New Tec tightens up sign rules

By Maija Hoggett Simcoe.com March 2 2010
NEW TECUMSETH – It just got more expensive to put up a sign in New Tecumseth.
In a special meeting Monday night, New Tecumseth council approved changes to the town’s sign bylaw. Along with being more specific about freedom of speech and inflatable signs, the cost for a portable sign in the town has increased from $75 to $200.
An additional $15 administration fee is also being added to all sign permits. The fee is to cover the cost of a new sticker program to monitor signs. New signs must display a town sticker, which carries a permit number. Town clerk Gayla McDonald said this is to make it easier for bylaw officers to monitor and enforce the bylaw.
Mobile signs that advertise different businesses and programs that are popping up around town have become an issue, said McDonald. She said the changes limit the number of portable signs in town. Along with the fee increase for the signs, only one sign per lot is now permitted rather than the previous three signs per lot.
“We’re not trying to get rid of all signs, we’re trying to get rid of signs that are undesirable,” said McDonald.
A review of the sign bylaw has been raised several times by council since approving the original bylaw in March 2007.
A request for changes first came up during the Ontario Conservation Board Review at the Banting Homestead. At that time, residents had put up what the town considers freedom of speech signs on their front lawns in support of saving Sir Frederick Banting’s homestead from development.
The sign bylaw now includes a section for freedom of speech signs.
Only one freedom of speech sign can be put up on a lot and the town will allow for it to be displayed for 90 days. For signs about proposed legislation, policies or developments at all levels of government, “the signs can remain until the final decision respecting the subject matter has been made and then shall be removed within seven days of the final decision.”
Limiting how long a freedom of speech sign can be displayed is a concern for Alliston councillors Jamie Smith and Christine Brayford.
“It sort of eliminates the idea of freedom of speech,” said Brayford.
With the changes, signs advertising a business that is not located in the building the sign is on are no longer allowed.
An example of this is in Alliston on the side of the building that houses The Tunnel on Victoria Street East. A local real estate agent has a billboard on the east wall of the building, but the realty agency isn’t in the building.
McDonald said when the original bylaw was adopted, third-party signs weren’t anticipated. She said existing signs won’t be affected by the changes, but further signs of their nature won’t be allowed.
New Tecumseth resident Gord McInnes also questioned town staff about “sign pollution” – signs nailed to hydro poles or other pieces of property, especially in rural areas.
McDonald said those types of signs are prohibited. Enforcement is tricky though.
“We do not remove them and it’s almost impossible to find the person that installs them,” said MacDonald.
Inflatable signs have been addressed as well. They are only allowed on urban commercial-zoned properties and can by used for temporary periods of 21 days or less.
Other changes allow for land development signs advertising residential development in residential zones and limiting temporary signs to three, 30-day occasions per year.
An additional $15 administration fee is also being added to all sign permits. The fee is to cover the cost of a new sticker program to monitor signs. New signs must display a town sticker, which carries a permit number. Town clerk Gayla McDonald said this is to make it easier for bylaw officers to monitor and enforce the bylaw.
Mobile signs that advertise different businesses and programs that are popping up around town have become an issue, said McDonald. She said the changes limit the number of portable signs in town. Along with the fee increase for the signs, only one sign per lot is now permitted rather than the previous three signs per lot.
“We’re not trying to get rid of all signs, we’re trying to get rid of signs that are undesirable,” said McDonald.
A review of the sign bylaw has been raised several times by council since approving the original bylaw in March 2007.
A request for changes first came up during the Ontario Conservation Board Review at the Banting Homestead. At that time, residents had put up what the town considers freedom of speech signs on their front lawns in support of saving Sir Frederick Banting’s homestead from development.
The sign bylaw now includes a section for freedom of speech signs.
Only one freedom of speech sign can be put up on a lot and the town will allow for it to be displayed for 90 days. For signs about proposed legislation, policies or developments at all levels of government, “the signs can remain until the final decision respecting the subject matter has been made and then shall be removed within seven days of the final decision.”
Limiting how long a freedom of speech sign can be displayed is a concern for Alliston councillors Jamie Smith and Christine Brayford.
“It sort of eliminates the idea of freedom of speech,” said Brayford.
With the changes, signs advertising a business that is not located in the building the sign is on are no longer allowed.
An example of this is in Alliston on the side of the building that houses The Tunnel on Victoria Street East. A local real estate agent has a billboard on the east wall of the building, but the realty agency isn’t in the building.
McDonald said when the original bylaw was adopted, third-party signs weren’t anticipated. She said existing signs won’t be affected by the changes, but further signs of their nature won’t be allowed.
New Tecumseth resident and municipal election candidate Gord McInnes questioned staff about “sign pollution” – signs nailed to hydro poles or other pieces of property, especially in rural areas.
McDonald said those types of signs are prohibited. Enforcement is tricky though.
“We do not remove them and it’s almost impossible to find the person that installs them,” said MacDonald.
Inflatable signs have been addressed as well. They are only allowed on urban commercial-zoned properties and can by used for temporary periods of 21 days or less.
Other changes allow for land development signs advertising residential development in residential zones and limiting temporary signs to three, 30-day occasions per year.