Town of Brookline

Massachusetts
PLANNING BOARD
Town Hall, 3rd Floor
333 Washington Street
Brookline, MA 02445-6899
(617) 730-2130 Fax (617) 730-2442 SIGN/FAÇADE REVIEW (DRAFT 12/17/10)
Mark J. Zarrillo, Chairman
Linda K. Hamlin, Clerk
Steven A. Heikin
Jerome Kampler
Steven Kanes
Jonathan Simpson

To: Brookline Building Commissioner

From: Brookline Planning Board
Date:
Subject: Install façade sign for Naked Pizza (formerly Quiznos Sub)
Location: 1331 Beacon Street
Atlas Sheet: 33
Block: 163 Zoning: G-1.75(CC)
Lot: 01 Lot Area (s.f.): ±14,825 s.f.

SITE AND NEIGHBORHOOD

1331 Beacon Street is near the corner of Beacon Street and Harvard Street in Coolidge Corner. Rebuilt
in 1950, this one story taxpayer strip features a large cement block cornice line and curved corner
awning. There are six ground floor retail stores in the building and each store maintains individual
façade design and signage. The subject storefront is located between AT&T and I.J. Fox, Harris &
Klaff furs.

APPLICANT’S PROPOSAL
The applicant, Naked Pizza, is proposing to install a façade sign constructed of illuminated channel
letters. The sign will be centered on the storefront and will read “Naked Pizza” in 15 inch lime green
letters. The channel letters will be individually mounted, without a raceway and will be illuminated with
white LEDs. The electrical conduits will be installed behind the wall of the building. Additionally, the
storefront façade will be painted beige.

FINDINGS
Section 7.03: Signs in L, G, I, and O Districts
The Planning Board shall review and approve any signs installed in such districts.

Dimensional Criteria

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Type of Sign Dimensions Maximum Proposed Finding

Allowed
Façade Sign 15” x 120” 36 s.f. 12.5 s.f. Complies

Design Criteria – Signs

Design Criteria Complies

a. The sign should serve to define or enhance architectural elements of the building, not
obscure or obliterate them. Yes
b. The sign should identify the name of the business, not advertise brand names. Yes
c. Signs should be consolidated. Yes
d. The sign should be designed without superfluous back-facing. Yes
e. Sign graphics should reflect simplicity, neatness, and minimum wording – not only to
improve appearance but to improve legibility. Yes

f. All nonconforming signs are to be removed, and facade elements, awnings, and other
extraneous materials which conceal architectural details should be removed. n/a
g. Sign colors should be limited in number and should be compatible with the facade. Yes
h. Sign illumination shall not be of high intensity. n/a

PLANNING BOARD DECISION

The Planning Board is supportive of the proposed sign. The placement and size of the sign are consistent
with neighboring storefronts. The applicant has worked with planning staff to address issues with the
placement of the sign. Due to the thicker signband on this building, aligning the sign with the
neighboring sign at AT&T or the three line sign at IJ Fox, Harris & Klaff furs will likely give the sign
an off-center appearance. However, the lime green sign manages to appear bland on the beige
storefront. Therefore the Planning Board encourages the applicant to consider a different color to
repaint the building with or to use a darker backer panel with push through channel letters to give the
sign a more substantial appearance.
Therefore, the Planning Board approves the plans by Boston Sign, received by the Planning
Department 11/22/2010, subject to the following conditions:

1. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall submit final plans indicating all
dimensions and letter heights, subject to the review and approval of the Assistant Director of
Regulatory Planning.

2. Any future window signage is subject to the review and approval of the Assistant Director of
Regulatory Planning.
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1331 Beacon Street

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