Man Cave Sign Approved –And Others, Too

(Above, 176-210 Grove Street -- Image Courtesy of Google Streetview)
The Franklin Design Review Commission met Tuesday evening via Zoom to review a series of matters involving signs on commercial properties around town.

Chair James R. Bartro, as well as vice chair Samuel Williams, members Gerald Wood, KP Sompally, and Mark Fitzgerald participated as did town staff member, Maxine Kinhart.

The first item on the agenda dealt with a request to, “install building sign and faces” for Man Cave Barbershop at 249 East Central Street. The second item involved a request to hang a sign on pre-existing hardware at 15 Main Street (Depot Plaza 4B) from Betsy Ann’s, a seamstress business.

Both matters were approved by the Commission after a short discussion.

A longer discussion occurred with representatives of Arco Construction, regarding the property at 176-210 Grove Street, which is now partly tenanted.

The proposed signs were primarily “directional” – in other words to help visitors find specific addresses within the building and to direct trucks to loading docks. The applicant received kudos for keeping the signs functional and not turning them into surfaces for company logos.

On the matter of signs showing truckers where to go, member Fitzgerald stressed the importance of having them visible and lighted. “You really want to avoid having an 18-wheeler circling around and trying to find the correct location,” he stressed.

With but a few suggestions, the Commission agreed to the proposed signage for “location1,2,3,4, and 8” at the site, other locations to be considered at another date.

The Commission reviewed and approved minutes for two prior meetings, with one member abstaining, and then adjourned.