87 Main St
Sign permit approved for a 26x38-inch Century 21 exterior sign at 87 Main Street; building permit still required before installation.
AI summary
A sign permit was approved by the Planning Board on April 11, 2024 for a 26x38-inch Century 21 exterior sign to be mounted on the front façade at 87 Main Street. The sign is a flat, digitally printed laminate panel in black and muted gold, to be hung on existing brackets and using existing lighting. A building permit from Inspectional Services is required before installation; additional approvals may be needed if design or mounting details change.
Project details
What is proposed
The application proposes a new exterior business sign for the Century 21 office (C21 North East) at 87 Main Street. The applicant describes the sign as a replacement similar to the prior sign at this location, reflecting a change in company name.
Where and how big
The sign is proposed for the front (street-facing) façade of the building at 87 Main Street (Assessor Map 53, Lot 228A). The application lists the zoning district as CB (Downtown/Central Business) and indicates the property frontage is approximately 25 feet.
The submitted dimensions for the sign are 26 x 38 (the form also lists 82.3 inches as a dimension in one field). The application materials include photographs and reference a prior application to show placement on the building.
Materials, appearance and mounting
The proposed sign is a flat, digitally printed panel with a laminate finish. Colors are specified as Century 21 branded black and muted gold. Mounting will use the building’s existing exterior brackets; the applicant indicates the existing exterior lighting and brackets will remain in place. The submission identifies the sign as similar in design and placement to the previous sign at this address.
Regulatory context and special considerations
Sign permit applications in Amesbury are reviewed by the Design Review Committee and the Planning Board under Section VII of the Amesbury Bylaws (the town’s sign regulations). After Planning Board approval, a building permit from the Inspectional Services/Building Inspections office is required before the sign may be installed. A building permit is an approval from the local building department that confirms a proposed installation meets applicable state and local building codes and inspection requirements.
The application form notes that properties in a designated historic district may require a Massachusetts Historical Commission approval letter; the submitted materials reference the Downtown Business District but do not include a separate MHC approval in the documents on file. If a sign is installed without the required approvals, the property owner may be subject to fines under the Amesbury Zoning Ordinance.
Status and next steps
The Planning Board voted to approve the sign application at its April 11, 2024 meeting based on materials uploaded to the town’s OpenGov portal in March 2024. The Planning Board approval memorandum clarifies that this action does not replace State Building Code approval. The next step for the applicant is to obtain a building permit from the Building Inspections/Inspectional Services office prior to installation; any changes to the approved design, size, mounting, or lighting may require additional review or a revised permit.
Discussion at meetings
- APPROVEMotion to approve the sign application for Century 21 at 87 Main St. as submitted.
