Planning commission approves larger signage for 118 San Mateo Road restaurant

The Half Moon Bay Planning Commission on an unspecified date approved a sign permit for a new restaurant at 118 San Mateo Road, allowing four business signs totaling about 55.5 square feet, including a 25-square-foot digital menu board for a drive-through. The vote was 4-0.

Staff said the site at the northeast corner of Cabrillo Highway and San Mateo Road is a two-tenant building adjacent to the town boulevard scenic corridor and a community gateway, and that the proposal required planning-commission approval because one sign would exceed 20 square feet and the total sign area would exceed 40 square feet. "The project includes 4 business signs," staff said in the presentation, and the largest sign would be 25 square feet to serve as a digital menu board.

The permit package, as described by planning staff, includes a main-entrance sign (about 10 square feet), a 25-square-foot digital drive-through menu board, a tower sign between tenant spaces, and a double-sided directional sign for the drive-through. Staff noted the proposed signs would use internally illuminated, push-through channel letters without a raceway, and dimmers would be installed to reduce brightness if needed. Staff also said the proposal stays below the 70-square-foot-per-tenant maximum allowed for sites on a major highway.

Scott Phillips, the staff presenter, said the Architectural Advisory Committee reviewed the proposal and recommended approval, finding the amount of signage "not overpowering and minimal required to identify the business and the drive thru." Phillips also said the project is "categorically exempt from CEQA" under the on-premise signs exemption.

Commissioners asked a few clarifying questions but generally endorsed the staff analysis. Commissioner Hernandez disclosed a personal relationship with the restaurant brand, saying, "I will disclose that I'm a Taco Bell rewards member, but I am receiving no benefit," and then said he felt comfortable approving the project. Commissioners also urged staff to watch the color palette and illumination — one commissioner suggested checking how the corporate purple and green palette would read with the gas-station signage nearby.

Commissioner Hernandez moved to approve the sign permit; Chair Reddick seconded. The roll-call vote recorded yes votes from Commissioners Grama, Del Nago, Hernandez and Chair Reddick. The motion passed 4-0. Staff indicated the dimmers and the illumination controls would allow adjustments after installation if the signs are too bright.

The permit approval allows the applicant to proceed with building-specific sign permits consistent with the materials reviewed by the commission and any clarifications required by the sign-permitting staff. The project record notes that two additional gas-station cabinet signs included in the packet were direct replacements and did not require separate permits.