March 20, 2007
Historic Preservation Commission
City Commission Room 8:00a.m.
1. Approve Minutes – February 6 meeting
2. 716 Main Ave S – Review and comment on proposed sign design
3. Downtown Signage – Mark Williams, Zoning Administrator
4. Liaison Reports
• Planning Commission – Christine Kloubec
• Fargo School District – Peter Moynihan
• Fargo Park District – Doug Scraper
• Cass County Commission – Paul Gleye
• Housing Rehab – Claire Strom
• Board of Adjustment – Daryl Bachmeier
• House Moving Board – Paul Gleye
5. Other Business
6. Next Meeting – April 17
Historic Preservation Commission
Regular Meeting
Present: Claire Strom, Peter Moynihan, Paul Gleye, and David Shultz
Absent: Doug Scraper, Daryl Bachmeier, and Christine Kloubec
Chair Paul Gleye called the meeting to order.
Approval of February 6, 2007 minutes
8:00 a.m. Claire Strom moved to approve the minutes. Second by David Shultz. All commissioners present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
716 Main Ave S – Review and comment on proposed sign design
8:01 a.m. David Scheer, owner of 716 Main Ave S, is renovating his storefront and presented two projecting sign designs to this Commission for suggestions and/or feedback. The Main Ave Theater currently does not have any signage to mark the location.
The drawings were made to reflect the characteristics of the building and the relative architectural period.
Mr. Scheer would like direction for what materials should be used, whether the sign should be lighted, and the location of the sign.
Claire Strom commented that the designs are consistent with other signs and other sign colors on the block.
David Shultz commented that the overall form is nice. He stated he likes the separate theatre sign and suggested to stay away from metal painted like brick, florescent lighting, and excessive cornices if they are not cost effective.
Peter Moynihan stated the brick is not necessary and that the designs overall are good. He suggested appropriate external incandescent lighting, like old gas stations and suggested to keep the color flat.
Mr. Scheer stated he appreciated the thought and feedback from the Commission in regards to the proposed sign designs.
Downtown Signage – Mark Williams, Zoning Administrator
8:15 a.m. Mark Williams presented information on the Downtown Historic Overlay Sign Standards and City of Fargo Sign Code. Based on his observance, Mr. Williams has seen a demand for pedestrian oriented signs in the downtown area.
Mr. Williams previously met with the Planning Commission to extract the City of Fargo Sign Code and place it in the Land Development Code text. This would solely identify signage for downtown usage and more efficiently set the standards.
Mr. Schultz agreed that these standards would be much more pedestrian friendly and would reflect the urban fabric of downtown. He is in support to move ahead with the idea.
Mr. Williams stated that the Historic Preservation Commission could act as an appeal body for disagreements, waivers, and designs that do not meet code identified as sign standards.
Chair Gleye encourages Mr. Williams to continue reducing the complexity of the sign code boundaries while preserving the different architectural characteristics to make the environment successful.
Mr. Williams identified the next steps are to reconvene with the original sign committee to make sure this is direction to go, to get the signage portion into Land Development Code text, to bring the item back to this Commission for approval, to readdress the issue with the Planning Commission, and finally to bring the item to the City Commission for discussion.
Ms. Strom questioned whether current signs could be grandfathered in and suggested to discuss this when a meeting is scheduled.
Liaison Reports
No information was presented.
Other Business
No other business was presented.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, 2007 8:00 a.m.
The time at adjournment was 8:27 o’clock a.m.
