PC 03/13/96 - Laserfiche WebLink

. . . In response to Commissioner Barker, Mr. Iserson stated that Best Plaza monument signs have two store names plus "Best Plaza." Commissioner Hovingh noted that Best Plaza is not a neighborhood center and is a member of the NPID. Commissioner Hovingh feels Amador Center is a neighborhood commercial shopping center, and everyone in Pleasanton knows where Safeway is located. He sees no need for this amount of signage. He recognizes that the owners have an economic interest, but he feels it should remain a neighborhood shopping center and follow the established guidelines. Commissioner Barker clarified that the old monument sign would be removed and the Safeway store would have a Safeway logo facing Santa Rita Road. Commissioner Wright concurs with the statements of Commissioner Hovingh, saying that it was the first shopping center in town and is frequently referenced with regard to giving directions through town. PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED Brian Schneider, ISI Electrical Display Corp., spoke on behalf of Safeway. A great deal of time was spent on the design of the sign, and the sign's intent is to direct people to the Center. By dropping the sign height from the original 15 feet down to 12 feet will make it more squatty and massive. This changes the sign's integrity. By Mr. Schneider's calculations, the sign area size is only 39 sq. ft. The sign reflects the architectural features of the center. In response to Commissioner Wright, Mr. Schneider stated the size of the sign's letters is determined by distance. Mr. Schneider distributed an example of the difference in size of the sign going by staff's directions. Lorelei Tolvtuar, 1993 Greenwood Road, inquired when the project construction would start. She noted there is a great deal of graffiti in this area and asked that it be cleaned up. PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED Commissioner Wright stated this area is well established and Walgreens has been there for some time. He cannot make the findings for two signs. He would go along with staff's original finding that the size could be larger, but he feels having two monument signs would be precedent-setting. Commissioner McGuirk could make the ftnding for two signs given the position of the service station and the location of Safeway. But after seeing the color rendering, all he sees is the Safeway sign, and cannot approve the current sign design because the Safeway portion of the sign is overpowering. Planning Commission Minutes Page 4 March 13, 1996