Village of Cumberland staff will look for more locations for a welcome sign after council expressed worries about a lack of visibility for the three options presented last week.
According to a Village staff report, the recommended location for an entrance sign was at the southwest corner of where Union Road meets Cumberland Road.
The steep slope on the south side of Cumberland Road, just west of the on ramp to the Inland Island Highway was another option presented, and the third was at the southwest end of the wetlands on Cumberland Road, across from the industrial area.
All three sites had pros and cons listed, which can be found in Monday’s council meeting agenda at www.cumberland.ca.
The staff report also noted the north side of Cumberland Road offers limited areas for a sign, pointing to the presence of industrial businesses and their associated signage, access roads and fencing.
Coun. Kate Greening said she would like to see a sign in a more visible location for tourists coming through the area.
“Who are we welcoming? All the people that already live here,” she said, as she explained nobody would see the sign until they’ve already made the decision to come into Cumberland. “I mean, I don’t see the point of spending money on a sign that’s that close to town if it’s not actually trying to attract people to come off the highway and turn left into Cumberland.”
She suggested a sign that is visible from the Inland Island Highway.
Council voted in favour of a Greening motion to have staff look for further information on locations and costs for a welcome sign.
A budget of $35,000 has been allocated to the project, coming from the Downtown Enhancement amenity funds. The budget is expected to include hiring a design professional to create the sign at a later date.
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