Burlington Selectmen Approve Cambridge St Monument Sign

BURLINGTON, MA — The Burlington Board of Selectmen approved a monument sign on town land at their meeting Monday, for the Shops at Simonds Park, 154-160 Cambridge St. The sign was approved three to two, with Selectmen Nick Priest and Robert Hogan voting against. Selectmen included a condition that no logos, only text, would be included on the sign.

The sign will be fourteen feet, a two feet decrease from the initial request. Selectman Jim Tigges requested the bar on logos, following a condition requested by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The developers, Duffy Properties, asked to be allowed the sign to allow exposure for retailers at the rear, which will have no road access.

"There won't be any businesses in the back building, unless they have exposure," said Kevin Duffy, the company's managing director.

Members of other town bodies, including the Town Center Committee, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee asked that the board either not approve the sign or send it to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

"Denying this applicant is not the answer to our sign problems here," Selectman Michael Runyan said. "The problem we have in Burlington is there have no revisions to our sign bylaws since their inception in the 70s."

Tigges said he supported the sign for safety reasons: he didn't want people turning their heads while driving, trying to find the business they are looking for.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.