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Neighbors and planners spar over Bank of the West signs at 2299 Market Street
Summary
Neighbors told the Planning Commission that Bank of the West’s proposed signage at 2299 Market Street still reads like a billboard despite reductions; project sponsors say lettering has been reduced and will include plaques and limited illumination. Commissioners discussed code work on neighborhood signage and asked sponsor to continue outreach.
Commission staff presented a revised signage package for Bank of the West at 2299 Market Street that reduces letter heights from about 24 inches to 15 inches on the primary frontage and to 18 inches on a secondary facade. Michael Smith, Planning Department staff, told the commission the sponsor had reduced the proposed lettering and that the revised design is smaller than what was initially approved.
DTNA Vice President Eric Honda said the reductions did not address the central issue: neighbor outreach and the scale of the graphics. “They have not negotiated with the neighbors,” Honda told the commissioners, citing neighbors’ experience with other corporate signage in the district. He and representatives from SF Beautiful urged the commission to treat the proposal as a neighborhood-sensitive submission rather than a branding exercise.
Tom Tunney, representing Bank of the West, said the bank had reduced the sign size and worked with neighborhood groups and a sign designer. He added that the lettering is white with low-output LED illumination and that the design is integrated into the building’s canopy. Project sponsor Karl Shannon said the pieces planned for Foundry Square’s lobby (a separate item) would be accompanied by visible plaques required as a condition of approval.
Planning staff said they are already working on broader sign-control updates in neighborhood commercial districts that would address materials, lighting and pedestrian orientation. Commissioners urged continued direct outreach and asked staff to pursue code language to make commercial signage more pedestrian-scaled on mixed-use corridors.
