Council says no to LED signs in downtown
A look at some city council happenings this week…
Digital advertising sign a no-go downtown
St. Catharines won’t be allowing digital LED signs on its downtown buildings any time soon.
Councillors narrowly rejected a two-year pilot project which would have allowed an LED third-party advertising sign on the side of 142 St. Paul Street.
Under the city’s current bylaws, signs with video screens or electronically animated images are not allowed in the city. As well, third-party signs are not permitted except on vacant lands where there is no other development.
Building owner 2400795 Ontario Inc. applied for a sign bylaw variance to allow a sign on the exterior wall of 142 St. Paul Street facing the pedestrian Rankin Bridge. The sign would not cover up historic paintings on the wall.
Sharvin Keshavarznia, president of 2400795 Ontario Inc. property management, said in a letter to the city that the sign would serve as prime advertising space because it would be at eye level for pedestrians walking down St. Paul Street or into the Meridian Centre.
He added the sign could be used by the city to promote shows and games at its attractions and would help St. Catharines further its reputation that it’s “on trend and developing with the times.”
The application was denied by city staff, citing it did not meet provisions of the sign by-law.
The owner appealed the decision but also submitted a twoyear pilot project proposal. Both the appeal and the pilot project were before council Monday.
St. Patrick’s Coun. Mat Siscoe said a lot of work went into crafting the city’s sign bylaw but over the course of time signs in North America have changed.
He said a pilot project would give the city an opportunity to examine some of those changes, which have happened in many other downtowns, and see if they can be implemented here.
“It allows us to take control of that sign bylaw and be very clear to the community — we’re trying something in a very small concentrated area and if it works, maybe we’ll look at changes and if it doesn’t work, we’ll step back,” he said.
Siscoe added if there’s an area of the city where that type of sign would be appropriate, it would be the downtown.
But fellow ward Coun. Mark Elliott said when the bylaw was created the community decided it was not going to embrace the intrusion that LED signs create.
“The reality is it’s not something we want to see prevalent in our community and it’s not something that I would want to see prevalent in our downtown core,” he said.
Elliott said a pilot project is a slippery slope. He said it’s unlikely council will tell the building owner in two years he can’t have the sign anymore after investing in it. Council voted 7-6 against the pilot project. It also denied the request for an appeal in an 8-5 vote.
Charging stations for EVs coming to the core
Electric vehicle charging stations are coming to St. Catharines city hall.
City council approved an agreement with Alectra Utilities Corp. to install the charging stations for the general public.
Alectra is covering the estimated $25,000 cost of installing the stations, which are expected to be in place this spring. Any incidental costs such as signage or sidewalk modifications will be paid for by the city.
The company approached the city about entering into a partnership in November.
A report to council said the production and sales of electric vehicles have increased in recent years to meet the growing demands of consumers. Many public and private entities have installed charging stations to meet the needs of patrons.
The charger station recommended for city hall will be able to charge two vehicles at one time. It will be installed in two parking spots in the Market Square parking lot, closest to James Street. The feed will come from the basement of city hall.