Sequim Village Shopping Center will get new signs after the planning commission unanimously approved a "major use permit" for them at its Dec. 3 meeting.

"This is one of those situations where the planning commission makes a final decision," Larry Freedman, commission chairman, said before opening the public hearing.

The shopping center at 609 W. Washington St., former site of a Safeway store, encompasses three buildings that have 21 tenant spaces.

The primary sign advertising JCPenney will be 130 square feet and double-sided while the secondary sign advertising the center's other tenants will be 89.5 square feet and double-sided.

The latter is larger than the 50 square feet allowed by the sign code, so the master use permit was necessary.

Real estate agent Steve Smith, representing landlord Dick McNish, said the shopping center has undergone a $500,000 face lift and now McNish is spending another $80,000 on new signs because he realizes they need to be replaced.

McNish wants to protect the signs on the street because many of the tenants that are far back or parallel with the street are difficult to see, Smith said.

Randy Hanson from Hanson Sign Company said the new signs would be an improvement over the existing signage.

Associate planner Joe Irvin said the new signs will include suite numbers for each tenant as requested by Clallam County Fire District 3.