Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-102-10Clari~~gton Leading the Way REPORT PLANNING SERVICES Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: September 13, 2010 Resolution #: ~-3y5-/O By-law #: NIA Report #: PSD-102-10 File #: PLN 8.11.1 Subject: EXCEPTION TO POLICIES FOR MOBILE SIGNAGE FOR CLARINGTON OLDER ADULT ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: THAT Report PSD-102-10 be received; 2. THAT the request of the Clarington Older Adult Association to amend either the Exterior Signage on Municipal Property Policy, or the Sign By-law 2009-123 to allow for an off-site mobile sign be denied; and 3. THAT all interested parties listed in Report PSD-102-10 and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Submitted by: s,~y~ Reviewed by~~ """'"~~~ `~'~~ ul.. F y Langm , F SLA, MCIP Franklin Wu, sting Directo ,Planning Services Chief Administrative Officer FUdf 23 August 2010 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0830 REPORT NO.: PSD-102-10 1.0 BACKGROUND PAGE 2 1.1 Council at their meeting of September 21, 2009 approved the new Clarington Sign By- law 2009-123 to come into effect on January 1, 2010. Active enforcement of the by-law is occurring and the Planning Services Department are processing numerous sign permit applications. The Sign By-law applies to private property. 1.2 To address the issues not-for-profit and community groups where having with the announcement of special events; Council approved a Corporate Policy for "Exterior Signage on Municipal Property for Recognized Agencies and Groups" on March 1, 2010. This policy allows groups to use municipal property to announce their special events, at specific locations for limited duration. 1.3 Many not-for-profit and community groups use road side signage to announce their events, the road right-of-way is governed under the Road Occupancy By-law. To facilitate the use of the road right-of-way by these groups Council adopted a policy, "Community Festival/Event Temporary Signage" under the Road Occupancy By-law on July 13t", 2010. 1.4 The Clarington Older Adult Association (COAA) provided a letter to Council (Attachment 1) requesting that the issues they have with promotion of their ongoing events through the use of a mobile sign be addressed as an exception. In addition, representatives of the COAA made a delegation to the July 13~", 2010 Council meeting indicating that while they appreciated the ability to promote a community festival or event with temporary signage, their issue was with ongoing promotion and that an alternate solution was needed. The delegation was referred to Planning Services Staff, who met with representatives of the COAA on July 23'd. 2.0 COMMENTS 2.1 As part of the ongoing implementation of the Sign By-law it is recognized that many community groups and agencies wish to advertise events, such as registrations, fundraisers and other activities as part of their service to the community. The issues faced by community groups and agencies in getting their message out to the public is the same as that of the Municipality, how to effectively communicate within the confines of a tight budget. To assist community groups and agencies in being able to promote their events, the municipality has worked with the various groups in an attempt to tailor the sign by-law and municipal policies to address the issues. 2.2 The Clarington Older Adult Association believe they have a unique set of issues. The COAA for the most part hold their activities in the Clarington Beech Centre which is a municipally owned facility situated within a residential neighbourhood. 2.3 While many longterm residents intuitively know how to get to the Clarington Beech Centre additional wayfaring signage along the street right-of-ways maybe helpful. The Clarington Beech Centre in addition to being host to the COAA hosts many banquets REPORT NO.: PSD-102-10 PAGE 3 and other events. Having wayfaring signage in place would be helpful to tourists, visitors and the residents of the neighbourhood. 2.4 The COAA use the Activity Guide, electronic lobby signs, their newsletter, telephone trees and other means of communication to reach their membership and prospective members with regard to their activities. 2.5 The COAA specifically have avoided using the electronic media sign at G.B. Rickard as it confuses some drivers who then think the program is being held at this site. For the same reasons the COAA do not wish to place their mobile sign at the G. B. Rickard site for their special events. The COAA have also noted that the municipal policy only allows for display of mobile signs two weeks in advance of an event, the COAA have ongoing programs they wish to advertise, in addition to special events. 2.6 Placement of the mobile sign at the Clarington Beech Centre site would not adhere to the intent of the Sign By-law as it is a residential neighbourhood. In addition, a mobile sign on site would not have high exposure. The COAA enjoy the residential neighbourhood they are located within and do not want to introduce unnecessary signage. 