EDC hears comprehensive wayfinding plan but tables action pending city council review

Consultant Travis Crow of Covey Planning and Lansing Parkitecture laid out a multi-layer wayfinding strategy for Lago Vista, saying the work would include an inventory of existing signs, community engagement, a family of sign designs (monument, vehicular, pedestrian and parking signs), mapping and an implementation cost estimate.

Crow told the Economic Development Corporation that consistent materials, fonts and scale would help market Lago Vista''its rolling hills, trails and lake access''and could support tourism and local business investment. He emphasized that the project should begin with a discovery phase and stakeholder engagement before moving to design and implementation costs.

The EDC pressed staff and the consultant on implementation details: which signs require TxDOT coordination, how permitting and construction documents would be handled, and whether the city would produce sign specifications enforceable in code. Crow said detailed construction documents and permitting guidance would be part of the implementation phase and that the consultant could provide construction administration if hired.

Several members raised the complication posed by large private property holdings managed by the POA, which control much waterfront access and some destination signage. One member urged early outreach to the POA to negotiate color-coding or cooperative standards that could make public and POA signs visually distinct but interoperable. City staff said simple solutions (color treatments in right-of-way signs) and partnership letters could reduce friction, but that many details would need to be resolved during public engagement.

Members also discussed funding options. City staff noted that hotel-occupancy-tax funds, shared budgets across departments and grants could offset design and implementation costs. Staff urged the EDC to narrow the project scope to produce more accurate cost estimates before soliciting proposals from firms on an existing RFQ list.

Because the EDC had not yet settled on a focused scope or a firm price, the body voted to table formal acceptance of the NSP wayfinding proposal until after the item is presented to the city council for direction on budgeting and policy. Secretary David Waller moved to table the NSP wayfinding proposal so council could weigh in; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

The EDC will revisit the item after council review, with staff and the consultant expected to return with a narrowed scope and cost estimates.