Exhibit D Sign Guidelines.pdf

Sign Guidelines for Outgrant, Cost Share and Commercial Concessions on Corps Projects

EP 310-1-Sa 01 Jun 06

This section is provided as a reference for project managers, Real Estate Division and others who are responsible for reviewing leases. These include other nonfederal government agencies, nonprofit groups and commercial vendors who are operating facilities on Corps projects.

Because Corps projects are public lands, the Corps should monitor maintenance, visual and aesthetic content to assure that the intended design is kept at a high standard of quality.

When signs are placed on Corps projects by lessees, they should be placed in a way that conforms to the visual uniformity and communicative intent of the Corps Sign Standards program.

These guidelines are intended for both commercial, for-profit leases as well as public, nonprofit leases. Regardless of the type of agreement (cost share, leased concession or for other outgranted lands), the goal is to foster placement of signs on leased property that communicate effectively, are appropriate to the natural setting and are well-made and main tained.

These guidelines are not intended to place undue hardship on lessees, either commercial, nonprofit or other nonfederal government agency.

At the same time, rt is recognized that the Corps does not have the resources to ensure that signs on leased premises will conform in all respects to the sign standards for Corps controlled land.

Accordingly, the following sections are intended as guidelines for plan review purposes rather than as absolute stan dards.

Types of Facilities The various types of facilities where signs may appear include, but are not limited to:

Public/Nonprofit Facilities

- State parks

- County parks

- Municipal parks

- Federal lands and parks

- Wildlife management areas

- Conservation areas

- Historical sites

Semiprivate/Nonprofit Facilities

- Private campgrounds (church, YMCA, scouts, etc.)

- Organized sports (Little League, soccer clubs, etc.)

Commercial Areas and Concessions

- Restaurant

- Grocery store

- Gas station

- Tackle shop

- Sporting goods

- Marina

- Boat docks

- Marine services

- Guide services

Commercial Recreation Facilities

- Trailer parks

- Commercial campgrounds

- Amusement parks

- Winter sports facilities

- Rental cabins

- Lodges

Other

- Utility company facilities

EXHIBIT “D”

SIGN GUIDELINES

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EP 310-1-6a 01 Jun 06

All identification and directional signs placed at a leased site should be of a common design. Each sign should have a single purpose, with legend easily legible, colors consistent and placed within the viewers' cone-of-vision . They should be well-constructed and properly maintained.

The general intent is to maintain visual uniformity, prohibit commercial clutter, encourage a high level of safety aware ness and quality signage that respects the surrounding environment and project setting . This is primarily accomplished by curtailing the use of commercialized advance directional signs, identifying commercial facilities in a generic manner, using natural materials and colors that are complementary to the setting and discouraging brilliant illumination of signs at night.

We also recognize the existence of words , names, symbols or designs that are used by the lessees and are recog nized as logos or as marks: trademarks, service marks, certification marks or collective marks. Lessees may also participate in franchises or chains which require certain "trade dress" or business images. The display of these marks is limited to identification or directional signs which identify the facility with adopted trademarks. Additional display of logos, posters or panels that advertise specific food , drink, recreation and vehicle products that are available at the aforementioned facility shall not be displayed on signs. It is important to note that this section deals with signs only.

Any other use of these marks is covered by the outgrant document.

In this section, general applications and guidelines are described by type of facility.

Roadway Signs All roadway signs will conform to appli cable federal standards (Section 9) .

Outgrant or Concession Sign Plan Prior to placement of any signs on leased property, the lessee must submit a complete sign plan for the proposed site as part of the overall development plan.

This will be an attachment to the lease instrument. The sign plan for leased areas is not intended to place an undue hardship on lessees and does not have to have the same level of detail as that prepared by the Corps for its own areas.

Principles and Guidelines

The sign plan should follow the guid ance provided in Section 3 and show the placement locations on site plans with attached documentation that describes:

legend content, graphic formats, size, material fabrication , construction details, and a schedule showing how and when the signs will be maintained .

Although the look of the signs may differ from the prescribed Corps format, the general sign type classifications and viewing standards should be similar to the basic principles and guidelines described in Section 2. All signs should have a single purpose: to identify, to direct, to inform, or to warn. They should not be overly wordy, should be sized appropriately for the surrounding land scape and should be placed for easy viewing.

The primary function of developing and maintaining a sign plan is to encourage the lessee to design, plan and implement an entire sign program, instead of placing an amalgam of different signs on a one at-a-time basis. The sign plan, like all preconstruction submittals, should be thorough enough to provide the Corps reviewer with the information needed to evaluate the plan effectively.

Lease Agreement All new leases or renewals to existing leases must include a sign plan as part of the initial development plan and a schedule for implementation .

New Lease The guidelines included in this section will be furnished to prospective lessees together with other lease requirements so they will have thorough knowledge of the requirements.

Existing Lease Upon renewal of the lease agreement, signs at existing leased sites, facilities or projects must be in compliance with these guidelines.

