Baltimore County DRP approves illuminated Farmers & Merchants Bank sign for 22 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Towson

The Baltimore County Design Review Panel voted April 9, 2025, to approve an internally illuminated wall sign for Farmers & Merchants Bank at 22 West Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Towson.

Panel members approved the sign during the panel’s regular meeting after a Department of Planning staff report that cited Baltimore County zoning rules for enterprise signs. The applicant described the sign as 5.5 feet tall by 12.4 feet wide with a total area of 68.2 square feet; the face will be backlit with low-wattage LED lighting and the sign body is described as 0.040-inch aluminum with a baked-enamel finish.

The approval came with the staff report as the basis for the panel’s recommendation. Department of Planning staff noted that the downtown Towson design guidelines do not set a specific limit on the number of signs per façade and cited Baltimore County Zoning Regulation section 4-50, which allows enterprise wall-mounted signs up to 150 square feet and limits enterprise signs to three per premises.

During the review, panelists said the sign’s size and placement were appropriate to the east elevation and the building’s address feature. Panelist Michael Stevens moved to approve the sign “along with the staff report.” Panelist Sala seconded. Panel comments praised the sign’s scale and its fit with the building materials and color; one panelist asked about materials and lighting and the applicant said the sign uses backlit plastic face panels and low-wattage LED illumination.

No members of the public signed up to speak. Department of Planning staff read the report into the record and summarized applicable zoning provisions for the panel’s consideration before the vote.

The panel’s action is advisory to the county agencies responsible for plan disposition; as the chair read at the start of the meeting, panel recommendations are advisory unless a hearing officer or agency determines the panel’s recommendation constitutes an abuse of discretion or is unsupported by the record.

Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve signage as submitted, with the staff report as the panel’s recommendation. Moved by Michael Stevens; seconded by Sala. Outcome: Approved by voice vote (motion carries). (The meeting record does not contain a roll-call tally in the transcript.)

The panel then adjourned the April 9 meeting.