Design Review Commission approves facade remodel and master sign program for 250 W. Valley Blvd.

The San Gabriel Design Review Commission on Aug. 25 approved a wholesale exterior remodel and master sign program for the shopping center at 250 West Valley Boulevard.

Staff said the project proposes a facade remodel to the existing two-story, approximately 15,000-square-foot commercial building on a roughly 1.4-acre site and includes a master sign program covering wall and window signs and a monument entry sign. The commission’s vote adopted the staff resolution approving planning case PPD23-012 and master sign program MSP24-001, subject to recommended conclusions and final plan details.

The project returns to the commission after initial review on May 27. Samantha (planning manager) summarized changes the applicant made in response to the commission’s earlier comments, including updated renderings, more detailed building elevations and landscaping, the removal of a central atrium dome/skylight and submission of a master sign program that specifies which elements are permanent and which tenant elements can be swapped.

Project architect Andrew Keel told the commission the revised drawings incorporate mature street trees in the renderings, remove the large dome-shaped atrium entirely and embed an aluminum raceway into the facade so tenant signs can be changed without puncturing the building exterior. “We have proposed on the front yard landscape true unexcavated area with the dirt,” Keel said, describing how the trees and planting will be constructed without below-grade structure. Signage representative Lavender explained the raceway and attachment system: an aluminum plate with fasteners stays in place on the wall and tenant lettering is welded to and secured on that plate, limiting repeated wall penetrations when tenants change.

Commissioners and the city architect raised follow-up items that staff and applicants agreed to address as conditions: provide additional structural details for the replacement of the glazed dome/skylight area (the applicant plans a flat skylight or lightweight metal roof approach to preserve interior lighting with fewer structural changes), specify final RAL colors and material selections (the city architect recommended alternative RAL matches for some chips), and clarify workmanship/finish to avoid future cracking or visible damage of smooth stucco panels. Commissioner Chew and others praised the sign program as legible and protective of the facade; Chew said the revised package “has improved and addressed the issues” raised at the May hearing.

The motion to approve carried on a 4–0 roll call vote with Vice Chair Salo absent. Commissioners voting yes were Commissioner Chang, Commissioner Tu, Commissioner Lopez and Chair Romo.

The commission directed the applicant to provide final construction details through plan check and to work with the city architect on final color matches and flashing/roof sections for the skylight replacement. Staff said the project was routed for California Environmental Quality Act review as an existing facilities project per CEQA Guidelines and will proceed with the specified conditions before issuance of building permits.