Should Lafayette Entrance Signs Be Replaced?

The city of Lafayette has begun the process of replacing the three entrance signs on the two edges and in the middle of town.

The City Council this week directed city staff to come up with designs and cost estimates. Right now, $80,000 is budgeted for the three new signs.

The current signs were put in 30 years ago. They are located at the western entrance at Acalanes Road and Highway 24, in the center of town at the end of the Oak Hill Road eastbound off-ramp and on the eastern end at Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Carol Lane.

A city staff report says the three current signs are in disrepair and need replacing.

The report recommends keeping the western and central signs in their current location. It suggests moving the eastern sign closer to Pleasant Hill Road.

The report recommends using Corten steel letters to spell out "Lafayette" against a background of yellow cedar planks. The typeset would match the main sign at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.

The more modern design doesn't sit well with some people in town.

The Acalanes Valley Homeowners Association has sent City Hall a letter, saying the new design is "too stark and cold looking." They suggested it would be better suited in front of a large corporate office building.

Another resident emailed, asking if the proposal was a joke. In jest, he suggested putting up three five-story neon signs that are lit 24-7 instead.

The city has received other emails in support. They say the new signs would be consistent with the "semi-rural character" of Lafayette. They add the design is similar to some of the newer signs seen on businesses in the city.

An artist's rendering of the proposed new sign is included with this article.

What do you think? Time to replace signs? Should new signs be a different design that the current signs?

Let us know in the comments section.