First gateway sign installed in Fallbrook

The sign of a new beginning took root last week in Fallbrook, but it was a long time coming. On Wednesday, Sept. 8, Vince Ross, president of the Fallbrook Village Association, welcomed Fifth District County Supervisor Bill Horn to take a look at the first sign installed in the Gateway and Way Finding Sign Master Plan for the town. Ross credited Horn for his support of the project by way of a $50,000 County grant three years ago for the purpose.

“We’re proud of this; it’s our first sign in the overall plan,” said Ross.

The site selected for the [first] sign was the northeast corner of South Mission Road and Clemmens Lane on property owned by Del Rey Avocado. The site is close to the junction of South Mission Road and South Main Avenue.

“[The site] worked out well because there was a wall there to start with,” explained Ross. “We were able to just reface it.”

The concrete wall was transformed into a work of art with a stucco-coated center on which metal letters reading “Est. 1869 – Fallbrook Historic Downtown Next Right” were affixed along with a silhouette of a tree. To the left and right of the verbiage, flagstone veneer was applied. Pillars give it the look of an entrance.

Ross explained that the gateway and way finding sign project is designed to promote business and guide tourists, hopefully leading to a prosperous result.

“We wanted visitor-friendly signs directing motorists to destinations and visitor’s information,” he added. Ross also said the goal was to do it in a tasteful manner.

“In addition to providing directions, we wanted to design signage that would reflect our community character,” said Ross.

The work to design and construct the first sign was given to Jim’s Signs and Janikowski Construction.

“We experienced a lot of delays with the County on this, because of the existing ordinance,” admitted Ross. “I think we went through design review five or six times.”

Ross said the difficulties with the County were undoubtedly because the unincorporated town of Fallbrook is forging the way on plans like this.

“I don’t know of another [unincorporated] community in the county trying to do this,” he said.

A team of individuals that serve on the board of the Fallbrook Village Association worked on the project, Ross said.

“This project has required many hours of volunteer work from our talented team of board members – Jerri Patchett, Don McDougal, Craig Grimm, and Gordon Tinker.”

Ross said a limited amount of funds remain to provide for more way-finding signs to be constructed in the near future.

“The County is in the process of revising its sign ordinance that would assist the Village Association’s master plan,” said Ross.

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