Sechelt council told South Coast Ford general manager Brad Copping last week that he’ll have to take down his new electronic sign erected on Wharf Avenue or face fines of up to $120 a day.
Council made the decision on Nov. 4 during a regular council meeting, after Copping argued the sign in question actually fit the District’s bylaw that states “signs shall not include changeable text, except for a directory sign, community notice board or sign located on a service station premises.”
Copping argued his electronic sign (which can be programmed with changing information) was allowed because South Coast Ford contains a service station.
District of Sechelt planner Angela Letman said “service station” actually meant “gasoline service station” in the bylaw, and therefore Copping’s sign didn’t fit.
“Signs with changeable text are not allowed except where advertising gasoline prices at gasoline service stations,” Letman said.
“While the name gasoline was left out in the creation of the bylaw, it specifically meant changeable text where you take the numbers out of the sign and put a different number back in for the change in gas prices.”
She noted the LED lights in the South Coast Ford sign change approximately eight times per minute, or 11,500 times per day, and that the flashing lights could be distracting for motorists.
“With reference to the display and distraction of motorists, both the corporate and bylaw officers believe that animated signs are a distractive thing to motorists, and as an indication of that, the Ministry of Transportation uses them to alert motorists of hazardous conditions. That kind of implies that they are a distraction to motorists,” Letman said.
She said the District’s sign bylaw stating that changeable electronic signs are not permissible in Sechelt was adopted in 2006.
When the question was called to uphold a committee recommendation to deny a variance that would have allowed Copping to keep the sign, all were in favour and Copping was told he could face fines of $100 to $120 a day if the sign was not removed soon.
The South Coast Ford general manager was visibly upset by the decision and tried to take the mike to talk to council, but Mayor Bruce Milne stopped him, saying, “I’m sorry Brad, but you won’t be invited to speak.”
“I won’t be invited to speak? Then I’ll see you in court,” Copping said.
Milne responded by saying all members of council “know what the issues are.”
“It’s gone through committee, we’ve read all of your emails and the decision today is to confirm the committee decision.”
Copping said that the next day (Nov. 5) Milne paid him a visit at South Coast Ford, and since then he and the District have been “in discussions.”
Copping also chose to reprogram his sign to only display the date and time, rather than alternating messages, while discussions are underway.
