The sign on the new Staples store in the Pavilion Shopping Center off Naglee Road is under scrutiny by the planning commission for not conforming to the signage rules at the center and being installed without proper permits according to city officials. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
The name of the business was not revealed, but according to commercial real estate broker Jeff Brotman, the retailer would be located in a building yet to be constructed between Mancini’s Sleepworld and Golden Corral restaurant.
He told the commission the owners were ready to start construction but wanted to make sure they would be allowed to promote their business on the Marketplace sign along the Interstate 205 corridor.
He said the decision to locate in Tracy, over the city of Manteca, was because of the signage opportunity, and added the company wanted to open the location before the end of the year.
City officials said regulations limit signs to 300 square feet, and the proposed amendment would increase the Marketplace sign to 400 square feet.
After a lengthy discussion, the commission voted unanimously to approve the amendment and recommend the City Council do the same.
Commissioners nearly tabled the matter, however, after the conversation turned to a controversial Staples store sign near Home Depot.
Commissioner Pete Mitracos said he regretted approving that particular sign and believed the board did not have sufficient information when making the decision.
Assistant Development Services Director Bill Dean told the commission the Staples sign was installed without council approval.
According to senior planner Victoria Lombardo, the council was scheduled to address the Staples sign issue during its meeting Tuesday, May 1. She said the commissioners’ concerns would be conveyed to the council before any vote.
Commissioner Rhodesia Ransom said it was difficult to put a blanket plan into place, even though the commissioners were trying to be business friendly. She said she favored multiple tenants for corridor signs, but not single business signs — a sentiment echoed by others on the commission.
Commissioner Alfred Johnson asked Brotman the likelihood that the expanded Marketplace sign would promote a single business, and Brotman said it was unlikely.
They are secretive about their opening, most trader Joe's are 9000 sq feet, locate in a non description strip malls, everything fits the bill...
The store would also be right between Tracy and mountain house giving them their desired 100,000 population.
Just making an educated guess but I think trader Joe's Tracy just might finally be a reality!
I also have no love of ugly advertisements everywhere along our roads.
On the other hand, I abhor any regulation or law that tells someone what to do with their own property (providing they are not creating an immediate hazard to others). By immediate hazard I mean one that has a high probability of killing someone, not silly non-issues like an overgrown lot or a purple house or 10 cars parked on the lawn. If whatever business is going in either owns the land the sign is on or has the permission of the owner then they should be able to make it whatever damn size they want.
The greater evil in my mind is this last issue. While I dont like the signs, I can always not look at them or conciously choose not to shop at any store that uglifies our roadways and the political types will always be random.
Happy Friday All
Anyone know? You would think it has to be a restaurant with that type of square footage. I hope its something that everyone likes..maybe like an Outback, BJs, etc.
Anywho, I can't think of a store that has that square footage that builds their own building and would fit well here in Tracy. It's good for the city either way.
Second, I wasn't aware Staples had already moved, let alone the "controversy" surrounding their sign. Anyone care to fill me in?