Signs cluttering Highway 97 could be a legal and safety hazard, warns a Peachland councillor who wants the district to crack down乌鸦传媒攂efore someone gets hurt.
At council乌鸦传媒檚 June 24 meeting, Councillor Dave Collins raised concerns over the growing number of signs乌鸦传媒攅specially real estate listings乌鸦传媒攑opping up along the busy corridor through Peachland.
Collins, a realtor himself, said the district乌鸦传媒檚 sign bylaw isn乌鸦传媒檛 being enforced on the highway, even though it technically falls within municipal boundaries.
Many of the signs, he argued, could easily become dangerous debris in windy conditions.
乌鸦传媒淵ou乌鸦传媒檝e had more and more private signs being erected乌鸦传媒攖hey乌鸦传媒檙e temporary in nature, they乌鸦传媒檙e somewhat flimsy in a wind storm, and they pose a liability.乌鸦传媒�
He also pointed out that the situation is putting pressure on local realtors.
乌鸦传媒淵ou hit a critical mass of signs and their clients will say 乌鸦传媒榟ow come I don乌鸦传媒檛 get a sign along the highway,乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮綕 Collins said.
Without action from the district, he warned, the problem will only grow.
乌鸦传媒淚 guess the question is, is there anyone on council who wants to see dozens and dozens of listing signs along Highway 97 in Peachland and the potential liability of it.乌鸦传媒�
Collins is worried that if a sign blows into a vehicle or hits a pedestrian, the district could be dragged into legal action.
乌鸦传媒淯nless you乌鸦传媒檝e got some type of letter of indemnity from MOTI (Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure) that says 乌鸦传媒楬ey you乌鸦传媒檙e right, this is our corridor, hands off we enforce it乌鸦传媒� there is a potential issue there.乌鸦传媒�
He pointed to the bylaw, which prohibits signs on public property in the municipality unless a permit is issued and the sign is covered by insurance that protects the district.
乌鸦传媒淵ou can say that乌鸦传媒檚 the province, but it乌鸦传媒檚 also us乌鸦传媒攊t乌鸦传媒檚 within our boundaries. We need to get a handle on it.乌鸦传媒�
Chief Administrative Officer Joe Creron acknowledged the issue, but said it乌鸦传媒檚 not currently a top priority.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檒l be honest乌鸦传媒擨 think we have higher priorities right now乌鸦传媒擨 don乌鸦传媒檛 have time to get it done by July 8 (council乌鸦传媒檚 next meeting),乌鸦传媒� he said.
While the district can create a bylaw, Creron reminded council that the highway is provincial jurisdiction.
乌鸦传媒淎nytime we乌鸦传媒檝e seen signs we乌鸦传媒檝e called MOTI and told them to take care of them,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e probably not in the neighbourhood, so they乌鸦传媒檒l sit there乌鸦传媒� until they fall down.乌鸦传媒�
Still, he said staff will reach out again.
乌鸦传媒淎nd tell them it乌鸦传媒檚 their highway and why aren乌鸦传媒檛 they cleaning up that part.乌鸦传媒�
Councillor Terry Condon suggested enforcing the current bylaw, regardless of grey areas.
乌鸦传媒淪omebody else comes along and complains about jurisdiction or appropriate authority we乌鸦传媒檒l deal with that then,乌鸦传媒� he said.
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel supported the move and proposed a short trial.
乌鸦传媒淎nd see what happens in the next 14 to 20 days,乌鸦传媒� he added.
