Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of Certificate 1-D-26-DT, subject to three conditions:1) Reducing the size of the projecting sign to a maximum of 9 sq ft and submitting revised plans for review and approval by Planning staff.2) Relocating the "Yassin's Falafel House" sign from the first (northwest) column to the third column along W Church Avenue, at the same height as it is currently installed. Revised plans with the final location shall be submitted for review and approval by Planning staff.3) Keeping the "Yassin's Falafel House" sign on the third column along Walnut Street, in its existing location.
Applicant Request
Level I - Board Review: New Illuminated Sign- Relocation of two existing projecting signs for Yassin's Falafel House and installation of an internally illuminated projecting sign for Holiday Inn Express hotel on the ground floor. The 4'-7" wide by 2'-8.5" tall (12.41 sq ft) sign is to be installed approximately 10'-3" above the ground level on the northwestern corner column using eight 1/2" by 12" bolts. The 1'-10" deep sign cabinet is enclosed by an opaque aluminum sheet and features LED-illuminated sign faces of white polycarbonate and blue vinyl.
Property Notes / Work to be Completed
- Background: In November 2024, the Design Review Board approved three wall signs and a projecting sign for this project (11-B-25-D), subject to additional staff review for the details of internal illumination and electrical wiring, and denied a projecting sign at the corner of the Walnut Street and W Church Avenue, where an existing projecting sign for Yassin's Falafel House ("Yassin's") is located. There is another projecting sign for Yassin's on the third column of the Walnut Street elevation.
- The applicant now proposes relocating the existing Yassin's signs to the second column on each side of the Walnut Street and W Church Avenue corner and installing the projecting sign that was previously denied. Signs depicted as #1-2 and #4-5 have been previously approved and are therefore excluded from the scope of this review.
- Staff Analysis: Projecting signs are included in the design guidelines as one of the recommended sign types for the grid subdistrict. Although the Board has the authority to approve larger signs, the guidelines recommend projecting signs with a maximum size of 9 sq ft. The guidelines also recommend that first-floor signs be scaled to pedestrians.
- The previously approved 31.21-sq-ft projecting sign on the right of Walnut Street elevation (#5) will be mounted 33' above the ground level, so it will appear smaller from the pedestrian level. The proposed 12.41-sq-ft projecting sign (#3) will be installed approximately 10'-3" above the ground level. The size of the proposed sign should be reduced to 9 sq ft to be consistent with the guidelines. The existing signs of Yassin's Falafel House are also 9 sq ft in size (the sign faces have a diameter of 3 ft).
- The proposed new location for Yassin's sign on W Church Avenue is in close proximity to a "Stop" sign and poses a safety concern, according to the City of Knoxville Engineering Department. The Engineering Department has recommended the third column along W Church Avenue as an alternative acceptable location.
- The proposed relocation of Yassin's sign on Walnut Street from the third column to the second column needs to be further reviewed by City Engineering to determine if it poses a safety concern. It will be very close to an existing City wayfinding sign, and the relocation may obscure the wayfinding sign. It is Planning staff's opinion that this sign should remain in its current location.
Applicable Guidelines
Downtown Design Guidelines
See Guidelines- 1.4. PRIVATE REALM
- 4. Architectural Character
- 4c. Scale first floor signs to pedestrians.
- 2.B. THE TRADITIONAL GRID DISTRICT
- 1. Recommended Signs
- 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.
- 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.
Meeting Date
January 21, 2026
Walnut Building
706 Walnut St. 37902
DK-G (Downtown Knoxville, Grid Subdistrict)
