PZC Packet 072914July 29, 2014 PZC Meeting
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Staff Report – Sign Design
July 29, 2014 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting
Report date July 23, 2014
Project type Sign Design
Legal description Section 2, Township 5, Range 82 Lots 3&4, S1/2NW1/4,
SW1/4 Section 3 Township 5 Range 82 Lot 1, SE1/4,
NE1/4SE1/4 Section 34 Township 4 Range 82 SE1/4SE1/4
Zoning Open Space, PUD Open Space (Wildridge)
Address N/A
Prepared By Brian Garner, Town Planner
INTRODUCTION
The West Avon preserve is a 478-acre open space parcel recently obtained by the Town of Avon
as a conservation easement from the U.S. Forest Service. With construction of the segments
comprising 6.5 miles of trails nearing completion this summer, the Town of Avon is developing a
sign design for the trailheads and trail markers throughout the West Avon Preserve to help trail
users navigate the system. As depicted on Exhibit A, trailhead signs are needed at four (4)
proposed locations and trail markers are proposed at approximately 13 trail intersections.
TRAIL PROJECT PARTNERS
This sign design concept has been developed in accordance and shared with a number of trail
project partners with a vested interest in the West Avon Preserve. Staff has gained a number of
expert opinions on best practices of trail signage and how to best utilize signage in the West Avon
Preserve.
PROPOSED TRAILHEAD SIGNS
Trailhead Sign Locations
Trailhead signs are proposed for four (4) locations including:
• Nottingham Road Trailhead
• Singletree Trailhead
• O’Neal Spur/Playground Way near the Wildridge Dog
Park Trailhead
• Beaver Creek Point Trailhead
Exact placement within these identified locations remains
undetermined and will need to be field-verified to ensure best
visibility, accessibility and placement on West Avon Preserve
property.
Trailhead Sign Design Considerations
As depicted on the concept drawing attached as Exhibit B, the
trailhead signs are proposed to be fabricated from wood and
steel to be durable and attractive with several goals for the
structures:
• Sign character and ability to blend-in with the Wildridge
environment
• Appropriate sign scale and massing
• Durability for environmental conditions
• Ability to incorporate Town branding and Avon identity
• Ability to change-out sign components as needed to
update and/or replace parts, rather than entire sign
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Trailhead Sign Copy
The sign copy will contain the rules and etiquette of the trail. Staff again
received input from our trail project partners to ensure the needs of all
trail users are met. At this time, the following general messages are
proposed for the copy component of the signs:
Rules:
• Hours
• No on-street or overnight parking is permitted
• If parking is full, other parking areas available
• No smoking, alcohol or marijuana allowed
Etiquette:
• Multi-use area
• Understand the use of each trail
• Hikers/walkers have the right-of-way at all times
• Bike riders must yield to other users – up & down
• Carry-in/carry-out responsibility is yours
Trailhead Sign Header Message
Each sign is proposed to include a header to include:
• Town logo/Town of Avon
• “West Avon Preserve”
• Specific trailhead name i.e. “ Beaver Creek Point”
Trailhead Map
Staff is working with Eagle County GIS to develop the trail map copy.
This component will be the last developed since on-site trail alignment
will continue to occur until the trails are complete. Working with our trail
project partners it is understood that the map needs to be:
• Legible and easy to understand
• Depict enough land detail to understand grades
• Illustrate trail difficulty
• Appropriate scale
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Trailhead Partners and Additional Message
A simple message is proposed to thank our project partners
and include their respective logos. Other message logos
may be included here as needed i.e. “Share the Trail”
Trailhead Sign Materials and Colors
The sign structure materials are proposed to include wood and steel fabrication to be durable and
long-lasting. Individual sign components are proposed to be .5” thick Medex material with the
ability to change out components as needed for update or replacement. The stain or paint color is
proposed to be a sage-brown tone for the wood and either black or sage-brown for the steel
fabricated parts. Ideally, the signs will blend with the natural environment of Wildridge as much as
possible. Note: Enlarged version attached as Exhibit B
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PROPOSED TRAIL MARKERS
NEXT STEPS & TIMELINE
The concept for the trail markers is to utilize a simple and functional map
that shows numbered trail junctions to illustrate the trail user’s specific
location within the system. Attached as Exhibit C is an example from the
Dale Ball Trail System in Santa Fe, NM. This method makes production
easier by replicating the map and including specific junction # for each post.
