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Design Review Commission approves illuminated railing sign at 3422 Mount Diablo Boulevard with size condition
Summary
The Design Review Commission approved a sign permit for an internally illuminated railing‑mounted sign at 3422 Mount Diablo Boulevard, finding the project CEQA‑exempt and conditioning staff review of a reduced‑scale design so the sign top does not extend above the railing.
The Lafayette Design Review Commission on July 28 approved a sign permit to install one internally illuminated railing‑mounted sign at 3422 Mount Diablo Boulevard, subject to a design revision to reduce the sign’s height so its top does not extend above the existing railing.
Project planner Ashley Brookshire described the proposal as a 50.88‑square‑foot internally illuminated sign mounted to an existing wooden railing on the southwest face of the building in the East End District of Lafayette’s downtown. Brookshire said the sign’s proposed area is within the allowance for the measured frontage and that staff found the design met the city’s sign design criteria and was categorically exempt from CEQA as an accessory structure.
The applicant’s site designer explained the sign would be 5 inches deep with white acrylic faces, black digital print and black aluminum returns, and would be illuminated by 60‑watt white LED modules. The sign would be turned off at the business’s closing time each day, Brookshire said.
Commissioners expressed concern about the scale of the lettering relative to pedestrian scale and the railing. “It feels out‑scaled with the building and the space,” one commissioner said, noting renderings showing people adjacent to the sign. Commissioners asked that the applicant reduce the size so the sign height would sit below the railing top and suggested a target of about 75 percent of the proposed height (roughly four feet tall instead of 5 feet 7 inches).
Commissioner John Gray moved to find the project exempt from CEQA and approve the project subject to a design revision reducing the overall sign size to approximately 75 percent so the top of the sign does not extend above the railing, with final review by staff. The motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote with all present commissioners saying “aye.”
Brookshire noted the project was noticed and that staff received one public comment in support from neighbor Tommy Bridal. No other agencies raised objections during referral. Staff will review the rescaled design to confirm compliance with the approved conditions and applicable sign standards.
