Staff shares façade colors and warns marquee replacement may need zoning appeals approval

Carolyn Durham, Springfield City’s community development director, presented façade color samples and renderings for a downtown theater and told the commission she had asked to share them because the project appeared significant. Durham said she received the renderings the morning of the meeting and that the owner is seeking to begin facade repairs and marquee replacement quickly to remediate water damage.

Durham said the overlay/downtown section typically falls under staff and the Planning Commission but that the marquee replacement will likely require approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals because the proposed marquee is larger than what the current sign ordinance allows. She also said the owner told her his research suggested the colors were in line with the building’s historical appearance; staff noted the building likely opened in 1939 and that archival color photographs are not available in the city’s files.

Commissioners responded positively to the proposed colors and the historic-signage approach. Some commissioners noted local memories of the theater’s past programming and said the restored marquee and facade could attract patrons. Durham said the owner had engaged contractors and that work on water damage and facade repairs may proceed soon; she expected additional materials and a separate sign application to come to city staff or the Board of Zoning Appeals for formal review.