Walnut Creek design panel approves larger illuminated wall sign for North Italia at Plaza Escuela

Walnut Creek Design Review Commission approved exceptions to the city'approved master sign program on Jan. 15 to allow a single, larger illuminated wall sign for a new North Italia restaurant at 1179 Locust Street.

Senior planner Jessica Gonzalez presented the application and told commissioners, "My name is Jessica Gonzalez, senior planner, and I will be presenting the North Italia sign application." Gonzalez said the site is within the Plaza Escuela shopping center and that the applicant had already received an administrative use permit to serve alcohol. The proposed wall sign is approximately 48 square feet and would be placed about 26 feet above grade; the lettering includes a 2.5-foot-high word mark for "North" and 14.5-inch lettering for "Italia." Staff recommended that the commission determine the project categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approve the draft resolution granting master sign program exceptions and a sign-height increase subject to conditions of approval.

Under the site'specific master sign program, three tenant signs were originally allowed at the location, but the three former tenant spaces were combined in 2010 and the applicant is requesting deviations to permit one larger sign to match the wider storefront. Gonzalez said the proposal also requests exceptions to sign location, design and internal illumination; staff recommended the deviations, noting the sign's modern design and that similar illuminated signs have been approved in the shopping center.

Commissioners asked whether the proposal would create a precedent compared with the nearby Cheesecake Factory sign and were told staff had previously approved a sign-height amendment for that tenant and that similar exceptions have been granted for other tenants at the center. Vice Chair Newsom and other commissioners offered no other substantive changes during the hearing.

Commissioner Basting moved to approve the draft resolution granting final master sign program exceptions; Commissioner Riley seconded. The roll call vote recorded Commissioner Basting: yes; Commissioner Riley: yes; Vice Chair Newsom: yes. The motion carried and the commission approved the exceptions and sign-height increase.

The exterior repainting, awnings and new railing described in the application will be reviewed at a staff level as a separate, minor design review once design completeness is reached, staff said. The commission's approval covered only the master sign program exceptions and the sign-height allowance; conditions of approval attached to the resolution will govern final sign construction and installation.