General Guidelines for Review and Approval of Sign Plans Because there are many different types of lease and cost share agreements possible, it is difficult to prescribe specific guidelines for all locations or applica tions. There are, however, some com mon sense principles that apply; most notably, "less is more. " Signage that is generic in character and appropriately sized will generally be just as effective in attracting the viewer as are signs that are large and highly commercial. Tastefully designed and well-executed signage at a concession that appears to be profes sionally managed will help maintain the quality of the area and attract customers.

Whether signs are to be located inside a self-contained commercial facility or on an established roadway, consideration for the aesthetic and safety features should be given to each sign proposal. Regard less of conditions off the project, signs on Corps projects should set high standards for design quality and respect for the visual environment.

Corps Management with Charge-Back Some projects have developed charge back mechanisms whereby the Corps installs and maintains all signs at a lessee's installation, either public or commercial; the lessee is then charged back for the cost of the signs, including administration fees and ongoing maintenance service as required .

This method helps to maintain the integrity of the Corps Sign Standards throughout the project. If these signs are purchased from established Corps suppliers, the cost to the lessee will be competitive with signs of equal quality purchased from local suppliers. The main advantage is that should the lease agreement be terminated, the Corps or new lessee will not be required to completely resign the facility prior to taking over responsibility for manage ment.

Conclusion Signage to be placed on leased areas should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and installations monitored to determine that design intent is met.

Questions or problems that arise in the process of implementing this guideline should be directed to the district Sign Program Manager.

Suggested Sign Criteria and Design Guidelines Suggested guidelines for signing the three basic types of facilities or areas under outgrant or commercial lease agreements are described in the following section.

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This example shows the identification of a state operated campground with the Corps Participation Credit sign placed along the entry road into the faci lity.

Suggested Sign Guidelines for Areas Managed by Local Government Entities

EP 310-1-Sa 01 Jun 06

This section includes state, county, municipal parks, wildlife management and conservation areas, and historical sites that are on Corps land and open to the public, but leased out to and managed by a nonfederal public government body.

Project Identification and the Use of Standard Agency Signs Agencies without their own sign stan dards may use the Corps Sign Standards or another system . The proposed signs should meet the general visual requ ire ments for sign format, legend cons is tency, visual acuity, and color as de scribed in Principles and Guidelines, Section 2 of th is manual. The signs should be visual ly appropriate to the site , well-crafted, and made of durable materials. Signage should be visually cons istent throughout the leased areas.

Refer to Section 5 for appropriate identification signs.

Roadway Directional Signs All directional signs on project lands outs ide leased areas will be made part of the overall Corps project sign plan. Cost sharing and implementation of directional signs with lessees will be made part of the lease agreement on a site-by-site basis and are the Corps responsibi lity.

On Approach and Project Roadway Directional signs, facil ities will be identified generically. For placement guidel ines, refer to page 2-6 and Section 6.

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EP 310-1-Sa

This illustration shows a forma l entry portal identify ing a large Boy Scout Camp with the Corps Participation Credit sign placed along the entry road for viewing once drivers enter the facility.

Suggested Sign Guidelines for Semiprivate, Nonprofit Facilities

This includes campgrounds and recreation facil ities leased to churches, YMCA's, Boy Scouts, Li ttle Leagues and other nonprofit groups for their program activities.

These types of faci lities wil l generally require minimal signage because of lim ited access by the general public.

Where appropriate, the Corps Sign Standards may be adopted.

Project Identification Signs If a lessee or cooperating sponsor elects to use a facility identification sign of their own design, the overall size, material and mounting methods should be similar in character to Corps Sign Standards. A Corps Participating Credit sign as shown on pages 5-18 and 5-19 shall be placed on the adjacent entry road.

If the Corps Standard Identification sign is used to identify this location, the format should follow the guidelines described in Section 5, page 5-2, example (c). This specifies that the facility shall be identified on the primary legend. The cooperative sponsor and its relat ionship to the project will be identi fied on the secondary legend. Another option is to use the Corps Identificat ion Sign with Partner Logo(s) in Section 5, which displays both the Corps and the partner's logo.

Roadway Directional Signs All directional signs on project lands outside leased areas will be made part of the overal l Corps project sign plan. Cost sharing and implementation of directional signs with lessees wil l be made part of the lease agreement on a site-by-s ite basis and are the Corps respons ibi lity.

On Approach and Project Roadway Directional signs, facilities wi ll be identified generically. For placement guidelines, refer to page 2-6 and Section 6.

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This section summarizes the signage principles for leased commercial areas such as marinas and commercial camp grounds, as well as for concess ions within a Corps recreation area including: tackle shops, snack bars, and marine services.

Commercial concessionaires will be responsible for their own sign installation.

The basic principles as described in Section 2 of th is manual should be followed, but the signs should be of their own design.

Individual concessions within a Corps managed location such as a tackle shop or snack bar that adjoins a multipurpose recreation site should be identified generica lly and may use Corps Sign Standards for all applicable ancillary signs. These include parking and no parking, traffic, safety and symbol signs and incorporate all mounting and material specifications as shown in the manua l.

