Residential Sign Committee
Members: The neighborhood sign committee shall consist of one member from each of the designated Westampton Township Neighborhoods: See Attachment ‘A’
Scope: The scope of the committee is to meet to determine the following:
- Have an approved plan by the Township Committee
- Provide a letter of commitment by the members of the sign committee to proceed with a neighborhood sign project.
- Selection of members who will be responsible for developing design concepts, determining locations for signs on Municipal property, and obtaining approval from the Township Committee on design and sign locations and final review and approval.
- Design concepts will consist of type of materials, dimensions of the sign, and quantity of signs designated to each neighborhood.
- Select a primary contact person to serve as a liaison between Township staff and the sign committee during the design process, which can take up to six months.
The process for obtaining neighborhood signs involves the following:
- Funding: Neighborhood sign projects must first be approved by the Township Committee. The funding process can take up to six months.
- Design: The design concept must keep consistency and uniformity for all of the developments.
- Fabrication: A sign manufacturer will complete design and fabrication based on design concepts.
- Installation: Township Zoning Office reviews sign locations and processes and approves sign permits; Department of Public Works installs the signs.
- Ongoing Maintenance: The Township of Westampton is responsible for ongoing maintenance of signs. Each association shall sign maintenance and landscaping pledge cards and request neighborhood volunteers to maintain signs and associated plantings.
- Meetings: Meetings shall be held at least monthly to provide adequate feedback to the Township Committee liaison
- Budget: The budget shall be the total cost of the signs for all the developments, or $25,000, whichever is less.
Once a sign project is funded, the sign committee works with the elected primary contact person to develop design and location options. Options for soliciting design ideas from residents may include a design competition through the Township newsletter, social media or web site. Sign locations usually serve as gateways to neighborhoods and shall be located on public property, such as grass strips, medians, nubs, traffic circles, and open spaces. If a proposed sign location is on the boundary of another property or neighborhood, concurrence the adjacent neighborhood must be obtained. The final sign design and locations must be approved by the Township Committee.
Prior to sign fabrication, Township engineering staff will review the sign locations for potential safety and visibility conflicts. Township zoning staff must also approve the sign locations. Once these reviews are completed, the signs can be ordered. Fabrication and shipping may take several months. Township Public Works staff will then install the signs.
If a sign is damaged, it is the responsibility of the neighborhood sign committee to notify Township staff. When notifying staff, the sign committee should provide the date/time frame when the damage occurred.
Sign Committee Maintenance Guidelines:
- Pick up and remove litter and debris from sign area.
- Trim or remove vegetation if blocking view of signs.
- Paint sign posts or supports if needed.
- Report graffiti, major damage to the sign, or other problems to the Township staff.