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Sandy council reviews plans for new entrance signs and downtown banners
Summary
Council members discussed new, more visible entrance signs and a refreshed banner program (tagline ideas included 'Gateway to Mount Hood'), flagged ODOT right-of-way rules as a constraint, and asked staff to pursue conceptual design work and coordination with landowners and ODOT.
Council members and staff on Monday discussed a plan to replace or add prominent entrance signs and to redesign downtown banners to improve wayfinding and market the city to visitors.
The proposal presented by a council member emphasized a “Sandy-style” look combining stone, timber and wrought iron and suggested using a replaceable center panel so taglines or seals can be updated. “Our entrance signing could be better,” the presenter said, asking for council input on materials, locations and a possible tagline such as “Gateway to Mount Hood.”
Why it matters: council members said better signs and a coordinated banner program could make the city easier for drivers to recognize, help visitors find downtown amenities and support local businesses that rely on passing traffic. Staff and council flagged several constraints that will shape any final design: signs placed in highway right-of-way must meet Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) standards (including breakaway or reduced-mass materials tied to posted speed zones) and some preferred locations may be on private property requiring landowner permission.
Council members suggested focusing on large, well-lit markers at primary entry points rather than small plaques that drivers will miss at 45–55 mph. One council member suggested siting an entrance marker near the Tractor Supply area on private land, and staff said they will verify whether that land is available and what ODOT will permit in adjacent rights-of-way.
Council and staff also discussed banners for the downtown core and mixed views about imagery: multiple speakers favored simple, replaceable graphics rather than busy photographs so motorists can read and process banners in a fraction of a second. Staff recommended hiring a landscape architect and marketing firm to produce conceptual options and mock-ups before moving to fabrication and installation.
What’s next: council directed staff to scope a conceptual design contract, check property access and ODOT permitting requirements, and return with recommended locations and cost estimates before approving construction funds.
