Design Review Board

Level 1: Sign

10-B-24-DT  

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of Certificate 10-B-24-DT, subject to one condition: 1) placement of west elevation wall sign to meet requirements of City sign code, with minor revisions to be approved by staff.


Applicant Request
New signage package for new construction mixed-use/multi-family building.

Two building name signs at the roofline on the east and west elevations, fronting James White Parkway and State Street. Name signs measure 27'-11" wide by 5' tall, featuring raceway-mounted channel letters with internal LED illumination.

Four tenant identification signs on west elevation, fronting State Steet. Signs will be located on flat-roof awnings above entry doors, towards the right side of the building. Signs measure 3'-6" wide by 1' tall and feature raceway-mounted channel letters with internal LED illumination. The sign application features "tenant" as a placeholder for tenant names that are to be determined.

Staff Comments
The new construction building was approved by the DRB in July 2023 (7-C-23-DT) with a condition of approval that new signage return to the Design Review Board for approval. The property was re-zoned in from DK-G (Grid Subdistrict) to DK-B (Boulevard Subdistrict) in September 2023.

The proposed signage is proportionate to the building on which it will be installed and compatible with the building's overall design. There are no guidelines related to internal illumination for the Boulevard District. Revisions to the tenant identification sign lettering can be approved by staff during permitting.

Per Article 2.3 of the City Zoning Code, wall signs may not project above the wall or parapet. The wall sign on the State Street elevation should be revised to be located below the parapet; revisions could include a minor reduction in size or moving the sign lower on the wall.
Applicant

Scott Busby Smee + Busby Architects, P.C.


Planning Staff
Lindsay Crockett
Phone: 865-215-3795
Email: lindsay.crockett@knoxplanning.org
Location
121 Union Ave.

Owner
Vintage Cal Owners

Case History