Williamsburg Neighborhood Signs Project

On September 19th, 2000, we requested that neighborhood signs be a project for the Fall 2000 NCAC funding round. (This small project is routinely funded soon after a new Neighborhood Conservation plan is accepted; is does not count as one of our "big four" priority projects.) In accordance with Recommendation 47 in the Williamsburg Conservation Plan, we asked for two small signs and two large signs, to be placed in the following locations:

• The traffic triangle at the junction of Little Falls Road, Kensington Street and Yorktown Boulevard
• The median at the corner of Sycamore and 26th Street
• The median at the corner of Williamsburg Boulevard and John Marshall
• The Williamsburg Traffic Circle, at a location to be determined.

Working in collaboration with Chris Shaheen from the County Staff, we came up with three design concepts:

• One based on the outline of a tree (reflecting our concern with saving and improving neighborhood trees and parkland).
• One based on the Governor's palace in Williamsburg of Colonial Days.
• One based on a panorama of flowering plants.

At the November 2000 Williamsburg Civic Association meeting, we voted (narrowly) in favor of the Governor's palace. Members also stated they wanted our signs to say "established 1951."

At a WCA meeting on January 23, 2001, members discussed colors for our signs but were not able to come to any decision. They recommended NCPC Chairman Ellen Jones appoint a task force to develop a suggestion and bring it to the WCA at its meeting on February 27. At that time, the membership would vote on a final color concept. Four people volunteered to serve on the task force, which is chaired by Ann Lunson.

The task force met on February 5 to review the Cylex color samples. They also had the full-sized mockup prepared by Chris Shaheen for the January 23 meeting. The task force spent a good deal of time discussing colors and whether the sign should be multicolored or monochromatic (tone-on-tone). They decided to develop one concept for each scheme so WCA members would have two choices to vote on at the February 27 meeting. The task force chose "Kunstlers" as the font for the script on the signs. The task force also had several suggestions about the drawing, and one task force member volunteered to do a revised sketch for the next meeting of the task force.

The task force met for a second time on February 15. Chris Shaheen also attended. The group discussed colors for the sign itself. They decided a light beige background (S-3, Stone White) would be best for a multicolored sign. For the monochromatic sign they made 3 choices, and Chris agreed to call Cylex to see which of the 3 they recommended. Those choices were, in order of preference:

1. Rust (C206)
2. Pinto (C210)
3. Grey (C208)

Chris also agreed to do a computer generated color sketch for the group to review at its next meeting.

At Chris's request, the task force reviewed the locations for the signs which were proposed at the November 17 meeting. WCA has requested 1 large and 3 small signs. Chris suggested 3 changes in location:

• Little Falls & Kensington: A large sign was originally proposed for the traffic island. There are some safety concerns relating to visibility if we site the sign here. It is probable that the sign would have to be a small one. After some discussion, the task force suggested a small sign be place in the median where Yorktown Boulevard becomes Little Falls Road. This will be a more visible location and will be seen by larger numbers of people because Yorktown Boulevard is more heavily traveled from the traffic light to this intersection than is Little Falls Road.

• Sycamore Street: A small sign was originally proposed for the median at Sycamore & 26th Streets. This location is not within our boundaries but is actually located in Arlington-East Falls Church. This location was originally suggested as a site because there is no raised median on Sycamore between 26th Street and the Williamsburg traffic circle. Again, there is a concern about visibility, especially since children from Tuckahoe Elementary School use the crosswalk there. Chris suggested we place a large sign at the traffic circle, facing Sycamore. This is a natural gateway for traffic coming up Sycamore. The task force agreed this is a more favorable location given the concerns about the original site.

The task force recognizes that the new neighborhood sign will block the view of the old sign commemorating the beautification of the traffic circle in the early 1960s by the civic association, local businesses and the woman's club. Chris suggested this sign could be relocated. If WCA approves placing a large sign on the traffic circle facing Sycamore, Ann Lunson agreed to contact the woman's club to see if they would object to a sign's being erected here and to get their input on what to do about the old sign. Ann agreed to contact the owner of the barber shop, also. His is the only business from the original group that is still located in the neighborhood.

