Planning commission approves comprehensive sign program for The Base development

The Glendale Planning Commission on April 24 approved a comprehensive sign program (CUP 25-04) for the Base Phase 1 development (an 83-acre parcel south and east of Luke Air Force Base) that allows deviations from the Unified Development Code for monument and wall signs.

Planning staff presenter Ms. Schwimmer said the site—an 83-acre parcel annexed in 2013—was zoned PAD and that the Base North PAD requires submission of a comprehensive sign program. The applicant seeks one monument sign at 20 feet tall (the UDC allows monuments up to 14 feet) and increased wall-sign area for large buildings; staff noted the largest building’s tenant signage allowance under the proposal would be up to about 2,520 square feet, a substantially larger allowance than the UDC standard.

Staff found the proposal consistent with the PAD and the general plan’s light-industrial designation, said required setbacks and view triangles are met, and added stipulations that require the CSP to be in substantial conformance with the date-stamped CSP document (02/28/2025) and that sign types not addressed in the CSP be reviewed under existing city sign standards. Vice Chair Nyberg asked whether Luke Air Force Base had comment; staff said the base was added to the notification list and provided no comments.

Gretchen Wilde, representing Park Science and Graphics for the applicant, told commissioners the approach is to keep monument signs to a minimum and let tenant signage provide the primary identity for the development. Developer Rodney Bowden thanked staff for their assistance in advancing the sign package on a compressed timeline.

Commissioner John Gears moved to approve CUP 25-04 subject to the staff stipulations; Vice Chair Nyberg seconded. The commission approved the motion by unanimous roll call. Staff advised the action is final unless a written appeal is filed within 15 days.