Additional marker details:
• 4”x4”x7’ wood posts, stained or painted
• Appropriate sized map with dot indicating location
• “Share the Trail” logo on each post
• Avon logo and “West Avon Preserve” on each post
• Dibond with inkjet print & laminate for components
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Planning Analysis
Chapter 15.28 of the Avon Municipal Code contains the Avon Sign Code. Although official
governmental signs are exempt from the regulating criteria, the proposed signs comprise a
significant project that warrants Planning & Zoning Commission review and approval. As such, the
Sign Design Review Criteria is included for PZC to render an official decision on the application.
Review Criteria
§15.28.070, Design Review Criteria. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall consider the
following items in reviewing proposed designs:
(1) The suitability of the improvement, including materials with which the sign is to be
constructed and the site upon which it is to be located;
(2) The nature of adjacent and neighboring improvements;
(3) The quality of the materials to be utilized in any proposed improvement;
(4) The visual impact of any proposed improvement, as viewed from any adjacent or
neighboring property;
(5) The objective that no improvement will be so similar or dissimilar to other signs in the
vicinity that values, monetary or aesthetic, will be impaired;
(6) Whether the type, height, size and/or quantity of signs generally complies with the sign
code, and are appropriate for the project;
(7) Whether the sign is primarily oriented to vehicular or pedestrian traffic, and whether the
sign is appropriate for the determined orientation.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Sign Design application be approved as proposed and with the
following findings:
1. The signs are approved due to compliance with the Review Criteria as listed in §15.28.070.
Recommended Motion
I move to approve Case #SGN14006, an application for Sign Design Review for proposed trail
signage on open space at the West Avon Preserve with the finding that the proposed signs are
compliant with the review criteria.
Exhibits
A: West Avon Preserve Trails Map
B: Proposed Sign Specifications
C: Dale Ball Trail System – Trail Marker Example
D: Vicinity Map – Open Space, PUD Open Space (Wildridge)
E: Trailhead & Marker Sign Concept
Wildridge
Singletree
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This map was created by the Eagle County GIS Department.
Use of this map should be for general purpose only.
Eagle County does not warrant the accuracy of the data
contained herein.
0400800
Feet
West Avon Preserve
Existing Trails
Easy Trail - Proposed
Moderate Trail - Proposed
Strenuous Trail - Proposed
Family Flow Trail - Proposed
Moderate Trail - Existing
Parcel Boundary
Town Boundary
Slopes over 30%
U.S. Forest Service
Riparian Habitat
TRAILHEAD SIGN
40” x 60“ x 2” Angle Steel Welded Inside frame 40” x 60“ x 2” Square Tube Welded outside frame 40” x 60“ x 2” squares Wire Cloth
.5” Thick Medex for signs
8” x 34” HEADER
20” x 30” MAP12” x 30”
TRAIL
RULES &
ETIQUITE
20” x 34” SPONSORS
6” square tube Mounting strap
with welded bracket
6” x 6” Western Cedar Posts to be 8 ft out of ground
6” x 63” Top piece TBD
TOWN OF AVON - WEST AVON PRESERVE
BEAVER CREEK POINT TRAILHEAD
TRAIL
RULES &
ETIQUETTE
THIS TRAIL EXISTS DUE TO THE LOVE OF OUR PARTNER SPONSORS:
THIS
TRAIL
WEST
AVON
PRESERVE
JUNCTION
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