HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept ReportCARMEL PLAN COMMISSION
SPECIAL STUDIES COMMITTEEE
DEPARTMENT REPORT
JUNE 2, 2009
2. Docket No. 09050011 ADLS Amend: Carmax - Signage
The applicant seeks design approval for 5 amended wall signs. The site is located at 9750 N.
Gray Rd. and is zoned B-3/Business. Filed by Shawn Smith of Site Enhancement Services on
behalf of Cv'max.
The applicant seeks design approval to amend the design and colors of three existing wall signs and
two existing ground signs. The two wall signs and two ground signs say "CarMax -The Auto
Superstore" and the third wall sign says "CarMax Sewice".
The wall and ground signs are proposed to have the background painted blue. The Department
typically asks for individual channel letters, and the background is what the building material is. We
usually don't recommend or approve different colors or materials behind channel letters. It can appear
to look like a cabinet sign, and that is often not as aesthetically pleasing as the preferred alternative.
The CarMax wall and ground signs will have yellow faces, retw•ns and trim caps on the "Car" part and
white faces, returns and trim caps on the "Max" pail, instead of the existing blue letters. Also, the blue
dashes (logo) will now become yellow. The CarMax service sign will now be white "CarMax Service"
letters, retm•ns and trim caps and the wrench will have a yellow face with white returns and trim caps.
Currently, the letters, returns and trim caps are blue. The trim cap on the wrench is currently white.
The Depatment would like to suggest perhaps instead of having the backgrounds of these signs
painted blue, maybe blue returns and/or trim caps would achieve the desired look. Petitioner, please
come to the meeting prepared with drawings that show blue returns and/or trim caps and no
painted blue background.
In regard to the ground sign, the Petitioner proposes changing the existing faces of the individual
letters currently installed on the sign. The Department understands that the current individual channel
letters on the ground sign are a maintenance issue. Property Owner, are you aware of this? By
keeping these letters, how do you propose maintenance issues will improve? The Department
would be in favor of a new sign that would internally hold the lighting components. It could have the
main color as blue, and the CarMax letters, logo, and tagline shine through in yellow and white (with
blue being opaque). Property Owner, would this be a favorable option?
The Dept. of Community Services recommends positive consideration of this item after all
comments and concerns are addressed. (This item only needs approval from the committee.)