City considers Enumclaw gateway monument sign along SR 410

Members of the Enumclaw Design Review Board and Planning Commission may have had a little more fun then usual Thursday. The members began considering designs and placement for an Enumclaw Gateway Monument sign.

Members of the Enumclaw Design Review Board and Planning Commission may have had a little more fun then  usual Thursday. The members began considering designs and placement for an Enumclaw Gateway Monument sign.

Presenting some design options and a review of the monument sign possibilities was Matt Mathes from Mathes Urban Design with a business office in Bellevue.

Community Planning Director Erika Shook told the members the budget for design, planning and construction is $20,000, which has been funded in the 2012 city budget.

The plan and hope is to get the sign completed before the July 2013 Enumclaw centennial celebration.

“This is a very good thing for civic pride and it showcases the beautiful city we have,” Shook said.

The members looked over about 50 examples of signs from around the region, and placed a sticker on the one each liked best.

A few of the thoughts were to make sure the sign was easy to read and represents materials from the Plateau.

Jeff Dahlquist, a member of the Planning Commission, said the sign may be a catalyst for the “way finding system for town.”

The proposed location is in the city right-of-way on the northbound side of state Route 410 at the intersection of Warner Avenue.

A few of the notes about the location provided in the documentation is there are about 11,000 to 14,000 average daily trips on the highway each day and it is the heaviest traveled route for the first time visitors.

Following the presentation, Mathes said the next step is to develop a conceptual sign based on what was discussed at the meeting.

The city will post the design concept on the website for feedback from the public.

The plan is to bring back results and the design to Design Review Board July 26.

Once approved by the board, the sign proposal will be presented to the City Council.