J.P. Morgan Chase is requesting a sign variance from Montgomery County for a new sign it would like to install at its 7901 Wisconsin Avenue branch in downtown Bethesda. The sign proposed is 91.35-square-feet, illuminated, and will be attached to the Wisconsin Avenue facade of the bank facing west. It will read, "J.P. Morgan." The sign placement will be higher than 26' above ground level, which is what necessitates the variance.
Their application will be reviewed at a virtual meeting of the Montgomery County Sign Review Board on January 14, 2026 at 8:30 AM. A decision should quickly follow the review that morning. If you wish to join the meeting, or submit comments regarding the proposed sign, you must contact roger.waterstreet@montgomerycountymd.gov TODAY, January 9, 2026.
Signage at this branch has led to controversy before. Extremely bright blue signage and lighting cast a blue tint into apartment windows at the 8001 Woodmont development directly across Wisconsin, and raised the ire of some neighbors in East Bethesda. The bank then toned down the brightness.
4 comments:
I would grant them the variance if they do one thing. Chemically clean and power wash that nasty stained white marble facade.
By all means Comrade Elrich and his sign police need to make this as difficult and time consuming as possible to augment our business friendly reputation. Can we make this part of Wisconsin Avenue bike only ?
My comment to the county: "A bigger and brighter sign on that bank will not help the bank. Due to the apartment building on the other side of the road, there is no location that a person could stand where bigger sign would be visible and a smaller one would not. A bigger sign does not bring any greater awareness to the public regarding the location of the bank. On the flip side, a bigger sign would have serious detrimental effects to the residents of the apartment building that will have bright lights shining into their apartment all night, every night."
That's the responsibility of the owner, Chase is mostly a lessee.
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