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<br /> 12 <br /> Mr. Schilling asked if the trademark agreement for the signs has to do with the <br />scale between the logo and the words, and Mr. Twedt said yes. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked if the fondue pot has to be red, and Mr. Twedt said maybe it <br />could be brushed stainless steel. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling made a motion to approve the sign as submitted with the fondue pot <br />being stainless steel. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said the motion was not in order as the BAR representative has not yet <br />spoken. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati, Ms. Amy Gardner, BAR member, <br />said that five of the seven BAR members are small business owners, and the decision to <br />deny the sign was unanimous. Ms. Gardner said it is important to remember why the <br />BAR was created. She said they are to act on the community’s behalf to protect historic <br />districts. She said the sign was rejected on the basis of the design guidelines and the <br />zoning ordinance. She said she does not think it enhances the attractiveness of the <br />building or the area. She noted that the fondue pot, as proposed, would be six square feet <br />and would be lit and would be overwhelming and imbalanced. She said the logo could be <br />used on the projecting sign and the sign on the door. She provided examples of signs for <br />the Melting Pot Restaurants located in Arlington, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina <br />that do not contain logos. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati, Ms. Gardner said that one square <br />foot for each linear foot is what is allowed for signs for single tenant buildings. She said <br />the 25 feet, which is allowed in the building’s comprehensive sign plan, is consistent with <br />other downtown signs. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he finds the color drawings helpful. He said he thinks the BAR is <br />correct that there is too much emphasis on the logo. He said he is inclined to support Mr. <br />Schilling’s motion that the fondue pot be brushed aluminum. He said he also understands <br />that there is a compelling argument for no logo. He said he thinks the sign should be 25 <br />square feet especially since that is what the building owner asked for. Mr. Lynch made a <br />motion to approve a 25 square feet sign with everything being brushed aluminum. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Twedt said it gets back to if this has really been looked at carefully. He said <br />if other businesses in this building have the same size signs they will be massive when <br />compared to the size of their business frontage. He said he thinks the BAR decision was <br />done hastily. <br /> <br /> Ms. Gardner noted that the applicant was at the meeting when the comprehensive <br />sign plan was approved for the building. Ms. Gardner said that if Council approves the <br />sign with the logo, it will be setting a precedent for lit logos as this would be the first one <br />that would have been approved. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked if Council can put new conditions on the sign. <br /> <br /> Mr. Brown said yes, but he noted there is already a plan for the size of the signs. <br />He said Council can find that a different finish would be more compatible. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he will vote against the motion. He said he feels the logo is too <br />large and does not think it will be improved by it not being in color. He said he thinks <br />approval would set a bad precedent. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said the sign would be scale down to 25 square feet. He said he <br />thinks Mr. Brown’s memo is to point and he thinks we are treading on thin ice not to <br />approve what already exists on the mall. He said every building creates a precedent and <br />he would discount those arguments. He said he thinks this would be fair and while it <br />does set a precedent, he does not think it is bad. He said he will support the motion. <br /> <br />