2.7 For a number of years the COAA have been using a mobile sign located on private property to announce their program (weekly) events. The Sign By-law does not allow for off-site mobile signs on private property. A mobile sign on a private property has to be related to the business occurring on the site and obtain all the necessary permits. To allow the COAA an off-site mobile sign as an amendment would be undesirable. The proliferation and .quality of mobile signs received the majority of public comments during the preparation of the Sign By-law; as such stringent rules for mobiles sign companies, the colour of lettering, and size of mobile signs have been included in the Sign By-law. While privately owned mobile signs are allowed and the COAA could meet the size and colour issues allowing for off-site advertising of events would not meet the intent of the Sign By-law. 2.8 The COAA like other not-for-profit and community groups have the right to use Municipal property to advertise their events. To address the unique situation of the COAA with its home location at the Clarington Beech Centre and the partnership role it has with the Municipality a special accommodation could be made; however, amending the Exterior Signage on Municipal Property Policy, to either provide a specific location for an off-site mobile sign or changing the displaytimeframes specifically for the COAA would open up the policy to other agencies that have similar affiliations with the municipality such as the library, hall boards, museum and Clarington Board of Trade. It would introduce a piecemeal approach to specific agency issues with regard to signs on municipal property. Because much of the public comment received during the review of the Sign By-law focused on mobile signs the municipal policy included strict timeframes and requires any signs on municipal property to meet the same standards as those on private property, it sets a consistent format for all partner agencies to follow. REPORT NO.: PSD-102-10 3.0 CONCLUSION PAGE 4 3.1 Planning Staff met with representatives of the COAA on July 23, 2010 to review their unique issues and assist in working through potential solutions. 3.2 The COAA is pursuing the issue of wayfaring signage with the Region of Durham, as the signage is required on Regional Roads. Staff have assisted where possible in this endeavour. 3.3 The COAA make good use of other avenues for advertising their events and programs. through municipal communications opportunities such as Clarington.net, the Activity Guide and website events calendar. 3.4 While Staff appreciate the COAA have issues with not being able to employ their mobile sign on private property or municipal property for ongoing advertising of its program, given that mobile signs received much criticism during the Sign By-law review and specific policies were introduced to address their proliferation, amending the By-law would undermine the goal of improving the aesthetics throughout the Municipality. 3.5 Staff are recommending that the request of the Clarington Older Adult Association to amend either the Exterior Signage on Municipal Property Policy, or the Sign By-law .2009-123 to allow for an off-site mobile sign be denied. Staff Contact: Faye Langmaid Attachments: Attachment 1 - Letter from COAA Interested parties to be notified of Council's decision: Angie Darlison, Clarington Older Adult Association Sara Gilroy, Durham Central Agricultural Society John Conrad, Durham Central Agricultural Society Matt Stephenson, Durham Central Agricultural Society C 0 A A> CLARINGTON OLDER ADULT ASSOCIATION Opera,e3 by the Claringron Oldu Aduh Cemre Board 26 Beech Avenue, Bowmanville, ON Ll C 3A2 905.697.2856 Fax: 905.697.0739 coaa@belnet.ca Mayor Abernethy; Attachment 1 To Report PSD-102-10 The Clarington Older Adult Association (COAA) would like to also register its concern regarding By-Law No. 2009-123 - "The Clarington Sign By-law". Although our organization understands that the Municipality has an obligation to clean up sign pollution in the community we hope the Municipal Statf and Council will reconsider how non-profit organizations such as COAA are deeply effected. Since the implementation of this By-Law the COAA has been forced to remove its mobile road sign that had previously been placed on private lands to the west of Bowmanville for over two years. This sign was always maintained and held up to date information in regards to our associations up coming events and programs. With the high cost of local advertising and our in ability to post any exterior signage on or surrounding the Clarington Beech Centre due to the Heritage Designation this sign truly acted as a major source of our advertising. Since the removal of our sign we have reviewed the current by-law at length and it would just not be financially possible for our organization to afford the high costs associated with complying. As stated by John Conrad of the Durham Agricultural Society at your previously held Council Meeting "We understand the bylaw and we respect its spirit. We are respectfully asking for an exception for the Orono Fair," We too are asking that you make an exception and provide a sound conclusion to this matter that will not financially effect the Clarington Older Adult Association. We hope this show of support will help all Community Service Clubs and Non Profit Agencies within our Municipality. Yours sincerely, Angie Darlison ~~~ Executive Director Clarington Older Adult Centre Board t'll!f.~~ L~:~~ Cc: Faye Langmaid, Planning Services Department Municipal Council Members Jennifer O'Meara, Clarington This Week John Conrad, The Durham Central Agricultural Society Clarington Older Adult Centre Board of Directors www. cla ri ngtonolderadu Its. ca