The real estate agency came before the board seeking a special permit for a 65”x50” freestanding wooden sign to be placed in front of their building to accompany a flush sign on the front of the building and another sign on the side facing Hall’s Corner.

Initial plans for the sign got negative reviews from two of the town’s land boards, which made their feelings known in a pair of memos to the ZBA.  The Design Review Board recommended denial of the permit, noting that the proposed sign was too large in relation to other signs at Duxbury Marketplace and was not “in harmony with the character of the surrounding buildings.” 

The Planning Board also recommended denial, pointing out concerns with sight visibility for vehicles given the clutter of added signs to that area of Depot Street.

On Thursday, Don Reed of Barlo Signs, who represented Coldwell Banker, said after receiving these memos, he and his client decided to propose a smaller, 39”x30” freestanding sign instead.  He also told the board that they were willing to lower the sign’s total height from the proposed 62 inches if members wished.

In addition to being essential for identification of the agency, Reed said that the freestanding sign off Depot Street was needed to let people know where the business is located when driving by.

Dorrie Arnold, office manager for Coldwell Banker, said the company would remove the flush sign from the front of the building if the freestanding sign was approved.{sidebar id=1}

In negotiating the height of the proposed sign, Reed said that any sign would have to have some height to avoid snow build-up in the winter from obstructing it.  After agreeing to add some decoration to the top of the sign, a recommendation by board member Mark Moriarty, the sides agreed to a height of 50 inches.

Chair for the hearing, Sally Wilson, then asked the applicant why they should have their own “large sign” when several of the businesses in Duxbury Marketplace share signage on directories at the front of the buildings.

Reed said that the building was a significant part of the plaza, was vital for the office to “have its own identity” and that Coldwell Banker was a stand-along building as opposed to other stores in the marketplace who share the buildings.

Wilson then asked Arnold what the ZBA should do when other tenants of the marketplace come before them also asking for their own freestanding signs.

Arnold answered that the business was having trouble being located by visitors, noting that her own mother couldn’t find the office on a recent visit.

“A lot of customers don’t know where we are, so we want to establish something visible and [up front] versus driving by and looking for us at the same time,” she said.  “We don’t want anything obtrusive and we’ve agreed on a smaller sign.”

She also noted that because Coldwell Banker occupies 85 percent of the building they are in, they did not think it was a problem asking for their own sign.

Members of the public also weighed in on the sign, including Surplus Street resident Jeanne Clark, a former member of the Design Review Board.  Clark opposed the sign, citing agreements with the board and the plaza’s owner on the lower signs with the directory of business names years ago.  She instead suggested that Coldwell Banker consider signage in the form of an awning like other residents of Duxbury Marketplace.

“The sign [proposed] is not appropriate for this complexÖand your decision will set a precedent for other businesses,” she said.  “What you do tonight will be telling for future applications.”

Former selectman and Washington Street resident Ruth Rowley added that in reviewing past documents, Coldwell Banker should be applying for an amendment to the special permit issued for the complex and not their own special permit.

“This should be done as a building as a whole versus one tenant,” she said.  “Separate [special permits] don’t seem to be within the intent of the bylaws.”

Rowley also echoed previous concerns about a clutter of signage on Depot Street and said that the building could easily be seen from the street already.

Rebutting the public’s comments, Reed said that the proposed smaller sign was not out of character and that as someone from out of town, he found the office only after a Coldwell Banker employee stood out front and flagged him down.

Arnold added that an awning would block most of the natural light the building receives and that a sign in front of the building would be something people cannot miss as they drive along Depot Street.

Wilson told the applicant that the ZBA could either close the hearing and make their decision at their May administrative meeting or they could wait for revised plans for the sign.  Coldwell’s leasing manager, Kelly Mann, told the board that they would “like to present something more suitable to the town” and chose the latter option.

The hearing will be continued on June 10 at 7:30 p.m., with the applicant submitting new sign plans to all the land boards within the next week or so for review before that meeting.