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CITY OF DOVER HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION AGENDA THURSDAY, February 20, 2014 - 3:00 P.M. City Hall – Conference Room ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETING on November 21, 2013 COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS 1. Summary of 2013 Activity a. Summary of Applications 2013 and 2012 b. Summary of Architectural Review Certifications for 2013 c. Report of 2013 Historic District Commission Activity 2. Summary of 2014 Activity a. Summary of Architectural Review Certifications for 2014 3. Department of Planning & Inspections Update a. Bicycle & Pedestrian Sub-Committee b. Central Dover Community Plan c. Review of 2008 Comprehensive Plan d. Citywide Recreational Needs Assessment OLD BUSINESS NEW APPLICATIONS NEW BUSINESS 1. Review of Building Permits Referred to Commission 2. Update on Certified Local Government (CLG) Program Application ADJOURN THE AGENDA ITEMS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED IN SEQUENCE. THIS AGENDA IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO INCLUDE THE ADDITION OR THE DELETION OF ITEMS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE SESSION.

City of Dover ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW REPORT Referral by City Planner to Historic District Commission Meeting of February 20, 2013 Permit: Permit #14-148 for EZ Pass Signage Location: 22-24 W. Loockerman Street Located on the south side of West Loockerman Street between State and Bradford Streets Tax Parcel: ED-05-077.09-04-16.00-000 File Number: HI-14-01 Referral of Permit: The following application Building Permit #14-148 is referred by the City Planner to the Historic District Commission for consultation regarding the issuance of the Architectural Review Certificate. Applications for certain types of construction activity within the Historic District Zone (H) are reviewed by the City Planner (or Staff as designated) for Architectural Review Certification as part of the Building (Sign) Permit application review process. Staff is referring the Permit for review under the provisions of Zoning Ordinance, Article 10 Section 3.22(A) and (B). See below. Section 3.22 Architectural review certification by the city planner. (A) An architectural review certificate for specific classes of building permits, including fences, signs, siding, window and door replacement, roofing, the addition or replacement of decorative features, minor demolition, residential additions, and other construction of a minor nature, may be issued by the city planner, after a review and determination that the proposed construction is in general accordance with the standards set forth in subsection 3.25. (B) The city planner may refer any permit application for demolition or construction in the historic district for consultation with commission. Permit Proposal: Sign Permit #14-148 was filed on February 14, 2014 for the proposed signage for EZ Pass located at 22-24 West Loockerman Street, Dover. The permit application is for two wall signs to be placed above the doors and windows to the building. This are of the wall includes two framed out dry-vit areas, architectural elements designed to accommodate signage. The signs are 22.76 square feet and 23.83 square feet in sign area. The sign surface is proposed to be ½” thick Komacel (PVC) with vinyl lettering. See permit application form and attachments. Staff Review of Permit for Architectural Review Certification: P. O. Box 475 Dover, DE 19903 Community Excellence Through Quality Service

HI-14-01 EZ Pass Signage at 22-24 West Loockerman Street Staff Report to the Historic District Commission Page 2 of 4 In reviewing the proposed project for Architectural Review Certification, Staff referenced various sections of Chapter 5: Storefronts and Signage of the Design Standards and Guidelines for the City of Dover Historic District Zone which presents the Recommended, Not Recommended, and Inappropriate approaches to construction of various elements in the Historic District. Staff also reviewed the proposed signage for compliance with provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. Per the Sign Regulations (Zoning Ordinance, Article 5, Section 4), the site is permitted two wall signs per street frontage. Each sign is limited to 64 square feet in sign area. The proposal is for two wall signs on the Loockerman Street frontage, one with a sign area of 22.76 square feet and the other with a sign area of 23.83 square feet. The proposed signage meets the requirements of the Sign Regulations for size and number. According to the Design Standards and Guidelines for the City of Dover Historic District Zone (Chapter 5), the following are Recommended: • A sign should be consistent and compatible in terms of its size, style, materials, and location with the historic building, and should be integrated into the architectural design of the building on which it is located. In the Loockerman historic context, in general, signs should be simple and not too large. No sign should be from a period earlier than the building on which it is placed. • Appropriate locations for signs are horizontally at the storefront lintel, on the inside of glass, hanging signs that are appropriately scaled, and on awnings. • Sign material should be compatible with the design of the building. Wood and metal signs are recommended. Similarly, the following is Not Recommended: • Plastic signs are not recommended. Staff findings are summarized as follows: • Sign Location and Size: The location and size of the proposed signs is consistent with the recommendations of the Design Standards and Guidelines for the City of Dover Historic District Zone. The proposed signs are incorporated with the architectural elements above the doors, and the size and scale is compatible with the building’s architecture and that of the surrounding area. • Sign Material: The proposed material for the signs is a Komacel (PVC) surface with vinyl lettering. There is no illumination proposed. Staff does not find that the material choice is consistent with the Design Standards and Guidelines for the City of Dover Historic District Zone, as the Guidelines specifically recommend that materials should be consistent and compatible with the design of the building. Additionally, the Guidelines indicate that metal and wood signs are Recommended, and that plastic signs are Not Recommended. The signs as proposed lack dimension that is typical of signs in the Loockerman historic context. Photos of signs along Loockerman Street between State Street and Governors Avenue are provided as examples of the materials and dimension that is typical of signs within this area. 2

HI-14-01 EZ Pass Signage at 22-24 West Loockerman Street Staff Report to the Historic District Commission Page 3 of 4 Examples of signs on Loockerman Street Historic District Commission Action The Historic District Commission should consider the proposal for the proposed signage and take action in regards to the Architectural Review Certification for the project. Advisory Comments and Recommendations: 1. The applicant shall be aware that a Permit is required prior to installation of signage. The permit application must be updated if necessary to comply with the conditions established through the Architectural Review Certification process. 2. Staff recommends the following as it relates to the Architectural Review Certificate: a. That the location, size and overall design of the proposed signage be approved, as it is consistent with the recommendations of the Design Standards and Guidelines for the City of Dover Historic District Zone. b. That the sign material be modified to utilize wood, metal, or other material that is consistent with the building’s architecture, and that dimension or texture be added to make the sign more compatible with signs in the immediate area. c. Consider reversing the color scheme of the proposed sign designs: i. Such a change may offer greater legibility of the sign from a distance. ii. Signs with a darker background may add more visual interest and contrast against the building façade. 3

HI-14-01 EZ Pass Signage at 22-24 West Loockerman Street Staff Report to the Historic District Commission Page 4 of 4 Attachments: • Permit #14-148 form • Project Drawings: Proposed Sign Renderings • Letter of Referral dated February 14, 2014 4