WESTFIELD – The Planning Board will vote on a special permit petition to erect several signs, including internally illuminated signs, for Aaron’s retail store which is moving from East Main Street to 64 Main St., located at the intersection of Mechanic and Main streets.
The location is on the eastern edge of the downtown CORE district and abuts a commercial area where the zoning regulations differ greatly.
The Planning Board conducted and closed a hearing on the sign special permit and began their deliberation on that petition, coming to a general consensus that the signs are not consistent with the requirements of the CORE zoning.
The original plan approved several months ago by the board showed designated areas for the building-mounted signs, but several members of the board took exception to the placement and size of those signs.
Board member Carl Vincent said that he went to the business and found “that the wall sign is not where it was designated to be in the original plan.”
Board member Jane Magarian questioned the petition for a ground sign.
“The signs on the building are fairly large, yet you feel you need a ground sign,” Magarian asked petitioner Marc Hortie of Loomis Ridge Road.
Hortie said that the signs are provided through I.D. Associates of Dothan, Alabama, by Aaron’s corporate entity, Aaron Inc., with its corporate office located in Atlanta, Georgia. Aaron’s lease to own is a nationwide franchise enterprise and claims on its corporate website to be “North America’s leader in the sales and lease ownership of household necessities – brand name furniture, appliances, electronics and computers.”
Hortie said the illuminated pylon sign is needed to provide ”visibility at a dangerous intersection so patrons can see our location from a distance and have time to slow down safely. The lighted sign is for winter when it gets dark so early. Most signs in that neighborhood are lit interiorly. All of those stores have signs similar to what I’m looking for.”
Planning Chairman Philip McEwan said that Hortie was looking in the wrong direction when he cited the commercial signs along that stretch of Main Street.
“You’re right on the edge of the CORE district,” McEwan said. “You should be trying to make it look like stores in that district, not like signs in a different (zoning) district. Pole signs are not allowed in the CORE district.”
“People renting appliances are either from town or do a computer search, so they know where you’re located,” McEwan said.
Vincent said that not only are there several signs attached to the sides of the building, there are also signs on doors and windows.
“Some of those are in excess of zoning,” Vincent said. “I’m of the opinion that you’re at the gateway of the CORE district. What is your hardship that would allow us to grant this special permit?”
Planner Peter Fiordalice also voiced opposition to the sign petition, in particular the pylon sign.
“I’m not really sure that sign is necessary,” Fiordalice said. “That building juts out to Main Street and the sign there now is pretty big, so I don’t think this sign is needed. I feel it’s a little bit too much.”
Vice Chairman William Onyski made a motion to deny the special permit for the pylon sign. Vincent seconded that motion.
Principal Planner Jay Vinskey said the board has 14 days to file its decision with the city clerk after it votes. Vinskey writes that document, which includes the board’s findings and condition, but requested time to prepare the document for the board’s signatures.
Vincent refused to withdraw his second to Onyski’s motion to deny the special
“Why wait two weeks?” Vincent asked the other board members.
Fiordalice countered that it would give Vinskey time “so we can craft a formal findings and decision.”
Onyski urged Vincent to withdraw his second so he could withdraw his motion.
“Why not wait two weeks? We all know what the decision will be,” Onyski said.
