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Design Review Board

Level 1: Sign

4-B-21-DT

New sign, to be installed on an interior wall fronting the rightmost bay of windows on the 310 W. Jackson Avenue storefront. The sign is pink neon on a polycarbonate clear background, to be fixed to an interior wall (wall extends the full length of the four adjoining windows). Per conditions of approval of April 2021 DRB meeting, letters on sign must not exceed 30% of the overall window area (four single-light storefront windows and transoms above). Applicant has submitted a revised proposal where the letters measure 96" wide by 28" tall, within a bay of windows which measure approximately 7' tall by 14' wide,

Location
310 W. Jackson Ave.
Applicant Request
New sign, to be installed on an interior wall fronting the rightmost bay of windows on the 310 W. Jackson Avenue storefront. The sign is pink neon on a polycarbonate clear background, to be fixed to an interior wall (wall extends the full length of the four adjoining windows). Per conditions of approval of April 2021 DRB meeting, letters on sign must not exceed 30% of the overall window area (four single-light storefront windows and transoms above). Applicant has submitted a revised proposal where the letters measure 96" wide by 28" tall, within a bay of windows which measure approximately 7' tall by 14' wide,
Staff Comments
As currently proposed, the sign does not meet Downtown Knoxville Design Guidelines or City sign code. In DK Zoning, attached signs are limited to a total sign area of 10% or below the wall area of primary building elevation. The wall area for the tenant space measures 32' wide by 10' tall, 320 sq. ft. Therefore, the allowable total sign area is 32 sq. ft.

The building is a contributing resource to the Southern Terminal and Warehouse Historic District so the Historic Resources section of the guidelines applies. Design guidelines recommend window signs be limited to less than 30% coverage of the window (Warehouse District guidelines specifically reference neon signs as characteristic of the subdistrict). Projecting signs are recommended to be 9 sq ft maximum.

Previous Design Review Board determinations have discouraged "façade changes to a publicly-oriented space or interior change that would obscure windows and doors (such as drop ceilings or display cases)." This citation draws from the previous iteration of the City of Knoxville Code of Ordinances for D-1 zoning but was not incorporated in to the new zoning ordinance. The Board may discuss the installation of a full-height interior wall obscuring the four adjoining windows. The wall has been installed but has not been issued a permit through Plans Review and Inspections.

New window signs at less than 30% window coverage, including neon signs, are recognized in the design guidelines for the Warehouse District and Historic Resource sections as appropriate. The proposed neon window sign could meet the design guidelines if it covered 30% or less of the subject window area.
Applicant

Lawrence

Planning Staff
Lindsay Lanois
Phone: 865-215-3795
Email: lindsay.lanois@knoxplanning.org
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Case History