Design board resolves debate about Tractor Supply’s sign

Ramona Design Review Board members put to bed a sign controversy that has been brewing among some businesspeople over the past few months.

The debate on whether Tractor Supply Company’s sign with 24-inch letters on its Main Street facade is a sign violation boiled down to an interpretation of the Ramona form-based code — the new zoning document for the town center that was adopted in late July.

Before the form-based code was adopted, all businesses were generally limited, per design guidelines, to a letter height of 12 inches.

At the design review board’s December meeting, member Jim Cooper said he had heard complaints about the Tractor Supply sign and every month, the day after the board meets, he receives calls from four “concerned citizens.”

“It doesn’t violate the form-based code,” said Steve Powell, a Ramona developer who worked with a client on the Tractor Supply building. Powell pointed out a page in the Ramona Village Center Form-Based Code that says 24-inch letters are allowed on particular types of signage materials and on buildings that fit certain requirements in an area defined as the center district.

Although the form-based code, designed to create walkability and promote economic viability, was not in effect when Tractor Supply Company was planned, the developer chose to be the first business in town to follow the code, even though it was more expensive, said Powell. He noted the building has the facade on Main Street and its entrance facing Vermont Street because the code does not allow a new building to be set back from Main Street with a parking lot in front. The sign on the facade was necessary for store identification, he said.

“It’s a totally different code. It’s a totally different building,” Powell said.

Board chair Greg Roberson and member Rob Lewellan, who both served with Powell on the Ramona Village Design Group that worked on developing the form-based code, agreed that the Tractor Supply sign is not a sign violation.

Lewellan, chair of the village design group, suggested the group meet in January to discuss the new code and its implementation.

The form-based code affects any new development along Main Street from Etcheverry to Third Street.

In other business, Powell received the board’s approval for siding changes for the former Burger King site at Main and 14th streets where Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin-Robbins plans to open. Powell told the Sentinel the doughnut and ice cream shop is estimated to open in March.