 17zzoz NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness on the above described property has been filed with the Department of Planning and Development requesting the following changes: A Public Hearing on said application will be held by the Historic District Commission at 1 on 4:00 p.m. ALL PARTIES IN INTEREST MAY APPEAR and be heard at said time and place or may notify the Little Rock Histor% District Commission of their views on this matter by letter. All persons interested in this request are invited to call or visit the Department of Planning and Development to review the application with Commission Staff. The City of Little Rock complies with all civil rights provisions of federal laws and related authorities that prohibit discrimination in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. The City of Little Rock does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, income status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political opinions or affiliation, in admission or access to and treatment in the City's programs and activities, as well as the city's hiring or employment practices. This notice is available from the Title VI Coordinator in large print or recording. Free language assistance for those with Limited English Proficiency Is available upon request. La ciudad de Little Rock cumple con todas los disposiciones de derechos civiles de los estatutos federates y autoridades relacionadas que proh/ben la discriminacion en programas y actividades que reciben asistencia financiera federal. Lo ciudad de Little Rock no discrimino par motivos de raza, color, credo, religion, sexo, origen nocional, edad, discapocidad, estodo de ingresos, estodo civil, orientacl6n sexual, identidad de geneeo, informacion genetics, las opinions politicos o afiliacidn, en la admisi6n o acceso y tratamiento en los programas y actividades de la ciudad, asl como de contratoci6n de empleodos de la ciudad. AFFIDAVIT I hereby certify that I have notified all the property owners as reflected on the abstract company list and all those that are not reflected on that list that I have knowledge of within 150 feet of the above -described property, that subject property is being considered for a Certificate of Appropriateness and that a Public Hearing will be held before the Litteock Historic District Commission at the time and place described. Applicant (Owner or Authori gent): Date Historic District.docx Page 4 of 5 revised 5/8/2020 Qty 1 MDO 1/2" Thick 54"x 8' NEED ARTWORK SUPPLIED Double Sided Graphics VECTOR FORMAT - Circle Emblem Digital Print, Laminated contour cut applied OPT 2 - "AGCARKANSAS" as Gemini 1/4"thick acrylic lettering painted black - d/s tape mounted - All lettering & line underneath as Black Oracal vinyl applied 5, a rF co Cn Lj y _ _ i OFAMER�GP A CARKANSAS ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF ARKANSAS EST. 1938 523 E. CAPITOL AVE. WWW.AGCAR.NET 501-375-4436 r_. - ALA yeti, 8„ wYt.Q attached with I" brackets f. ' It.'• \k '. c. �( try. .� J.•'� f _`� )'� 3'_ i+� `.,�. F o COLORS SHOWN ON PROOF/SCREEN VERSUS PRODUCTION MAY VARY. ALL ARTWORK IS THE PROPERTY OF Client: AGC LITTLE ROCK SIGN CONWAY SIGN CO. File Name: AGC Signage_Comp.ai REPRODUCTION OF THIS PROPRIETARY ARTWORK WITHOUT WRITTEN Date: 1 1-16-22 CONSENT IS ILLEGAL. Sales: Chris Artist: Jodi SIGNATURE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL TO PROCEED WITH ORDER & PRODUCTION Approved -- - -- -- _ - NO CRAY sox STSOYOUCANSEE GRAPHIC ON THE axoTo �7 I INV INMUL_ - -�Ann /71 01 • `�' 0 �o�eNeaq I 4 CARI(ANSA MON Y-THURSDAY: SAM FRIDgY 8AM 3Pti� - jE WW ACCA4.NF1 i ALL ARTWORK IS THE PROPERTY OF Client: AGC LITTLE ROCK SIGN CONWAY SIGN CO. File Name: AGC Signage_Comp.ai REPRODUCTION OF THIS PROPRIETARY • ARTWORK WITHOUT WRITTEN Date: 11-16-22 SIGNATURE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL TO PROCEED FZApprovedCONSENT IS ILLEGAL. Sales: Chris Artist: Jodi WITH ORDER & PRODUCTION