Staff to revisit Large Sign by-law
by Michelle Minnoch

Barrister and Solicitor Marvin Geist made a delegation to council two weeks ago regarding a request to review the Large Sign by-law.

"I appear on behalf of the Alcona Development Group," Geist said, said they are having difficulty with the sign by-law.

Geist stated the by-law is not user friendly, as only one developer can erect a sign per property. He said in the past, the Alcona community was developed by three developers; Crossroads, Previn Court and Maple Lane.

"Your by-law states only one sign is allowed. If you're a builder and a developer, that's not a problem," he said. Geist said there are cases of more than one builder on a site, and therefore only one company can advertise.

"The developer is the party that develops the land. That developer goes to a builder who has to go to the bank and the bank wants pre-sales. If the builder can't promote his product, then he cannot sell his product," Geist said.

He said staff would like one sign with all of the builder names, but Geist said that will not work.

"Until the builder owns the property, he can't put up a sign. I would like a change in the by-law to help us sell these products. Help us make it more user friendly."

Councillor Lynn Dollin said after the recent election, the town is a little sign shy.

Deputy Mayor Gord Wauchope, who chaired the meeting, stated the sign bylaw was worked on for approximately two years.

Geist said he too was afraid of sign pollution, and appreciated that the by-law took two years, but "things change when you have two to three developers per subdivision."

Asked if the developers were willing to pay for the right, Geist said they could work with something that was reasonable, but to remember it would be added to the cost of the product.

"Houses in Innisfil now cost more than houses in the City of Barrie," he said.

Staff will be looking at the request and it will come back to council.