View Other Items in this Archive | View All Archives | Printable Version

TOWN OF HINGHAM
Board of Appeals

NOTICE OF DECISION
SPECIAL PERMIT

IN THE MATTER OF:

Applicant/Owner: Hingham Corporate Center
72 Sharp Street
Hingham, MA 02043

Premises: 72 Sharp Street, Hingham, MA 02043

Deed Reference: Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, Book 8176, Page 122

Plan References: Plan set entitled, “Hingham Corporate Center,” prepared by SignDesign, 170 Liberty Street, Brockton, MA, dated January 15, 2016 (Sheets 1-7)

SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS

This matter came before the Board of Appeals (the "Board") on the application of Hingham Corporate Center (the "Applicant") for a Special Permit A1 under § V-B of the Zoning By-Law (the "By-Law") and such other relief as necessary to replace and/or install additional ground signs at 72 Sharp Street in the Industrial Park and South Hingham Development Overlay District.

The Board of Appeals heard the application at a duly advertised and noticed public hearing on May 18, 2016 in Hingham Town Hall, 210 Central Street. The Board of Appeals panel consisted of its regular members Joseph M. Fisher, Chairman, and Joseph W. Freeman and associate member Jim Blakey. The Applicant was represented by Scott Ferrigno and Thomas Jachimczyk from SignDesign and Gina LaRossa from Hingham Corporate Center. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board voted unanimously to grant the requested Special Permit A1 allowing replacement and/or installation of additional ground signs at 72 Sharp Street.

Throughout its deliberations, the Board has been mindful of the statements of the Applicant and the comments of the general public, all as made or received at the public hearing.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

The subject property consists of approximately 30.8 acres located on the north side of Sharp Street. The property maintains approximately 624 linear feet of frontage, though the length is interrupted by the property located at 100 Sharp Street. As a result, motorists travelling west on Sharp Street toward the Weymouth Town line would encounter 60 Sharp Street, and then 70 and 80 Sharp Street (both located on 80 Sharp Street), before locating 72 Sharp Street. The Applicant hopes to better identify the existing multi-building office park located at 72 Sharp Street through the installation of replacement ground signs.

The Board granted a similar permit to the Hingham Corporate Center in 1988 authorizing installation of an entrance sign and a directory sign on the property. The proposed plan calls for replacement of both the entrance and directory signs and installation of a third ground sign within the complex. Section V-B of the Zoning By-Law allows multiple ground signs within the Industrial Park District upon the issuance of a Special Permit A1. The maximum allowable size is 50 SF per unit of 200' of frontage, or approximately 156 SF in the present instance. The size of the proposed ground signs is roughly half the maximum allowed at a combined 75 SF.

APPROVAL CRITERIA

Based on the information submitted and presented during the hearing, the Board found that:

a. The proposed use will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the Zoning By-Law, for the following reasons: The proposed signage will be in harmony with the general purpose of the By-Law. The proposed signs are allowed by special permit and will better identify an existing corporate center within the Industrial Park District.

b. The proposed use complies with the purposes and standards of the relevant specific sections of this By-Law, for the following reasons: The proposed sign complies with the maximum size, height and location requirements specified in § V-B of the by-Law.

c. The specific site is an appropriate location for such use, structure, or condition, compatible with the characteristics of the surrounding area, for the following reasons:
The proposed signs will occupy the same approximately locations as the existing ground signs. The proposed sizes will be at an appropriate scale for the related buildings and the design is compatible with the surrounding Industrial Park District.

d. The use as developed and operated will create positive impacts or potential adverse impacts will be mitigated, for the following reasons: There will be no adverse impact associated with the proposed signs, in fact there will be positive impacts.

e. There will be no nuisance or serious hazard to vehicles or pedestrians, for the following reasons: The proposed signs will improve business visibility for visitors and customers of the multi-tenant office park.

f. Adequate and appropriate facilities exist or will be provided for the proper operation of the proposed use, for the following reasons: The proposed replacement signs will be properly mounted on either an existing brick entrance wall or on new decorative columns set in concrete footings. No additional lighting is proposed.

g. The proposed Project meets accepted design standards and criteria for the functional design of facilities, structures, stormwater management, and site construction, for the following reasons: Not applicable.

DECISION

Upon a motion made by Joseph W. Freeman and seconded by Jim Blakey, the Board voted unanimously to APPROVE the request for a Special Permit A1 under § V-B of the By-Law, allowing replacement and/or installation of ground signs at 72 Sharp Street in the Industrial Park and South Hingham Development Overlay District on the condition that the signs are installed in a manner consistent with the approved plans and representations made during the public hearing.

This decision shall not take effect until a copy of the decision bearing the certification of the Town Clerk that twenty (20) days have elapsed since the decision has been filed in the office of the Town Clerk and no appeal has been filed, or that if such appeal has been filed, that it has been dismissed or denied, is recorded with the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds and/or the Plymouth County Land Court Registry, and indexed in the grantor index under the name of the record owner or is recorded and noted on the owner’s certificate of title.

For the Board of Appeals,


_________________________________
Joseph W. Freeman
July 11, 2016