Without objection, the Design Review Board of the City of Clinton on Thursday evening approved a new sign for an Uptown Clinton business, House of Pizza.
The board previously had approved the internally lighted sign for the restaurant’s former, one-story building; but that building burned to the ground in late August, 2024. The new location, purchased from Presbyterian College just three doors down from the former site, is a 2-story building. The DRB balked at the idea of allowing a lighted sign above the second story windows of what it considers to be an historic building, as proposed.
Plus, some DRB members have said, the former location’s sign was not what they thought it would be once it was installed, just before the devastating fire.
Business owner Narmeen Abojamoos said Thursday it’s not her fault that the former sign, which was destroyed in the fire, did not meet DRB members’ expectations.
“It should not take this long. You are pushing me away,” Abojamoos said. “I am not here to fight. I am here to come up with an agreement.”
She said McDonalds and a gas station in the historic district have internally lighted signs. “I’d appreciate it if you would work with us.”
DRB Chairman Harold Nichols guided the board through an agreement. He said these issues needed to be resolved: internal lighting, location of the sign below the second-story windows, the colors - holly green and cardinal red - and brightness of the sign.
He said the new sign design includes a roof and chimney and established on date that the board also would have to consider - Abojamoos said that feature is absolutely necessary, as it is the restaurant’s logo.
She said, “It would be like McDonald’s without the golden arches.”
That roof and chimney addition was not considered a stopping-point for the sign’s approval - three board members voted “yes,” two did not vote and there were absentees for this meeting, although there was a quorum present to take action.
Nichols said City Manager Joey Meadows and the city staff could monitor the sign for brightness concerns. Bryan Hooper, whose company St. Clair Signs of Greenville, will install the House of Pizza sign, said the restaurant has added a dimmer at its own expense and will not have the sign lighted when the restaurant is closed. Abojamoos reminded the board that House of Pizza is the only Uptown Clinton non-fast food restaurant open at night (until 9 weeknights and until 10 weekends). Meadors said the long debate over several months related to the House of Pizza sign shows that changes need to be made to the sign ordinance for clarity; Hooper volunteered his expertise in signs to help the city and the board with those potential changes.
Abojamoos had said she wanted the sign, estimated to weigh between 225 and 250 pounds, near the roof of the building and at full illumination to light up Musgrove Street. She said her employees did not feel safe leaving from work late at night because the street is so dimly lighted. She said she considered it a safety issue for all citizens of Clinton.
DRB members were very concerned about granting an exception - that’s the word in the sign ordinance, although members kept calling it a variance - to the House of Pizza for a non-conforming sign. They speculated about what would happen to the next property owner who wants to install such a sign, would they always have to grant an exception - although Meadors made it clear that, under the sign ordinance, granting these exceptions is at the sole discretion of the board.
They said Abojamoos could appeal their ruling, if they turned down the new, modified sign request, to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Meadors said, however, that is not the case - the House of Pizza’s only recourse would be to the Laurens County Circuit Court.
Nichols said the new sign meets the sign-area requirements of the ordinance, and there are no restrictions on brightness (since lighted signs are not allowed, except with an exception allowed by the DRB). “If there are (brightness) concerns, these can be reviewed by city staff,” Nichols said.
Hooper said the sign’s light carries 455 watts, and it can be dimmed.
“We need to be seen,” Abojamoos said. “I need to pay people and I need to pay these city utilities.”
After the approval, House of Pizza posted about its business-sign, “for us it represents months of rebuilding after a devastating fire, countless meetings, and a commitment to keep investing in our community. It’s a symbol of hard work, perseverance, and support from so many people who care about downtown Clinton.”
