Signs on 30A - here's the new plan

After a little digging something smells - here are a couple of scenarios I don't know if either is true:

1. Owner tries for several years to sell discover30a.com with no takers. It's not worth anything. Even attempting to sell it on Ebay. He convinces or pays someone to get the county to use the logo. Maybe the county is under the gun from citizens and makes another big mistake trying to save time or money. Maybe someone in the county gets a sack full of cash. Suddenly he has a hot logo property and Beach Group pays a lot of money for the logo which the county is now about to be in the business of promoting by spending more hundreds of thousands of dollars of our money not to mention ruining our scenicnicity.

OR

2. Beach Group bought the logo recently and is the party that got the county to use it.

Either way I would imagine there are a lot of competing realtors around that will bust a gut knowing the county is even considering using a logo owned by a competitor.

The county can't do business this way. Either Cindy Meadows was totally hoodwinked or was doing a favor for a friend. in either case i don't see how the county could use something commercial. At worst it would be favoritism and unethical. And they'd be open to a massive lawsuit no matter what the agreement is for allowed use by the county. It's proven tima and again the county buckles when stared down by expensive lawyers.

Surely the TDC wouldn't use the logo of a commercial site on hundreds of signs in SoWal. What about their logo with the umbrellas? Are they being punished for the blue sign fiasco? Wouldn't that be cutting off the county nose to spite the face?

Wow- an exact copy of the website design, the designers just added an extra sea oat spray. Hope they didn't pay too much money for the "design". I think I will go into the sign design biz if this is all it takes- copy skills!

Sign Sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign

BR, I swear I had just cut/pasted this dang lyric when I noticed you had it too!!! it sounds good to me. can't believe we were thinking the same dang thang.

Just design a nice, simple, wooden sign with the umbrella logo we are all familiar with, and keep them minimal - in other words make some new ones exactly like the one Dave had made for each beach community years ago. we really only need one sign per community - maybe two (each direction). if we need some wayfinding ones, we probably only need about 4. and then remove the bike path entirely. problem solved.


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Exactly.

Where are they getting this environmental graphic design work? What is the process for starting over? I can't believe after the big blue madness, we are looking at this stuff. Better... but not good and sure as heck not excellent...

There were at least four design options proposed, and the people who attended the design charette wanted this particular sign/logo. I have seen the other designs, and some were better, some not. I'm sure the designer would have preferred his original designs, but the logo was very popular. I think it did try to tweak what the charette attendees wanted.

The logo is not part of phase 1, which is the only phase that has been funded and approved. If there are strong opinions about the logo that was selected, I hope everyone will attend the meetings to come and we can come up with something better that will work with the mile markers and stop ahead/stop/crossing signs that are already in the pipeline.

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

--- The Five Man Electrical Band, 1970

I drive across the bike path every day and while I feel sure that many of our tourists are not as careful regarding oncoming bicyclists, walkers and joggers as locals who are aware of the heavy usage of the Timpoochee Trail, I am also sure that very shortly they become cognisant of the need for caution when approaching the trail to cross it in a vehicle. SJ's suggestion of info put on the trail itself is a good one. Too many signs on the trail have two disadvantages. One, they will be ignored if too repetitive and two, they can be too distracting if they are all observed. In short, too much signage is not good for many, many reasons. I don't need my view of oncoming traffic blocked by signage when coming out of my driveway, either. Not saying that will happen for sure but it is a possibility. I love to watch the activity on the bike path. It is a laid back joy to walk on and observe all the going ons in SoWal. Let's make sure we keep this laid back posture and enjoyability of the Timpoochee Trail. Too many signs, as now proposed, will ruin this trail for all concerned.

How are a hundred smaller signs better than a few huge ones? I thought the point of a sign ordinance was to protect the "scenicness" of the area. Signs are a neccessary evil, but let's not decorate the bike path with them! I like the idea of painting safety info on the path itself.

