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West Chester selects Option 1 for Phase 2 wayfinding signs; Uptown Performing Arts Center seeks inclusion in future directional signage
Summary
The committee chose Option 1 (borough‑flag based design) for Phase 2 entrance wayfinding signs, discussed materials and vandalism resistance, and heard public comment from Uptown Performing Arts Center asking to be included in future directional signage; directional signage is not part of Phase 2 and has no set timeline.
The West Chester Parking Committee took up funding and design for Phase 2 of the borough's wayfinding project and reached consensus on a sign design while reserving directional signage for a later phase.
Staff presented three sign designs for entrance wayfinding. The recommended choice, Option 1, is based on the borough flag with front‑and‑back panels; staff said Option 2 (which includes the year 1799) looked like an address and could be confusing when driving, and Option 3 was a darker, more ornate downtown style that staff worried might be obscured during holidays. After review, staff recommended Option 1 and the group reached consensus on that design.
A public commenter, Laurie Waddy, identifying herself as a board member of the Uptown Performing Arts Center, asked that Uptown be considered in the wayfinding project and said she personally liked the existing signs and questioned the need to spend money on replacements. Waddy said, “As a private citizen, I would comment on what was just presented, and I personally like the existing signs.”
Committee members said the objective of Phase 2 is to update entrance signs to match recently installed parking signage and to create cohesive borough branding; staff cautioned that adding private businesses to borough signs should follow an internally approved policy before non‑borough entities are included. Staff clarified that directional signage (signs directing drivers to courthouse, Uptown Theater, hospital, university, etc.) is not part of Phase 2 and would be considered in a later phase (Phase 3 or 4) with consultant Merge; no timeline was set for that work.
Committee members and a resident also discussed materials and coatings to reduce graffiti damage. One resident recommended an alkyd or enamel/lacquer coating so that graffiti remover would not strip letters; staff noted public works regularly removes graffiti and that repeated cleaning can cause sign fading.
The committee approved the Phase 2 recommendation by consensus; staff will proceed with procurement steps and bring implementation details back to the committee.
