From Staff Reports

Amid continued pressure from residents, Staples corporate officials announced plans last Monday to improve the appearance of the company’s Merrimon Avenue store.

In a joint news conference with Mayor Terry Bellamy, representatives of the office-supply chain said the company will spend $75,000 to $100,000 to grow plants up the building’s façade on Merrimon Avenue and reduce the size of two signs on the building, pending city approval.

The store has been the subject of much public outcry from neighbors, who say the company violated Asheville’s building rules and built a structure that is too close to the sidewalk on one side.

The store’s signs also have drawn the ire of residents who charge that they are bigger than city codes allow.

At issue is whether the size of the signs is based on their lettering or the large, red background that is part of the Staples logo.

The company argued that the heights of the signs were legal because the white letters were smaller than the legal height limit for signs.

However, neighbors argued that the red background, which exceeds the limit, is part of the signs and that they were, essentially, illegal billboards.

Bellamy worked with residents and Staples to broker what she called a compromise, including clarifying some of the rules that led to the confusion.

Even under the current plan, which includes reducing sign letters from 5 feet tall to 4 feet tall and eliminating the red background, the signs will still be larger than the legal limit, so Staples has applied for an exemption from the city Board of Adjustment. The board will hear the company’s appeal on Feb. 25.

Meanwhile, the signs on the building’s north and east sides will remain unaltered.

Other changes include requirements that Staples build pedestrian amenities on its Merrimon Avenue side, such as windows and doors.