Management personnel with Alain Pinel Realtors on the corner of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Cox Avenue walked away with smiles on their faces at the Aug. 27 planning commission meeting when commissioners granted an appeal of a decision that had denied the tenants of the building the right to replace the existing color of the sign, blue, with black lettering with a gold logo.

"We would like to recreate a friendly center in which we put a substantial amount of money," said Paul Hue, founder and owner of the business. "It would not have any impact on the business and would not be disruptive to the area."

According to Hue, 20 of the neighboring business owners including the landlord of the complex approved the color change.

Black was the color that Hue wanted when the business opened in another location in the Argonaut Shopping Center, but choices were limited—only red, pink and green were available.

"I screamed under my breath when I found out, but I didn't do anything about it," Hue said.

Brian Hanson, who handles all the leasing business, said the issue runs deeper than a simple color change.

"The issue is about personal pride," Hanson said. "The building is a home for the agents. We don't conduct any corporate business there."

Commissioner Jill Hunter said she thought the color change would give the building a distinctive look.

"The shopping center was handsome-looking with the blue and white colors, but that was 16 years ago," Hunter said. "Black would not be an obnoxious color."

Despite the commissioners' willingness to accept the change, some voiced concern in regards to the unified sign program that was adopted by a previous planning commission in 1987. The program restricted signage to blue- and white-colored lettering.

Commissioner Cynthia Barry said that if the commission were to grant the request, they would be "nullifying what the past commission adopted." She also said that neighbors should have the opportunity to speak about the issue. However, Planning Director Tom Sullivan said that notices were distributed to residences within 500 feet of the property.

The commission categorized the request as a minor exception and agreed to look into the current signage program for possible amendments and additions.