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Orchard Valley seeks LED sign along 120 Bypass
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A rendering of what the new Orchard Valley sign with LED display would look like to travelers along the 120 Bypass. - photo by Rendering contributed

What could end up being Manteca’s most high profile sign is now going through the environmental review process.

Poag & McEwen is seeking permission to install a light emitting diode (LED) display billboard as part of a new sign for the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley at the 120 Bypass and Union Road.

It will involve removing the existing shopping center sign and replacing it with a 60-foot high sign that will include a LED display sign covering 694 square feet. The static electronic billboard will have an electronic display area of 14 feet and 3 inches high by 48 feet and 5 inches wide.

It would also encompass four double-sided tenant panels with two of those being Bass Pro Shops and JC Penney.

Poag & McEwen through Manteca Lifestyle Center LCC will enter into revenue sharing agreement with the City of Manteca for advertising on the LED electronic display.

The documents for the environmental review of the sign project are now available through the city with the comment period ending July 8.

It could be the first of at least two LED signs along the 120 Bypass.

Great Wolf Resorts, that is pursuing a possible 600-room hotel with conference center and indoor waterpark immediately west of Costco, has indicated they may seek approval of a LED sign as well.

 The technology is much different than 15 years ago when an investment firm obtained permission to put in a high-tech electronic message board on one of the Spreckels Park signs along Highway 99. After it was in place a number of residents in the El Rancho Mobile Home Park directly across the freeway complained the light still came into their homes even with drapes drawn.

LED lighting is much softer by comparison.  The design of the sign not only avoids stray light bothering nearby residents but it also meets strict Caltrans standards in regards to not being disruptive to motorists. It is similar to other LED signs along freeways such as Cal Expo in Sacramento and the Elk Grove Auto Mall on Highway 99.

Electronic message sign illumination and message rotation will comply with Caltrans safety standards. Caltrans bans message changes more frequent than every 10 seconds.

Under rules adopted by the Manteca City Council, there are only a few places such LED billboard signs could go in Manteca including south of the Highway 120 Bypass between Union Road and a point east of Main Street, the southern quadrants of the 120 Bypass and Airport Way interchange, along the 120 Bypass near the future McKinley Avenue interchange, the southwest corner of the Highway 99 and 120 Bypass interchange, the area that is now vacant between Highway 99 and the Northgate Drive/Main Street intersection, as well as on the northwest corner of the Lathrop  Road and Highway 99 interchange.