Germantown Design Review Commission Meeting – March 25, 2025

The Germantown Design Review Commission met on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. following an executive session. The commission established a quorum, approved the minutes from February 28, 2025, and moved through a consent agenda that was expanded to include five items. The sole regular agenda item was a request for a second wall sign for Wine Beer in Stansell Square, which was denied unanimously. The meeting concluded with liaison reports from various city commissions.

Consent Calendar

• 24-009 Chipotle – Approval of a sign package at 2110 West St. Unanimously approved.
• 25-007 Riverdale Park Reinvestment Phase 2 – Approval of a revised final site plan at 7345 Neshoba Rd. Unanimously approved.
• 25-006 Water Tower Place – Approval of a ground-mounted project identification sign at 3164 Forest Hill-Irene Rd. Unanimously approved (moved from regular agenda to consent).
• 25-006 Water Tower Place – Approval of façade modifications and lighting upgrades. Unanimously approved (moved from regular agenda to consent).
• 24-021 Starbucks – Approval of a revised final plan (Phase 4 of Farmington Shopping Center general plan) at 2055 Exeter Rd. Unanimously approved (moved from regular agenda to consent).

Regular Agenda – Discussion Item

Case 25-002: Wine Beer – Wall Sign at 2066-2068 West St. (Stansell Square)

• Staff presented the request for a second wall sign using the business’s assumed name “Wine Beer” on an adjacent wall to its existing “Liquor” sign. The existing sign is taller than the shopping center’s sign policy allows but complies with the city code. The shopping center sign policy is silent on the number of signs. The applicant, Noel Elly, argued the sign complies with the city sign ordinance and would benefit his business by providing visibility, even in a smartphone era.
• Commissioner Schweinhofer, in comments read into the record, opposed the sign, stating it conflicts with both the letter and spirit of the code and creates confusion. He suggested the applicant appeal to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen if desired.
• Commissioners expressed concerns that the single main entrance and the blocked secondary entrance did not justify a second wall sign. They noted the sign could confuse customers into thinking two separate businesses exist.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: All five items approved unanimously (8–0).
• Regular Agenda (Wine Beer sign): Motion to deny. Vote: 8–0 against approval. The applicant was informed of the right to appeal to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen within 45 days.

Commission Liaison Reports

• Historic Commission: No report; meeting was vigorous but details to follow.
• Parks and Recreation Commission: Updated that the new proposed fee structure increases cost recovery from 21% to 36% (reviewed in three years). Also noted the Riverdale redesign was approved by DRC.
• Public Art Commission: Did not meet.
• Sketch Plan Committee: Did not meet.
• Tree Board: Did not meet.
• Tree Task Force (via Mr. Nischwitz): Focused on case study locations for addressing tree canopy overgrowth; planning to plant trees at no cost to property owners; gaining interest from neighboring cities.
• Board of Mayor and Aldermen (via Alderman Hicks): Budget season underway. The BMA has had the first of three readings to rescind and replace code related to “skeleton art” in yards.