Design Review Commission approves Hoffman Cancer Center signage at John Muir Medical Campus with nighttime lighting limit

The Walnut Creek Design Review Commission on a unanimous 3-0 vote approved an amendment to the master sign program for the John Muir Medical Campus at 177 La Casa Via that adds donor-branded signage for the Hoffman Cancer Center and increases the parcel's total allowable sign area.

The amendment authorizes two modified entry wall signs that include the donor name Hoffman Cancer Center (each 13.5 square feet) and an additional skyline sign of about 28 square feet. The skyline sign reaches approximately 27 feet at its highest point, exceeding the city sign ordinance height limit of 25 feet; the approval therefore required the commission to make the specific findings required for a taller sign. The approved resolution includes a condition restricting sign illumination between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily to address potential nighttime impacts on nearby residences.

Staff presented the request. "Before you tonight is a proposed amendment to the master sign program for the John Muir Medical Campus located at 177 La Casa Via," said Steven Cook, assistant planner, summarizing the application (Y25031). Cook told commissioners the amendment would replace prior wall copy that read "Outpatient Center" and "Cancer Center" with the donor name and would increase the total allowable sign area on the parcel from 530 to 567 square feet. He also recommended a CEQA exemption under Section 15301 (Existing Facilities).

The applicant, Nikki San Miguel of ClearStory, said the proposed signs match the fabrication and illumination of an existing illuminated building address on the campus and that staff had not received neighbor complaints about that prior sign. "There—s currently an address, a building address that's also similarly illuminated. It's same exact fabrication, same details. It's just the 177 address. So the idea is that this sign would be the same illumination levels ... we haven't heard any complaints from the neighbors," San Miguel said.

Commissioners asked about wayfinding and whether removing the separate "Outpatient Center" exterior lettering could confuse patients and visitors. Commissioners were told the cancer center has become the dominant service and that outpatient services (including blood draws and imaging) will continue within the building; the applicant said the intent is to streamline wayfinding to a single destination, the Hoffman Cancer Center. One commissioner said that concern about losing explicit outpatient signage was outside the scope of the design review item but noted potential visitation confusion given multiple buildings on the campus.

Commissioners also reviewed earlier 2022 approvals that granted several sign exceptions for the project and determined the proposed additions align with the building's architectural datum and the established family of signs on campus. After discussion the commission moved to approve the staff recommendation with the added condition limiting illumination from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Case, yes; Commissioner Riley, yes; Vice Chair Basting, yes. The motion passed, 3-0.

The staff report recommended that the Design Review Commission adopt the resolution approving the master sign program amendment for the 177 La Casa Via parcel at the John Muir Medical Campus, "subject to the conditions of approval contained therein," and the commission adopted that recommendation.

Details from the approval include the new measured sign areas (two entry wall signs of 13.5 square feet each and a skyline sign of 28 square feet), the approximately 27-foot skyline height (exceeding the 25-foot ordinance limit), and the total parcel sign area increase from 530 to 567 square feet. The commission recorded a CEQA exemption finding under Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) in the staff report.