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TOWN OF HINGHAM
Board of Appeals

NOTICE OF DECISION
SPECIAL PERMIT

IN THE MATTER OF:

Applicant: Stacey Tomasello
Saisons Holistic Skin Care
260 Hingham Street
Rockland, MA 02370

Owner:   90 South Street LLC
c/o Curtis Management
PO Box 310
Hingham, MA 02043

Premises: 86/98 South Street, Hingham, MA 02043

Deed Reference: Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, Book 17579, Page 239

Plan References: Undated signage plan and specifications prepared by Carley Signs & Design

SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS

This matter came before the Board of Appeals (the "Board") on the application of Stacey Tomasello, Saisons Holistic Skin Care (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 install a second parallel building sign, consisting of approximately 22 SF, for a proposed total area of approximately 35 SF of parallel building signage, at 86/98 South Street in Business District A. Pursuant to the Board’s Rules and Regulations, the application was heard by the Zoning Administrator, Emily Wentworth, at a duly noticed public hearing held on Thursday, September 26, 2019 in Hingham Town Hall, 210 Central Street. The Applicant appeared during the public hearing to represent the request. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Zoning Administrator issued the requested special permit, with conditions as set forth below.

BACKGROUND

The subject property is located at the intersection of South Street and Lafayette Street in Hingham Square. The site includes two structures and supports multiple uses. The Applicant plans to relocate her consumer service establishment, which consists of a skin care business, to an existing tenant space within the principal building. The demised space has frontage on both South Street and Lafayette Street. The Applicant requested the special permit in order to locate a parallel building sign on each of these facades.
The proposed signage program associated with the consumer service establishment includes the following:
• One (1) parallel building sign located on the South Street elevation and consisting of approximately 13 SF (26” x 72”); and
• One (1) parallel building sign located on the Lafayette Street elevation and consisting of 22 SF (22” x 12’).
During the hearing, the Applicant represented that the coloring of the originally proposed signage would be modified to better integrate with the existing building design. Principal design features of this portion of the building include brick siding and navy blue awnings, so the Applicant will be updating the proposed signage colors to include navy. The Zoning Administrator and Applicant then discussed the zoning allowances for signage. The By-Law allows a single parallel building sign of up to 30 SF upon the issuance of a building permit. As such, the Applicant previously submitted a building permit application, which remains pending at the time of this hearing, for the South Street-facing building sign. The subject of this application is placement of a second sign on the Lafayette Street-facing elevation. The By-Law allows the installation of multiple building signs, totaling up to 45 SF, upon the issuance of a special permit. The proposed signage program described above meets this dimensional threshold with a combined total 35 SF of area between the two proposed building signs.

APPROVAL CRITERIA

Based on the information submitted and presented during the hearing, and discussions with the Applicant during the meeting, the Zoning Administrator found that:

1. The proposed use will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the By-Law. The proposed signage will effectively promote a consumer service establishment, consisting of a skin care business, on the site. Consumer service establishments are permitted by right in the District. These results are consistent with the purpose and intent of the By-Law.

2. The proposed use complies with the purposes and standards of the relevant specific sections of the By-Law. The proposed signage complies with the parameters specified in Section V-B. Namely, the proposed signage does not exceed the maximum area allowed by special permit.

3. The specific site is an appropriate location for such use, structure, or condition, compatible with the characteristics of the surrounding area. The property is located in the Business A District in an area that has been developed with a mix of compatible uses. The property fronts on both South Street and Lafayette Street. The Applicant requested the special permit in order to locate a parallel building sign on each of these facades. The proposed signage, which promotes the proposed business on the property, is appropriate for the location.

4. The use as developed and operated will create positive impacts or potential adverse impacts will be mitigated. No adverse impacts will be created by installation of the proposed signage. The signs will promote the allowed commercial use of the property in a manner consistent that is consistent with the design of the existing building and others in the District.

3. There will be no nuisance or serious hazard to vehicles or pedestrians. The signage is designed to promote and allow the safe and efficient identification of the business by customers travelling along both South Street and Lafayette Street.

4. Adequate and appropriate facilities exist or will be provided for the proper operation of the proposed use. The proposed sign will be adequately supported and/or mounted.

5. The proposal meets accepted design standards and criteria for the functional design of facilities, structures, stormwater management, and site construction. The proposed signage complies with dimensional and design standards for parallel building signs in the Business A District.

DECISION

The application of Stacey Tomasello, Saisons Holistic Skin Care, for a Special Permit A1 under § V-B of the By-Law and such other relief as necessary to install a second parallel building sign, consisting of approximately 22 SF, for a proposed total area of approximately 35 SF of parallel building signage, at 86/98 South Street in Business District A is hereby granted, subject to the following conditions:

1. The proposed signage shall be installed in a manner consistent with the approved plans, referenced above, and the representations made at the hearing, including the representation that the originally proposed signage would be updated, specifically with respect to colors as opposed to dimensions or location, in order to better integrate with the design of the existing building. Revised plans shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator prior to application for a Building Permit for the second parallel building sign.
For the Board of Appeals,


_________________________________
Emily Wentworth
September 30, 2019