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Needham DRB approves Beacon Bank channel letters, requires opaque rear background
Summary
The Design Review Board approved Beacon Bank's sign swap at 902 Highland Ave, accepting a small increase in sign area and requiring the parking-lot-facing sign's white background be made opaque so light does not pass through at night.
The Needham Design Review Board unanimously approved signage for Beacon Bank's 902 Highland Ave branch during its Jan. 12 meeting, including a front channel-letter sign and a re-faced rear sign facing the parking lot, with a condition on nighttime illumination.
Heather, representing Beacon Bank, said the change reflects a merger with Brookline Bank and Berkshire Bank and described removing Brookline Bank letters, reskinning a 1 ft 6 in backer, removing blue window vinyl, and installing internally illuminated Beacon Bank channel letters. Heather told the board the existing front sign is 9.92 square feet and the proposed sign is 10.1 square feet.
Board members questioned how the sign would be illuminated at night and whether the background should remain transparent. Heather said the lettering would be translucent and that the applicant could make the white background opaque so the letters, rather than a bright white panel, are visible after dark. Board member Felix urged opaquing the backer because of the site's intersection and nighttime visibility concerns, saying, "I really think the opaqueness is the way to go with it." The applicant confirmed the retainers shown on the install drawing will be painted blue.
The board voted to approve the front Highland Avenue sign as submitted, then voted to approve the rear parking-lot sign on the condition that the white background be made opaque so that light does not show through when illuminated. All votes were by roll call and were unanimous. Next steps are permit filing and installation consistent with the approved materials and the opacity condition.
The applicant also said all blue window vinyl will be removed and not replaced, and the board asked staff to ensure the final permit submittal matches the drawings presented to the board.