• Powhatan Street: Originally, a small sign was proposed for the small traffic island (containing the cherry tree) facing the Williamsburg Blvd. traffic approaching the traffic light. If we use a large sign in the circle, this small sign could be used somewhere else. Chris suggested it be located on Powhatan Street near the pump house. It could be placed in the swale between the curb and sidewalk. Since this is adjacent to county property, it will not inconvenience homeowners who don't want a sign in front of their houses. The task force agreed this location would work.

Williamsburg & John Marshall: A small sign was proposed for the median of Williamsburg Blvd. at John Marshall Drive. There is no raised median at Kensington Street where our boundary begins. Chris thinks this location will work well, and this location was left unchanged.

Chris suggested that the change in locations be discussed and approved by the membership at the February 27, 2001meeting.

After the 15 February task force meeting, Chris Shaheen checked with Cylex, and they recommend Pinto for a monochromatic sign.

The task force met for a third time on February 21 to review Chris Shaheen's computer-generated color sketch. The task force still was not happy with the drawing or the colors. One of the members had done a color version which the other task force members liked better than the computer-generated sketch. The color version was delivered to Chris Shaheen on February 23rd, along with a list of questions concerning how much detail can be incorporated into the sign. He indicated that fine details in the windows and door probably will not be possible.

At the WCA meeting on February 27th, members were asked to choose between the multicolored and monochromatic concepts. Members selected, with reservations, the multicolored concept. Meeting participants voiced the following concerns:

• The bright primary colors used on the Ashton Heights sign are "too garish." We would prefer more muted colors, in keeping with the "Williamsburg" look.
• Members want a "tasteful" sign we can be proud of. This goes back to the concern about what kinds of colors Cylex will use.
• How light can Cylex make the sign material? Sample C204, Beige, seems a little dark for a multicolored sign. We like the color of Sample S-3, Stone White.

Participants at the February 27th. 2002 WCA meeting also reviewed the revised list of locations for the signs. Members approved the new locations, as follows:

• Yorktown Boulevard/Kensington Street/Little Falls Road intersection. A small sign in the median facing Yorktown Boulevard.
• Williamsburg Traffic Circle. A large sign facing Sycamore Street. (The Williamsburg Woman's Club of Arlington has no objection to the County's relocating the existing sign if that is necessary. None of the businessmen who participated in the original beautification project are left at the shopping centers.)
• Powhatan Street. A small sign near the pump house in the grassy area between the curb and sidewalk (visible as you enter the neighborhood from Fairfax County).
• Williamsburg Boulevard & John Marshall Drive. A small sign in the median.

The project suffered a setback in the spring when Chris Shaheen, county staff liaison for our project, left his position for a job in DC.

On June 28, the task force met with Tom Hutchings, Capital Projects Coordinator, to get the project completed. At that meeting, we obtained input from Cylex (company that makes the signs) about how the signs are made, color choices available, and degree of detail possible on signs.

At the WCA meeting on July 17, members reviewed a color sample based on a portion of the drawing for our sign. The task force members felt the colors were appropriate and recommended they be approved. Cylex recommended the beige background. Tom Hutchings was informed on July 18 that the colors were acceptable.

On August 2, Cylex's graphics designer faxed completed drawings for WCA's final review. The task force felt their concerns about the amount of detail possible on the signs, the placement of the dormers, and the size of the small trees had been addressed. Cylex also added "Est. 1951" as requested by the WCA membership. On August 8, the task force gave Tom Hutchings approval to initiate a purchase order for WCA's neighborhood signs.

The signs arrived in October 2001 and were installed in December 2001. The County added landscaping in April 2002. The three small signs will each get a planting of liriope. The large sign on the Williamsburg Traffic Circle was given a more elaborate planting of Yoshino Cherry trees, holly, spirea, and liriope.

• For a copy of the landscape plan for the large sign on Williamsburg Circle, click here.
• For a copy of the planting concept for the Williamsburg Circle sign, click here.
• For more information: The signs committee chair is Ann Lunson (703-536-9282).

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