UPDATED: The Arlington Redevelopment Board convened Monday, July 10, to discuss a request for special-permit approval for replacement signs for businesses at 1309-1323 Mass. Ave. in the Arlington Heights neighborhood.
After lengthy discussion, the members approved, with modifications, the plan intended to make the signs more visible, consistent and aesthetically pleasing. See the agenda documents here >> and the detailed design plans as a PDF here >>
Claire Ricker, director of the planning and community development, opened the meeting by noting that sign approval usually is done at the administrative level.
However, she said she thought it right for the board to look at this particular application, because, she said, “It will redefine the look of the Heights.”
Bill McFadden from Hudson, N.H.-based Barlo Signs International, the company contracted to complete the work, spoke on behalf of the owner and tenants. “Much thought has been put into the overall design of each of the signs to convey a seamless, attractive look across the six tenant stores,” he said.
They are Classic Café, Classic Kitchen and Bath, Heights Barber, Horizons Salon, RB Ace Disposal and RB Farina Roofing.
McFadden said the overall goal was to beautify the area. The signs would have standardized color schemes and a clear, clean look that would, he said, improve the property. The signage would not affect any public utilities, he said, and, in his view, the signs would even add an element of safety, as the lettering would have uniformity and be easily seen. “People wouldn’t have to squint to see the signs,” McFadden added.
“Happy to see the investment into the building,” said Board Chair Rachel Zsembery as she opened the discussion.
Board member Kin Lau welcomed the improvements but asked about extant graphics in the windows — a concern for him.
Concerns about lettering, window signs
“Are they going to take them down?” Lau asked. He wondered how the window signs would coordinate with the overall appearance of the street. He requested that all signs on the windows be taken down. Lau also asked whether there was a way of slimming the lettering, because to him, the words seemed squeezed into the sign.
Board member Eugene Benson agreed that the signs would make things look much better, but, in his view, some were too long and the total square footage too much.
Board member Steve Revilak said, “This is an improvement [but] a little too wide, too much of the sign band. I’d be happy with eight feet.”
Zsembery said she did not favor the white background and black text because the white background would in essence be washed out from the building, which is also white.
McFadden replied that, after he had spoken with the owner and tenants, the consensus was that white with black “better enhances and overall improves the aesthetics of the building itself.”
After much discussion, the vote was unanimous, 4-0, to approve.
No window signs were approved except for one for Cafe Kitchen and Bath. Other caveats were that the signs should be centered with the lease lines and be six feet in width — and, although there are no plans to illuminate the signs now, if that changes, any such lighting would have to be administratively approved.
ARB, MBTA Communities Working Group joint session set
In new business, Ricker mentioned that the MBTA Communities Working Group is moving forward to wrap up the mapping exercise to indicate proposed rezoning to allow multifamily housing.
Arlington is one of 175 commonwealth communities served by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority that are doing this to comply with a 2001 state law, whuch includes updates.
Ricker said that there would be a joint meeting between the board and the MBTA Communities Working Group on July 25, with public opinion welcome. See the notice on the town’s website. This is expected to be the final opportunity for residents to express their opinions on the issue.
This news summary by YourArlington freelance writer Tony Moschetto was published Wednesday, July 12, 2023. It was updated that day to include links to the website of the sign company and to a PDF file of the detailed drawings of the proposed project, and to correct an editor’s error; board member Melisa Tintocalis was not absent from the meeting but is no longer with the ARB.