I cant believe they are even entertaining the idea of using a copyrighted logo from a local business. I can think of a hundred local logos better than that one. Talk about a disaster waiting to happen. Maybe have a contest for the local school kids to design the logo? As for increasing the number of signs, maybe they should ask the DOT,Dept. of Hwy Safety etc. how increasing the number of wayfinding signs can dramatically reduce the visibility and attention that people pay to important signs... like speed limits, yield, stop signs.





(Are there really that many idiots working for Walton County....)

On the very west end, the signage is very low key. But once you get into Dune Allen & further east, it becomes a nightmare of what signs are meant for which direction & for whom (i.e., cars/trucks or trail walkers/cyclists).

Very unmistakable crossings (PAINT) should be kept highly visible for both crossing 30A & even where neighborhoods & streets intersect. I stop before the trail coming out of my neighborhood & other roads, but so many people don't.

Also observing Seagrove yesterday, Scooterbug's suggestion of a line down the middle would at least let users of the trail with brains know that they shouldn't take up the whole trail all going in one direction. If it is to be used for both recreation and a means for getting from one place to another, simple guides should be in place. NOTE: I'm not saying signs along the road at all!!!!!

Regarding the community coming together on this, a map of the trail with rules of the use of it could be at TDC & even at rental agencies, bike shops, etc. Printed on recycled paper, of course!

the old signs were just right ! old friends welcoming you back (indigenous, organic, appropriate, not disneyish, not too many, a tradition and we have precious few...YOU GET THE PICTURE,

Yeah and the math on the new signs to be "Hurricane Proof" topped $200K
Old signs were $300 odd apiece (back when done)
Scenerio:
Hurricane comes through and wrecks 2 signs
cost to replace, $600

Even allowing for inflation its not $200k
and if a cane does blow through the signs wont be needed for a while co tourists wont be here til clean up is done

So the hurrican proof argument just an excuse to justify the $200 gov toilet seat price mentality

Sign Industrial Complex ?????

THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS --


Who exactly is foisting their sign madness onto 30-A. Who is this person or group of individuals behind this madness for real? It's not funny anymore.

The old wooden signs were a good fit, a really good fit. If you're that one person actually lost on 30-A while sober, I suggest you talk to someone - Isn't that part of what New Urbanism is about? Big porches, interactions with real people, ice cream.

WTF is going on in SoWal - Is this April 1st?

can someone else please post the lyrics?

It was a given, at least to me, when the signage was fought to be changed that whatever was ultimately decided on by the community, that no one particular sign was going to please everyone. But, the one thing that seems glaringly obvious is the fondness for the wood signs.

One thing I would ask is pleeeease do not put a line down the center of the bike path. I can see the need for signs on the trail for areas where cars cross or where safety is severly compromised, small mile markers as a convenience, even tasteful scenic corridor signage at select overlooks. But, a line in my opinion would be in opposition to what everyone is fighting for, and that is to preserve the natural look of 30-A.

I thought Beach Group used a beach ball in their logo?

I thought Beach Group used a beach ball in their logo?

Never mind. I just had a little help. Wow! I wish I would have thought of that.

Has this been decided on or is it just an idea? Why use an existing business/commercial logo? If we're going to use a private business logo, why not put it out for bid? You know, like other quasi-government projects, such as sports arenas like Qualcom Park or the FedEx Forum. It might help pay for the signs.

c'mon B...ya know the beach right?

Never mind. I just had a little help. Wow! I wish I would have thought of that.

That ball is big & plastic & sits in pier park....I often sit out there & openly weep. You know as well as I that Bad taste is timeless....so let's rock.
MORE KAHKI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The whole joint is gonna look like the DMV.
My suggestion is that with that we tag surfbords.
Get the Mickey hat back out dude.....this is anarchy.
Letterheadfonts.com has some of the old skool sign writers & is jfun to gawk at when your not at the girls of Maxim homepage.....yea;dont ask a crayola queer though...We'd give the beach back to those nasty, filthy birds & such.

