The Zoning Board of Appeals heard a special permit request by South Shore Conservatory of Music to erect a 45-inch by 78-inch free-standing sign at the Ellison Center for the Arts, 64 St. George St.

The single-faced sign would be illuminated by two 20-watt light bulbs. The sign would face St. George Street, according to Frank Holden, a South Shore Conservatory trustee, and Jessica Williams, a conservatory volunteer.

Williams said the sign would be horizontal and display the names of the two occupants of the Ellison Center: the South Shore Conservatory, and the Duxbury Arts Association. She said the sign would include an attachment that would be used to highlight events.

“We’re not trying to blow it up to be too big,” she said. “It is a building that had a sign when it was a church.”

Williams said she believes the height of the sign from the ground would not block the view of motorists at the intersection of St. George and Cedar streets.

Chad Elliot, president of the Duxbury Arts Association, said he supports the sign because it would help the public identify the organization.

“We would be very happy with this sign. It’s very tasteful,” he said.

However, neighbor Michael Herlihy of St. George Street objected to the proposal. Herlihy said he was speaking for himself and four of his neighbors.

“We feel, in the neighborhood, it feels more like an enterprise than the Ellison Center,” Herlihy said. “It still is a promotional item in our view.”

Board of Appeals members indicated that they were inclined to deny the special permit request, and asked if the applicants would consider withdrawing their application.

Committee member Scott J. Zoltowski said the board has received 12 to 15 letters from neighbors opposing the sign, and only one letter in support.

“We can only go with the information that’s on the record,” he said.

Murphy said that if the Board of Appeals voted to deny the request, Williams and Holden could not seek another special permit for the sign for two years, unless the applicants were to get permission from the Board of Appeals and the Planning Board.

However, if the applicants elected to withdraw the request, they could get neighborhood support and come back in a few months, said Board of Appeals member Paul Boudreau.

“I’m going to withdraw the application based on your advice,” Holden said.

–– Mike Melanson