All directional signs on project lands outside the leased areas will be made part of the overall Corps project sign plan; cost sharing and implementation of directional signs with lessees wi ll be made part of the lease agreement on a site-by-site basis and are the Corps respons ibi lity.

Commercial Identification Sign Standards Identification of any commercial insta lla tion within a Corps project shou ld be made in direct proxim ity to the facility as a ground-mounted sign adjacent to the entranceway or structure. Ideally, these signs are placed on double-face sign panels mounted perpendicular to the sight-lines of approaching viewers.

Main identification signs should be designed and sized to meet the objective of providing adequate information to the public with the least possible disturbance of the environment along the road and with no interference with highway safety and operation. The sign should be of a sim pie design that is appropriate to the environment. Basic guidelines for size and placement of signs at a commercial faci lity on a Corps project are described below (for service stations see the special guidelines provided in this section).

Suggested Sign Guidelines for Commercial Services and Concessions

EP 310-1-6a 01 Jun 06

Interior Project Roads Maximum 24 square feet per side and nol exceeding 8 feet in one dimension:

each face should be the same size and shape .

Two Lane Roads with Posted Speed Limit 35 mph or greater: maximum 32 square feet per side and not exceeding 8 feet in one dimension; each face shall be lhe same size and shape.

Four Lane Roads and Highways Maximum 48 square feet per side and not exceeding 10 feet in one dimension;

each face shal l be the same size and shape.

Location Main entrance signs are generally placed perpendicular to the approaching viewer and immediately adjacent to the entry to the facility. If the sign is located with in a roadside zone, it must not create a visual hazard which wi ll interfere with safety, visibi lity or operation of highway or entrance road . Any sign located within the public right of way will require approval from the government jurisdic tion responsible .

Within a leased area, signs may be attached to buildings but ground-mounted signs in the front of the faci lity are preferred.

All main entrance signs are to be permanently affixed. No trailer-mounted or removable signs are allowed.

Top of Signs Signs should generally be mounted low to lhe ground, with a recommended height to base above grade level to be between 36"-54" Top of signs should not exceed 14 feet unless prevai ling snow condit ions requ ire that the sign be mounted higher.

Wording Information is confined to the name and type of business, special service or facility. Lessees are not to post any signs that include logotypes or advertis ing of commercial products such as soft drinks, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, sports equipment, etc.

Lettering See recommended legend size chart on page 2-6.

Color Panels shou ld be appropriate lo the environment; providing adequate visibi lity without garishness. Suggested options include weathered redwood or cedar sign panels or enamels in muted colors or natural earth tones with lettering of sufficient contrast for good legibil ity.

Lighting Internally il luminated signs are discour aged. Retroreflective letters are permit ted. Externally illuminated or indirect lighting is permitted when adequate visibil ity cannot be obtained by use of retroreflective letters or background. If possible, the light source should be concea led.

Lamps mounted on mast-arms create a cluttered looking sign assembly. It's also difficult to control over glow and glare from this type of lighting assembly.

The preferred method for lighting a sign panel is using concealed ground mounted fixtures. This prov ides enough light wi thout glare or over glow.

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EP 310-1-6a

Signage for service stations and marine gas docks will be governed by the following special standards.

Identification The Corps may authorize the placement of one double-face company sign, mounted perpendicular to approaching traffic, within the service area. Where it is desirable from a public service standpoint, the gasoline brand name information or trademark may be displayed, but is limited to one sign as part of the identification. It is intended that the signs will be the usual type of brand symbol furnished by the oil companies. They may be indirectly lighted or internally illuminated. Gasoline pumps may be painted the usual com pany colors and may have the usual company markings.

Size and Mounting The size of oil company brand name identification signs will be no larger than 21 square feet per side. Double-face signs are permitted. Ground-mounted signs with a 36-54" height above grade level are preferable. Top of pole mounted signs shall not exceed 1 D feet above grade unless terrain and/or vegetation requires that the sign be mounted higher.

Suggested Sign Guidelines for Service Stations and Gas Docks

Lighting Flashing or neon lights will not be permitted. Floodlights used for illumi nating nighttime service areas must have a concealed light source to prevent overglow beyond the designated area and to keep from blinding approaching drivers or boaters.

Roadway Directional Signs All directional signs on project lands outside leased areas will be made part of the overall Corps project sign plan.

Cost sharing and implementation of directional signs with lessees will be made part of the lease agreement on a site-by-site basis and are the Corps responsibility.

On Approach and Project Roadway Directional signs, facilities will be identified generically. For placement guidelines, refer to page 2-6 and Section 6.

Multiple Facilities at One Location A difficult signing problem develops where more than one private concession is entered at a single approach. To reduce pressures for the "Venetian Blind" type of resort signs, the Corps should place approach roadway directionals near the entranceway giving motorists adequate information so that each individual concessionaire does not feel it necessary to make an individual state-ment at these locations.

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