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Severance council discusses renaming town-owned stretches of Weld County roads, asks staff for sign mock-ups
Summary
Council and staff reviewed earlier resolutions naming county roads, debated whether to keep county names or add town branding (SEV/WCR), and directed staff to return with sign mock-ups and an approach to formalize changes by resolution.
At a Feb. 11 work session, the Severance Town Council reviewed options for renaming or re-signing roads the town owns or maintains, focusing on adding town identification while preserving county designations for emergency and wayfinding purposes. Town Manager Nick Wharton told the council staff had identified past resolutions that named certain intersections in 2009 and a 2019 resolution that renamed Weld County Road 74 to East Harmony Road and that some other numbered roads in and near town remain listed as Weld County Roads.
Wharton said staff explored several sign approaches, including adding a short town identifier (SEV) or Town of Severance (TOS) alongside the existing Weld County Road (WCR) number so both Severance and the county designation appear on signs and in databases. “We can put it in the database as both,” Wharton said, describing a combined “SEV / WCR 23” treatment intended to help drivers and emergency responders identify both the town-maintained status and the county road number.
Council members generally favored keeping numeric names for wayfinding but discussed adding a clear town identifier so residents and service providers can tell which agency maintains a road. Councilmember Dan Myers supported numbered streets for ease of navigation and also recommended including Severance identification to clarify maintenance responsibility for fees. Mayor Friess said he preferred “SEV” over “TOS” because the shorter term fits better on sign faces and is less likely to be misread. Several members asked staff to check how emergency services and outside responders would react and recommended phasing if changes are implemented so mapping systems and GPS have time to update.
Council also debated ways to honor families whose names were used in earlier resolutions. Members suggested companion plaques or separate dedication signs set back from the roadway so historical recognition remains even if the primary street signs change. Wharton said staff can present examples of both approaches.
Wharton told the council which roads are on staff’s list for possible change—Weld County Roads 21, 23, 76, 78 and 80—and said County Road 205 is not currently town-owned and should be removed from any town resolution. He noted one recently annexed roadway (Road 19, associated with BHS) also needs review.
The council directed staff to prepare sign mock-ups showing alternatives (SEV vs. “Severance” spelled out; use of a separator such as a dot, space or forward slash; and WCR labeling) and to consult emergency responders about any potential confusion. Wharton said staff expects to return with a formal resolution for a future council meeting (targeting the March 11 or March 25 agenda) to specify which roads would change and the proposed sign designs.
Wharton also noted the town is in the midst of a multi-year sign-replacement program and that a phased approach to swapping sign faces could reduce short-term disruption. The council requested that staff include sign sizes and an estimate of impacts on mapping/databases in the follow-up.
The council did not adopt any formal change at the Feb. 11 session; the matter was continued for staff to return with visual mock-ups and consultation results.
