New county sign bylaw would keep status quo for most part

After more than four years of public consultation and debate over roadside advertising signs in Peterborough County, a proposed new bylaw is being reviewed a final time by the townships — yet it maintains the status quo with few new requirements.

Selwyn Township council reviewed the proposed bylaw at a video conference meeting on Tuesday night and agreed that the new bylaw that allows the advertising signs ought to apply.

But the proposed bylaw “has a few improvements” meant to “modernize” the rules, building and planning manager Rob Lamarre told councillors at the meeting.

For instance, installing a sign that’s larger than 7.5 metres would require a building permit under the proposed new county bylaw. Additionally, any signs along a county roadway can be installed, but individuals will need a permit from the county to do so.

Some components of the bylaw would remain the same. For example, any sign in a settlement area — in Selwyn that would include Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Buckhorn, Burleigh Falls and Young’s Point — would need township approval, which has been the case all along.

During the meeting, there was no discussion or debate from council regarding the proposed bylaw.

The rural signs often hold smaller signs from local businesses, which advertise goods and services.

In December 2018, some Peterborough County staff expressed concerns that the signs aren’t aesthetically pleasing and recommended they be banned. Peter Nielsen, the county’s engineering and design manager, told council during the December meeting that many people felt strongly that the signs were an eyesore and said that was the predominant sentiment from residents when a survey circulated in 2017.

However, in January 2018, several business people approached council to inform them that the signs are their primary means of reaching potential customers.

In the previous bylaw that existed in 2018, Havelock-Belmont-Methuen and North Kawartha townships, as well as the Municipality of Trent Lakes, were the only municipalities in Peterborough County permitting these signs. Signs were prohibited on county road allowances in all five other county townships.

In 2018, a committee was struck to review the matter and came up with a draft bylaw that will soon go to county council.

The bylaw will essentially keep the signs and without doing anything to ban them.

Funded by the Government of Canada/ Financé par le Gouvernement du Canada.