More signs to help 'Find Fallbrook'

Twenty-two members of the Fallbrook community met at the Community Center February 26 for a presentation from the Gateways and Wayfinding Committee of the Fallbrook Area Visitors Bureau (FAVB).

Representing FAVB were Don McDougal and Jerri Patchett, chair of the committee. Audience members included representatives from the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, Village Association, Downtown Merchants, Fallbrook Music Society, Design Review Board, Village Association and the Fallbrook Planning Group. A handful of residents were also present.

A PowerPoint presentation highlighted steps taken thus far to achieve the committee’s Phase 2 objectives, which provide for signs to be located at four major directional points in Fallbrook; a Style Guide for use of its “Find Fallbrook” logo, which depicts a silhouette of a large tree; the potential for a mural on which “coming events” banners can be displayed; and specifics relating to a Visitor’s Information kiosk to be located in the Village Square.

Phase 1, which is completed, covered identity and logo design. Phase 3, the signage permitting process, and Phase 4, land lease agreements, finding additional funding and, finally, construction and installation, are to come.

A grant of $50,000 in county community development funds has paid for Phase 2; however, further funding will be needed to complete the project. While additional funding will be necessary, the cost of constructing the southern gateway is in place. A donation by the Rotary Club of Fallbrook to commemorate the 2005 centennial of Rotary International will cover its cost.

Phase 2 will be reviewed by the Design Review Board on March 14. Pending their approval, the presentation then goes to the Fallbrook Planning Group for consideration on March 19. Once approved, two significant obstacles remain: working through the county permit maze and fundraising for project completion. Motivational Systems, Inc. of San Diego, which finalized the logo, will implement the project through construction.

A variety of sign implementation configurations were presented, including banners, cut metal and sandblasted, all depicting the “Find Fallbrook” text and tree logo. Other signs placed at strategic locations use arrows to direct navigation to principal Visitor Information areas, including the Village Square where the kiosk will be located and the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce. When asked who decides placement of signage, Patchett said all wayfinding signs will be positioned to conform with county, planning group and Design Review board guidelines.

Patchett and McDougal explained in detail how businesses can use the Style Guide along with its palette of colors to enhance their own signage. Copies of the guide will be given to all local sign painters to make use of its contents easy for business owners. Business owners will not be permitted to erect signs that appear to be “Find Fallbrook” signs but in reality direct customers to their storefront, said McDougal. Regardless of sign design, all signage in Fallbrook must comply with Design Review Board regulations and be presented to the board for approval before the signs can be erected, said Eileen Delaney, representing the Fallbrook Planning Group.

Although it is not part of the signage/gateways/wayfinding plan, says Patchett, the committee is in negotiation for a centrally located mural depicting a Fallbrook landscape on which banners advertising coming events may be placed. If approved, plans for the mural call for it to be placed on the wall of Joe’s Hardware at the intersection of Fallbrook Street and Main Avenue.

Of great interest to the assembled group was the content of the Visitor’s Information kiosk planned for the Village Square. A large map of the general downtown area showing the location of all buildings, businesses, public restrooms and meeting venues will be located on the west side of the kiosk. It will be updated at six-month intervals. Signage for the remaining three sides has not been specifically resolved; however, a stylized “Visitor Information” sign using the “Find Fallbrook” tree logo will likely be placed in at least two of the locations. In addition, a moveable cart stored in the kiosk will display brochures that direct visitors to Fallbrook points of interest.

According to Patchett, volunteers have come forward to move the cart out of the kiosk each day and return it to its storage place at night. Some of the brochures already chosen for display include the FAVB visitor’s guide, the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce Tourism Guide, a walking map, an historical site map and a dining and restaurant guide. Other organizations planning brochures for the kiosk include the Music Society, Gem & Mineral Museum, Land Conservancy and Art in Public Places. Brochures for individual businesses will not be permitted for display. Further, all brochures will be of uniform size, said Rhonda Reinke, FAVB board member and downtown merchants representative who is obtaining brochure printing estimates.

Completion of Phase 2 with its sign and kiosk implementation will commence as soon as the Fallbrook Planning Group has approved the plan.