That statute lies under a 300' footer

Yes, there will be too many signs, and this is only phase I. I suggested to paint most of the "safety" signs on the actual bike path, which reduces costs, clears the scenery of more than 100 signs and posts, and eliminates the possibility of any collision with those particular signs and posts which would now simply be paint on the pavement.

What about those phonebooks......I mean I found a way to make sona-tube waterproof & harder than concrete itself.
Colorful phonebook poles........

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/30a_1546___article.html/signs_hitting.html

Signs will more than likely be going up on County Road 30A next month – but not the kind you might think.
Walton County in correlation with the Friends of 30A group has contracted Signtek Llc. to create fabricated wayfinding, safety and mile marker signs for the Timpoochee bike trail.
The Glatting Jackson group was hired for community planning and design.
Phase one of a two part sign project is estimated to cost $160,000 and be completed in July, although no date has been tentatively set for completion. Phase two is still being discussed as to what will be included and what the approximate cost would be.
“We anticipate getting them to the county in mid-July,” said Signtek head Kim Sutton. “Unfortunately we can’t give an exact date. We stopped the project for a short time for the community to respond and look at the drawings.”
Sutton said many have had concerns that there will be too many signs along the road, but noted many will be removed when the new ones go up.
“Certainly as many, if not more signs, will be removed as put up,” he said. “It’s going to create a really cohesive environment.”
Commissioner Cindy Meadows, who has worked on the project from the start, said some of the new Timpoochee signs will feature historical and educational facts and some will list trail etiquette.
Last year, the South Walton Tourist Development Council spent $260,000 on wayfinding and community signs. The community signs were removed last month after controversy arose over their design.
The current blue wayfinding signs that are in place on 30A are scheduled to be removed when a new design is created, but according to Sutton, the new signs are still in the design stage.
“Right now we’re trying to assist the county in making use of the old signs,” he said.
“We’re either trying to sell them or repaint and reface them for some other use.”

Yes, there will be too many signs, and this is only phase I. I suggested to paint most of the "safety" signs on the actual bike path, which reduces costs, clears the scenery of more than 100 signs and posts, and eliminates the possibility of any collision with those particular signs and posts which would now simply be paint on the pavement.

This is the first chance I've had to read this thread since returning from M.D. Anderson so I am late in seconding this suggestion for the bike trail. I cross the Timpoochee Trail every time I leave and return to my residence. It is already difficult to see all the vehicle and bike trail traffic. I can only imagine what all the posts and signs will do to already limited visability. Once again, a really good suggestion, SJ. I only can hope some will listen and take note.

Sorry all. I guess I'm getting senile or something. I said basically the same thing on 6/15/08 BEFORE we went to Houston. It still holds true, however.

All I have to add is, as a new resident, I think the blue signs degrade the integrity of the area, thus the integrity of the locals! I think it makes our area look like a laughing stock. Looking at the signs from behind is a nightmare! The new proposal is not much better and the number of signs will make 30-A look like a trailor park!

The other day my daughter was going to Watercolor Publix, I asked her if she knew how to get there and she laughed at me and said "Mom, how can anyone get lost in this area?" I agree....do we think tourists are stupid?? A few simple signs giving the name of the beach you are in is all that is needed.

Has this been decided on or is it just an idea? Why use an existing business/commercial logo? If we're going to use a private business logo, why not put it out for bid? You know, like other quasi-government projects, such as sports arenas like Qualcom Park or the FedEx Forum. It might help pay for the signs.

Surely the Realtor's logo has been tossed out? Can we get anyone official to tell us what's up?

I don't mind the new design, but the sheer number of signs is a bit much.

After viewing the bike traffic lately (brains are definitely not a prerequisite for biking) I am most definitely in favor of bike stop signs, but there are so many extraneous signs.