Planning Commission approves master sign program for 1040 Alameda de las Pulgas

Belmont City planning commissioners on Oct. 21 approved a master sign program for the church and school complex at 1040 Alameda de las Pulgas, adopting the design review findings required by the city’s zoning code.

The decision authorizes recognition of existing wall and freestanding signs and permits new signage that staff said will be smaller than the maximum allowed by the planned-development standards. The commission voted 6-0 to approve the master sign program (application 2020-0016).

Staff said the property spans two parcels totaling about 5.36 acres and contains school, preschool, parish center, community hall, chapel and parking. Under the zoning code the campus is entitled to up to 719 square feet of total signage; the applicant’s program proposes roughly 145 square feet total, including about 78 square feet of wall signage. Proposed new elements include one small monument sign, three directional (wayfinding) signs, a campus map and a freestanding sign for the parish center. Materials described in the staff presentation included nine-inch metal channel lettering and color palettes in black, red and brown.

Director DeMello told the commission the master sign program is authorized under the planned-development provisions of the zoning code (staff cited sections of the Belmont zoning code governing master sign programs and planned developments). The design-review resolution before commissioners contained three standard findings: (a) signs are compatible in style and character with buildings on and surrounding the site; (b) future tenants will be afforded opportunity for identification signs; and (c) directional signs are adequate for pedestrian and vehicular circulation and emergency response. Staff recommended that the commission make those findings.

Chris Casey, an architect with Lawson Wood Architecture representing the applicant, said the project replaces older, more conspicuous signs with ones that are "more copacetic with the new master sign program" and that the proposed signs are not lit and are modest in scale.

Commissioners asked about whether legacy signs elsewhere in the city must be updated; staff explained that signs that were legal when installed typically remain legally nonconforming until changed, but property owners may choose to bring signage into conformance with current standards.

The commission moved and seconded approval and then approved the resolution on a 6-0 roll call. The decision is subject to the standard 10-calendar-day appeal period for design-review decisions.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve master sign program at 1040 Alameda de las Pulgas (application 2020-0016) — Passed 6-0.

Looking ahead, Director DeMello noted the decision may be appealed within the city’s standard time window; staff also provided the applicant with typical next steps for building permit review if sign construction is undertaken.