CARY - Sketches of a new downtown emerged this week - including plans for the tall, luminous sign that will mark a town-owned performing-arts space.

The Cary Town Council on Thursday reviewed early renderings of the $3.1 million plans for "The Cary" and a neighboring building, along with broader improvements for Chatham Street.

Council members chose the grandest of three options for The Cary's illuminated marquee, which will require a revision of the town's downtown sign laws to allow greater use of lighting and large-area signs for theaters.

The governing board said it preferred a marquee that curves out several feet in front of the building, almost from edge to edge, with a central blade thrusting above the roof line. A set of lights, possibly neon or LED, would shine on the sign and the building itself.

"The marquee to me has to be something magnificent," said Mayor Harold Weinbrecht as the council weighed the three choices, dubbed "baby bear," "mama bear" and "papa bear" by staff. Downtown-area representative Don Frantz, perhaps the most audibly enthusiastic council member at the meeting, asked if there was an even-more grandiose "grand-papa bear" marquee.

Councilman Jack Smith, raised a few concerns.

"You know what? (Gen.) Custer was bold. It isn't always good," he said, calling for a "softer" and appropriately scaled sign.

Frantz argued the building had to make an impression.

"I'm looking for a marquee that is bold and makes a statement and makes people want to come down, if not for one time just to look at it," he said.

The council, including Smith, ultimately agreed on the "papa bear" sign, but the plans still are vague. In the coming months, staff and council will choose the materials and lighting for the sign.

Space next door

Town staff and an architect also showed plans for a three-story building that would be built next to the 180-seat theater. The council OK'd early plans that showed tall windows and a brick facade on the facility.

The new building will include lobby space for the theater, rentable office space, a third-floor terrace and possibly a cafe of some sort.

"We're seeing some funky, somewhat artsy type of tenants," said Leora Mirvish of Quinn Evans Architects.

Cary also plans to expand the sidewalk in front of the two buildings, from 10 feet to about 19 feet from building to curb, by eliminating parking spaces. The town will provide several dozen spots behind the buildings.

By the end of this year, the town plans to install brick sidewalks and finish major sewer and water work on Chatham Street near The Cary.

Residents are invited to speak about the project at a Jan. 31 meeting in Town Hall. The town will finalize plans for the theater and the new building this spring and begin construction soon after, staff said.

The theater, which is just east of the intersection of Chatham and South Academy streets, is set for an August 2013 opening.