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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MARCH 23, 2011 AGREEMENT — 2900 RICE STREET — MARKETPLACE SIGN expansion of the freestanding sign at the Marketplace Shopping Center at 2900 Rice Street. The City Planner reported that the Council reviewed this request last fall and asked that the applicant make a series of improvements to the signage that was proposed. These included a dark background for the signs, more consistent sign lettering, and brick treatment on the base and sign poles that extend to the bottom of the signage to give the sign a monument sign appearance. The Planner described the signage revisions made by the applicant which include a green background and yellow lettering for most of the signage. He noted a couple of corporate -style individual signs within the larger sign. The Planner indicated that the most significant departure from the Council's direction is that the applicant is proposing the use of either EIFS or Dryvit on the sign base and poles leading up to the bottom of the sign. Tim McLaughlin, Marketplace Shopping Center, stated that the reason that EIFS or Dryvit is being proposed rather than brick is the concern that the freeze /thaw cycle and sign movement will cause the brick to crack and deteriorate. EIFS or Dryvit will hold up better. McLaughlin also indicated that the colors proposed match the colors used on the shopping center, therefore, will tie the appearance of the property together. Montour indicated that there does not appear to be a lot of difference from the sign proposed in November to what is being proposed this evening. McLaughlin noted the color change and the fact that the black background proposed in November does not tie in with the colors on the shopping center. Montour asked what would be done with the base of the sign. McLaughlin reported that it would be covered with EIFS as would the poles extending to the bottom of the sign. He also noted that the sign poles adjacent to the individual tenant signs would be green to blend in with the individual sign faces. McGraw stated that his biggest concern is with the sign poles up to the base of the sign. McGraw suggested that enlarging these poles would provide an appearance closer to that of a monument sign. McGraw felt there needed to be an aesthetic balance between the base and the bottom of the sign. McLaughlin indicated that that could be done. McLaughlin also indicated that the colors proposed tie together well with the shopping center. McLaughlin also reported that they have not yet taken the sign to their tenants for their comments. Boss indicated that it was difficult to pick out the individual tenant signs as they appear to blend together. Keis agreed and indicated there needed to be more separation between the individual business names. Montour 2