Snow asks colleagues to rethink Carbonear’s sign policy

A portable sign owned by the Town of Carbonear near the intersection of Columbus and Powell Drive that council uses to promote events may be in contravention of not only its own regulation, but provincial government signage regulations as well.

Councillor Peter Snow brought the matter forward during last week’s meeting.

“The Town had a business apply to put up a portable sign, and we discovered that that wouldn’t be permitted under our sign regulations, or the Provinces’ highway signage act,” said Snow. “We had a discussion amongst staff and we found out that our own sign that we’ve got over there isn’t permitted as well, so we may have to get council together and have a little discussion and see if we can problem solve. We know how important it is to get business traffic to our downtown. There’s been money spent provincially and federally, as well as council dollars, to attract customers to the downtown, and not being able to advertise on the main highway would certainly be a detriment to some businesses, so we could probably have a brief discussion, and someone might have some ideas.”

Snow said if council approaches government about the matter, government may allow the Town to keep the sign, either as a temporary or permanent fixture.

“But, would that be a wise thing to do if we’re telling other businesses that they can’t have a portable sign?” asked Snow.

The councillor also suggested the Town should look at maybe using a “digital sign that we can easily change the message. I know with Wi-Fi and smart phones and everything, this day and age you can certainly update a sign pretty quickly.”

He added that he’s not sure if the busy intersection is even the best place for a sign, as it could prove a distraction to drivers.

He suggested possibly relocating the sign further up the road to where the current ‘Welcome to Carbonear’ sign is situated.

“I’m interested in getting my fellow councillors’ opinions and thoughts on the issue,” said Snow. “It’s certainly a little more tanglier than you might think. Because it’s not only our sign, but we have to think of other businesses that are downtown trying to attract customers, and what can we do to possibly help them, if there’s anything we can do.”

Deputy Mayor Sam Slade said Snow was right on the mark.

“I think it’s time to get a little modern, as it pertains to a sign that we can quickly change from one message to another for our residents, and I think it’d be a great improvement to the town if that could be done,” said Slade.

No concrete decision was made at the meeting regarding the matter, or when, or if, it will be discussed further.

The Shoreline requested further detail following the meeting.

Town CAO Cynthia Davis explained that in 2016, the Province sent out a circular advising it had amended the highway sign regulations to allow municipalities to apply for an exclusion from the regulations forbidding signage on highways where the highway or a portion of the highway is within the municipal planning area and where the speed limit is less than 60 kilometres per hour.

The section of Columbus Drive between the Valley Road ramps and just after Merchant Drive met the criteria.

“To be eligible, the Town had to adopt new sign regulations as the exclusion also required the municipal plan and development regulations provide adequate policy guidance and regulatory controls over commercial roadway signage per review and acceptance by several government departments,” she said. “At that time they included Municipal Affairs, Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, Transportation and Works and Service Newfoundland and Labrador. The new sign regulations were acceptable, and the Town was approved for an exclusion.”

Davis added there are portable signs in this area, including the Town’s sign, that are not in compliance with the regulation.