Charm, not shine, size trump wayfinding signs
Charm, not shine, and size does matter! That was the message delivered during public hearings at the Navasota City Council meeting Monday, July 10, by citizens tired of what they consider a continued assault on Navasota’s quaint, charming ambience.
The four public hearings were prompted by the City of Navasota’s request for variances to its own sign ordinance to allow placement of wayfinding signage at the Navasota Library, Navasota Center, August Horst Park and a downtown visitor kiosk. Council heard residents loud and clear, and voicing concerns of their own about size, denied the four variance requests. Three of the four agenda items received unanimous votes with the exception of the visitor kiosk when council member Pattie Pederson voted against denying the variance.
Finding Navasota
The goal of Navasota’s 3-phase citywide wayfinding sign project is to draw visitors off the highway to downtown and direct them to dining, shopping, parking and points of interest.
At the June 26 council meeting, council approved the Phase 1 highway directional signs, downtown parking and street signs, a Railroad District and Visit Navasota sign which were in compliance with The City’s sign ordinance. The signs addressed Monday night significantly exceeded sign height and area limits. Two have programmable LED features, something not permitted in the Overlay District or the Central Business District (CBD).
“Fix what’s broken”
Seven individuals addressed replacing the library sign on Washington Avenue. Many such as Julie Dierlam said they left urban areas for Navasota’s quaint charm and several have restored 100-plus year-old Navasota homes.
The Rattlers may be popular here but the “Rattler blue” signs weren’t with native Debbie Hancock who suggested The City “fix what’s broken.”
Two Rivers Heritage Foundation president Kathy Wells said the proposed library sign doesn’t align historically. Dia Copeland supports wayfinding and the current sign ordinance but said the signs are too big and “shouting at us.”
The proposed free-standing sign is 2-feet taller with a sign area 8-square feet larger than permitted. Councilman Josh Fultz urged following the guidelines of the Overlay District and avoiding The City setting precedent.
Fultz said, “The library sign looks fine, and the new signs, if we do put out new signs, should follow the ordinance currently written.”
Kiosk concerns
Regarding the 3-sided visitor kiosk adjacent to the visitor center on Washington at Farquhar, the 7-foot height and the LED panel were points of contention for Fultz and Councilman Bernie Gessner. LED is not permitted in the CBD and the sign is 1-foot taller than permitted.
Marketing and Communication Coordinator Bobbie Lehrmann explained the “cost savings” factor of LED as opposed to printed material saying information is easy to change through the computer and it’s in real time.
Gessner questioned why it couldn’t be inside the Visitor Center. Suggestions from residents and Fultz included an electronic billboard on SH 6 or a QR code for points of interest.
Navasota Grimes County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lucy Ybarra asked council to think “proactively” about how they market events.
She said, “People who aren’t from here don’t stop at the Visitors Center…but they will stop at something right in front of their face.”
Ybarra also pointed out that wayfinding can be used to broadcast during an emergency to reach the public immediately.
Nav Center, August Horst Park
The proposed Navasota Center sign is 2-feet taller with a sign area 16-foot larger than permitted.
Comparing the existing monument sign to the proposed free-standing, Rattler Blue metal sign, Gessner said, “The sign doesn’t need to be that big.”
Resident Todd Wisner compared the proposed 11-inch lettering to the 6-inch lettering on the First Baptist Church sign “to give perspective,” and suggested residents favor the monument signs.
Pederson suggested difficulty in replacing brick or stone in the monument signs is a factor in pursuing metal signage.
During discussion about the proposed free-standing, lighted August Horst Park sign, Fultz inquired about the reduced cost in bringing the sign within compliance, from 8-feet to 6-feet, and the savings would be $4,000. Council consensus was the proposed park sign is too big.
Speaking with the Examiner, Mayor Bert Miller said City staff have the option of working with the sign company to address the height and area issues to bring the signs into compliance and back before city council as a regular agenda item. He did not comment on the LED issues.
City council meetings can be viewed in their entirety at https://www.navasotatx.gov/ government/index.php.