Graphics above illustrate the types of signage Plain City could install as part of a wayfinding program initiated by Union County. A preliminary budget indicates the village would need to pay $137,450 to implement the signage recommended.
(Graphic submitted)
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Plain City will be one of several municipalities to install new signage throughout the village as part of a wayfinding program initiated by Union County.
Union County Tourism (previously known at the Union County Convention and Visitors Bureau) Director Karen Eylon presented the wayfinding plan to Plain City Council members during their most recent meeting.
Eylon said a preliminary budget indicates Plain City would need to pay $137,450 to implement the signage recommended.
Jason Stanford, development manager for the village, said he was “very pleased” with the budget.
Eylon explained that a task force was formed to investigate improving signage throughout the county.
The task force worked with consulting group Merje to finalize a design for directional signs and landmark signs in Union County.
Eylon said it was important for the group to settle on a coherent design that still allows each municipality to incorporate elements that “speak to the individual community.”
The final design includes gray signs with white font, while signs in each area throughout the county will be accented with a stripe in a specific color across the top.
For instance, signage in Plain City will have a golden yellow stripe with a dark green accent along the top with “Plain City” in all capital letters within the stripe.
The back of Plain City’s signs will be a coordinating golden yellow with a silhouette of the clock tower image used in the village’s new logo.
Eylon emphasized that Plain City’s new branding, which incorporates an updated clock tower logo and a color scheme of goldenrod and deep green, was used as a starting point for Merje’s design for the village.
The plan from Merje also accounts for signs in Marysville, which will feature accents in shades of green and the city logo; Richwood, which will include a navy blue with an image of the clock on the Opera House; Jerome Township, which will have red accents and an image of the Soldier’s Monument and Union County, which has beige and red coloring included, along with an image of a covered bridge.
The budget accounts for $11,000 for “trailblazer” signs meant for parks, $56,750 for vehicular direction signs in low speed areas and $39,500 for vehicular direction signs. Construction administration and additional permits and shipping are listed as $15,000 each.
Council member Michael Terry asked how signs could be added as the village continues to grow.
Stanford said that the village will have “full control” over adding signs or moving existing signs if necessary. Eylon added that, now that the design is finalized by Merje, the village can use it as a template in the future.
The village will likely take a “multi-phase” approach, Stanford said, explaining that higher priority signs can be installed first, then Plain City officials can determine when to add more based on their budget.
Terry also noted that Plain City has segments in Union County and Madison County. He asked if the village would be permitted to use the same signage throughout, even though the wayfinding plans were created in conjunction with Union County.
Eylon said Plain City’s split between counties was already discussed by the wayfinding task force.
She said the group agreed that the village can use the same signs throughout, and “Madison County” can replace “Union County” when appropriate.
Council member Jim Eudaily questioned the final budget, noting that it indicates some construction and administrative costs beyond just fabrication of the signs. Eylon said she would contact Merje to clarify what those fees include.
She added that she is also in contact with Merje to determine how maintenance of the signs will be handled. Currently, she said she believes it would be up to individual municipalities to care for their own signs.
Eylon said the next step in the process is to take feedback from council back to the task force for review.
In other business:
– Council heard from two residents who shared concerns surrounding growth in the village.
Jacob Moran told council that he feels tax abatements “should be thoughtfully and intentionally used.”
He said he has spoken with Stanford and appreciates his approach to economic development, but noted that he feels “in the past, (abatements) have been more flippantly used.”
Moran said he understands why abatements have been offered to incentivize development in the Uptown, as he is thankful dilapidated buildings have been saved and are seeing new uses.
However, he said at this point he feels the Uptown is attractive enough that the village does not need to offer tax abatements to draw developers. Moran encouraged council to seek the types of uses most appropriate for the area.
In his comments, Blake Miller said he is concerned about the potential annexation of 112 acres along Plain City-Lafayette Road, which would allow for the development of an age-targeted residential neighborhood developed by Wilcox Communities.
He said he is a third-generation farmer who lives on the property adjacent to the land in question.
Miller said he is worried about the development’s effect on drainage and traffic, along with the potential for trespassers.
He asked council to slow the pace of growth, because “we are being forced into a lifestyle we did not choose.”