Germantown Design Review Commission Meeting Summary

The Germantown Design Review Commission met on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers (1930 S. Germantown Rd.), following a 5:30 p.m. executive session. All six commissioners — Ms. Meanwell, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. White, Mr. Schweikoffer, Ms. Dahlgren, and Chairman Bruns — were present, establishing a quorum. The commission unanimously approved the August 25, 2026 meeting minutes and a two-item consent agenda, approved a revised sign policy for Poplar Market Place with the frosting language removed, and received an update on the Thrive Germantown 2050 comprehensive plan.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes — August 25, 2026 Regular Meeting: Approved unanimously by roll call vote (6-0).
• Agenda change: Following the pre-meeting executive session, the commission revised the agenda, moving two items from the regular agenda to the consent agenda: (24-019) InSouth Bank and (17-729) Goodwin Farms PUD.
• Case (24-019) InSouth Bank — Directional Signs, 7878 Farmington Blvd.: Approval of directional signs requested by Mitchell Signs Inc. (Zack Brewster, Project Manager) on behalf of property owner InSouth Bank (Mike Perry, EVP/COO). No commissioner or audience member asked to remove the item from the consent agenda; approved unanimously (6-0).
• Case (17-729) Goodwin Farms PUD — Phase 2 Final Plan, north side of Winchester Rd. approx. 1,000 ft east of Crestwyn Dr.: Approval of the Phase 2 Final Plan requested by Regency Homebuilders, LLC (Sean Carlson). No commissioner or audience member asked to remove the item; approved unanimously (6-0). Chairman Bruns congratulated the applicant on reaching this step.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public were present during the citizen comment periods; the commission heard no citizen testimony on the regular agenda or under new business.

Discussion Items

• Case (22-029) Poplar Market Place — Revised Sign Policy, 9435-9451 Poplar Ave.: Planning staff presented the revised sign policy for the center owned by Keeneland Downs Properties, LLC (Rik Ditter, Manager). The applicant was not present. The policy was heard the previous month, when the commission requested updates including: the ability to approve logos and wording in frosted glass used as a privacy screen; the ability to approve non-off-white colors administratively; and clarification of unclear language on blade signs mounted above tenant doors. The applicant subsequently worked with staff on blade sign sizing but requested that the commission keep the frosting language in the policy.
• Existing frosting at Pure Financial: Staff and Director Ross confirmed that the frosted glass with a negative-space logo installed at the Pure Financial tenant space was applied without receiving a city permit and is not in compliance with the current sign code or the center's sign policy. Staff clarified that frosting itself is not classified as a sign under the sign code — it is a facade improvement requiring design review approval — while logos or wording on frosting are regulated as signage.
• Commissioner positions: Chairman Bruns stated the existing installation is done tastefully, and he sees it regularly from his neighborhood, but expressed concern that broad frosting language in the policy would allow future interpretations that could be more extreme and detrimental to the community. Commissioners discussed that the frosting was reportedly installed for employee privacy (desks and sensitive information near the window) and that no alternative solutions were discussed with staff.
• Vote on the sign policy: A commissioner moved to approve the revised sign policy contingent on removal of the frosting language, later specified as Section 4 (Door and Window Graphics), Section B (frost or edge-style vinyl), so that the entire section would be struck. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously (6-0).
• Next steps for the Pure Financial frosting: Staff stated the applicant will be contacted and, because the applied frosting is now out of compliance with the approved policy, must return before the Design Review Commission with a separate application for that specific tenant bay. Staff noted that a request to approve the existing installation administratively was not on the agenda and could not be considered that evening. Chairman Bruns agreed it would be best for the applicant to apply and present the bay to the commission.

Old Business — Thrive Germantown 2050 Comprehensive Plan

• Staff reported on the recent community visioning session, which drew very good turnout and active participation from high school students. At the Old Germantown session, residents expressed strong interest in more signage in Old Germantown, and the future of the Germantown High School site — 25 acres in the heart of Old Germantown expected to be sold within five years — was repeatedly raised.
• The city has recorded over 5,000 total outreach touch points and over 1,200 direct conversations (from May through the previous week) for a city of just over 40,000 residents.
• Local businesses supported the events: Sufi's restaurant donated baklava and sweet tea; Cat Sourdough and Miss Muffin donated baked goods; and Sugar Ghost ice cream offered four flavors at the Old Germantown event.
• The public questionnaire and interactive map exercise remain open through October 5, 2026. Staff will be at the Neighborhood Summit on September 29, 2026, for the final push. A tutorial video for the map tool is available on Facebook, and Chairman Bruns encouraged commissioners and residents to participate.

Liaison Reports

• Public Art Commission: The traveling mural was displayed at the Germantown Festival and has been relocated to the fence in front of The Grove. A call for artists is open for the sculpture pads installed along the greenway. A graphic designer is working on branding for the Discover Germantown project, in which bronze wolves will be hidden in nine locations across town (three sections of three wolves each) with clues to encourage residents to explore different parts of Germantown, possibly with a prize for completing all nine.
• Other announcements: Neighborhood Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved unanimously (6-0).
• Consent agenda approved unanimously (6-0): InSouth Bank directional signs (24-019) and Goodwin Farms PUD Phase 2 Final Plan (17-729).
• Poplar Market Place revised sign policy approved unanimously (6-0) with Section 4B (frost or edge-style vinyl language) removed from the policy.
• Pure Financial: The applicant will be required to submit a separate Design Review Commission application for the non-compliant frosting; the city will initiate that conversation.
• Thrive Germantown 2050: Public engagement continues through October 5, 2026; the next outreach event is the Neighborhood Summit on September 29, 2026.