Say ‘so long’ to those signs
Posted Mar 25, 2010 10:27:38 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A new sign bylaw approved by regional council will effectively ban mobile advertising signs from the side of major roads in the region. The bylaw was adopted in principle last night by a vote of 15-1, with councillor Sean Strickland the lone voice of dissension. He says the bylaw is part aesthetic appeal and part in keeping the region in line with individual municipal bylaws.
Under the new bylaw, business owners will have to move mobile signs back from the road and onto private property. Strickland says the region actually owns a portion of the property along the roadside for things like utilities or future road widening. But he tells 570 News the bylaw is interfering with a retailer’s ability to make a buck and he believes the government has gone too far. Strickland says retailers have to “hustle every day” to earn money, meet payroll, and pay taxes. He says the regional government should not be interfering with that and he admits to being concerned when governments “begin banning things.”
Strickland suggests there were better ways to work around the issue, such as implementing new safety rules regarding how close mobile signs could be placed to intersections. He says other controls could also be put in place such as limiting the times of year the signs can appear on a regional right-of-way. But aside from safety controls, Strickland says the region should butt out.
The new bylaw was approved in principle last night and Strickland expects it to be officially passed into law within a few months.
