The USSC Foundation attended the American Planning Association’s (APA) National Conference in April 2018, held in New Orleans, Louisiana. This annual event is instrumental for the Foundation, providing an opportunity for the Foundation to distribute the results of its sign research to planners on behalf of the sign industry.
The APA Conference creates a relaxed atmosphere where the Foundation can speak one-on-one with planning professionals from across the country. The USSCF’s goal for this year’s conference was to emphasize the USSCF’s Model Code, Guideline Sign Standards, and Guideline Sign Lighting Standards.
Twenty USSCF sign research projects have been completed since 1998. All of these publications were made available to planners either in printed form, on CD, or from the new USSC Foundation Web site.
The USSC Foundation sign research projects are held in high regard by planners. The USSCF’s Guideline Sign Standards have been included in the APA’s Street Graphics and the Law publication, starting in 2004.
Planning professionals play an important role in the sign regulation and sign code process. According to Richard Crawford, USSCF Board Member & Technical Adviser, “Their position directly affects the ability of sign owners, sign users and sign companies to manufacture and install effective on-premise signs. That includes what type of signs are permitted. The USSC Foundation’s motto “bringing science to sign regulation” describes the purpose of sign research, and the delivery of that research to the planning community.”
