Heritage commission approves Brothers Donuts window signs

FRANKLIN — Brothers Donuts can keep their menu signs in the windows after the Heritage Commission voted unanimously to approve them.

Mayor Desiree McLaughlin, who is also the store's landlord, spoke on behalf of owner Malverino Rizzo during the commission meeting Monday evening at the public library.

“He doesn't have a drive-thru, a million locations, so he was just trying to stay viable as a small business in a changing environment,” she said.

The long, thin signs depict the donuts on offer at the stop.

In making the decision about the signs, the commission referred to Section 78-10, Part A of their code, which reads: “Activities requiring review: alteration, addition, erection, painting, roofing, relocation, or demolition of buildings, signs, facades, exterior features (including signs), and features on view to the exterior; construction or alteration of any stone wall, fencing, trees and landscaping; new construction.”

The conversation focused on the issue of signs and features on view to the exterior of the store. Chair Glenn Feener was explicit about what would be discussed.

“I want everybody to understand that this is a quasi-judicial board. A decision made by us is in accordance to the ordinances,” Feener said.

He advised anyone with a problem with the rules or how the commission oversees the historical district to take it up with the mayor and city council.

McLaughlin said in June, Rizzo submitted an application to keep the signs, but the heritage commission said they were not notified about the new signage. McLaughlin said the debacle is a communication issue and Rizzo was not aware the change would fall under the signage category.

“I believe the crux of this problem is that Mal was not aware that that's considered signage,” she said. "It's a menu, a donut menu, and it was small and unobtrusive compared to the larger sign.”

City Councilor Ed Prive of Ward 3 spoke during the public hearing, in favor of the signs.

“Yeah, there's some hiccups in the process of what's going on, but it's called forgiveness. Allow it to be corrected within the amount of time, but just to slam on him is wrong,” Prive said. “And I'll say this loud and clear, the guy's been here for 40 some odd years, and a good employer. It's a good place. It's a cornerstone. Why would we want to mess with that?”

Leigh Webb, a commission member who also serves as a city councilor representing Ward 3, said the commission did not intend to single out Brothers Donuts, but it is the group’s responsibility to maintain the historic look.

“This is not about their popularity. It's just about the signage issue alone, and we're trying to do it the right way,” he said.

Before the commission voted unanimously in favor of the signs, they received unanimous support in the room from roughly 75 residents, many of whom said they had never been to a heritage commission meeting before and came to support Brothers Donuts. McLaughlin also provided a petition of 171 signatures to support the shop. The issue brought together an unlikely alliance in McLaughlin and Dan Darling, executive director of Franklin Opera House, who had sparred on the authorization of a bond to renovate Soldiers Memorial Hall.

“There may be things that I don't understand about the statutory definition side, but when I first saw the donuts, I thought it was nice. I thought it was decorative. I thought it was window dressing,” he said. “I think it dresses up downtown. “I thought it was kind of ‘blah’ before that.”

The commission discussed alternatives to the window signs, like a menu inside. Debbie Auger, a resident of Ward 3, spoke to how window signs can attract people into the restaurant.

“The difference between the sign inside and outside is you have to get them to walk in to see that, where the donuts that are on the window will get them to walk in,” she said. “Because they have some really interesting kinds, but if you're making it so if somebody already has to walk in, those are customers lost.”

Despite the approval, Brothers Donuts must work with the zoning board to approve the size of the signs. The commission approved only use of the signs themselves and the color, working to keep a consistent aesthetic of the historical district downtown.

During an interview after the meeting, Rizzo said he didn’t intend to cause a problem.

“It was to display our menu. We have so many different kinds now that my son's promoted, he's created, and nobody knows what we have to offer, really,” he said. “And like I said, we didn't think nothing of it. Just thought it was a menu.”

He was happy the commission approved the signs, but thought the discussion of its colors was interesting, considering the donuts on the sign were actual photos.

“You can't change the color of a strawberry sprinkled donut.”