To: Economic Development Advisory Committee Chair and Members From: Lynn Holtz, Economic Development Officer Date: April 12, 2021 Re: New County Sign By-Law 2020-70 – Bush Country Signs
Recommendation:
That the Economic Development Advisory Committee receive the County Sign By-Law report regarding Bush Country Signs, prepared by the Economic Development Officer, for information. Background:
At the December 7, 2020 meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Committee the Economic Development Officer was requested to provide an update on the impact of the County’s new sign by-law on the Municipality of Trent Lakes. Information:
At the October 21, 2020 meeting of the County of Peterborough Council the Council approved the County Sign By-law 2020-70. The passing of the by-law followed an extensive period of research, consultations with lower tier municipalities, the dedicated participation of a Sign By-law Working Committee, and other forms of feedback. The County Sign By-law only considers signs that are located within a County road allowance. County Sign By-law B2020-70 does not consider signs located on private property as these signs are to be regulated by the Municipality of Trent under our own sign by-law and CIP regulations. The purpose of the new Sign By-law is to regulate the placing and erecting of signs, notices and advertising devices upon any County of Peterborough road or road allowance for public reading. The By-law allows for the continuation of the County Bush Country Sign program within the municipality of Trent Lakes for businesses. The By-law includes a permit and fee structure for legal Bush Country Signs within the County road jurisdiction. The By-law provides a process for the removal, impounding or restraining and immobilizing of any objects placed or standing on or near a highway. This includes any illegal or non-compliant signs. Signs in non-compliance that were previously permitted will be able to remain in place until January 1, 2023.
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Signs are no longer permitted on County roadways within designated settlement areas. Bush County Signs – Schedule A
There is a Schedule A to Section 4.1 of the County of Peterborough Sign By-law addressing Bush Country Signs in particular. Signs shall not be permitted to be installed within a Settlement Area, Signs shall be a maximum size of 5.9 square metres (64 sq. ft.) Only Single Faced Signs will be permitted to be installed at a maximum 45 degree angle to the on-coming traffic. Bush Country Sign Fees
Schedule A –Bush Country Signs –Application Fee $500 Schedule a – Bush Country Signs - $250 annually Sign Variance - $100 per variance application
County Roads within Trent Lakes
The following County Roads are within the Municipality of Trent Lakes, under the jurisdiction of the County, and permit Bush Country signs. The exception would be that portion of County Road 37 (Lakehurst Road) that runs through the hamlet of Buckhorn (a settlement area) and the designated CIP area.
Table 1 County Road in Trent Lakes
Name of County Road Location County Road 36 From Provincial Highway 28 (Burleigh Falls) to the City of Kawartha Lakes Boundary (Bobcaygeon). County Road 37 (also known as From County Road 16 (Gannons Narrows) to Lakehurst Road) County Road 23/26 (traffic lights in Buckhorn). County Road 121 County Road 49 to the City of Kawartha Lakes Boundary (Kinmount). County Road 503 City of Kawartha Lakes to County of Haliburton. Difficult to quantify, this is a short portion of roadway that clips a corner of Trent Lakes heading out of Kinmount towards Gooderham. County Road 507 County Road 36 (Flynn’s Corners) to County of Hastings Boundary (before Gooderham). Potential Impacts:
The greatest impact of the new County Sign By-law will be for any Bush Signs currently located in the Buckhorn Community Improvement Plan designated area. Bush signs are
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not permitted in Community Improvement areas in accordance with Section 4.3.1 of the Trent Lakes Sign By-law B2016-069. Questions and Answers
Are Bush signs in the CIP already flagged for removal or relocation?
The County has a database of every legal permitted sign. Signs are not yet identified for removal or relocation. County staff are updating the database. Signs will be identified as being in conformity or illegal (no valid permit issued). This is a large undertaking for the County. Signs that were previously permitted, but are now out of compliance due to a CIP or settlement area will be able to remain in place until the January 1, 2023 compliance date. Will owners be notified to remove the signs themselves?
The County has indicated that they would prefer sign owners to relocate their signs themselves if they are in a non-designated area for Bush signs. A letter to all sign owners is currently being prepared to advise them of the new By-law, associated standards and specifications for all signs and the compliance date of January 1, 2023. Is there a timeframe of expectation when the CIP area bush signs will be removed?
A timeframe has not been established by the County, however the date of January 1, 2023 is specified in the new By-law. County staff will be able to work with sign owners to find a suitable location for any signs requiring relocation. They will also work with illegal sign owners to bring their signs into the permit program.
Would the Municipality be notified when a sign is removed from CIP area?
Ideally, the County and the Municipal staff will be able to coordinate activities related to signage. Ontario Building Code Designation (OBC)
County Sign By-Law and the OBC
The By-law addresses Bush Country Signs and also considerations for signs to conform to the provisions of the Ontario Building Code (OBC). The Ontario Building Code governs the design and construction of buildings and structures on private properties and signs fall within the definition of a “building”. Trent Lakes Sign By-Law and the OBC
The Trent Lakes Sign By-law, B2016-069, also requires that no sign or advertising device shall be erected, installed, displayed or structurally altered without a Permit first being issued by the Chief Building Official and must likewise conform to the Ontario Building Code. Page 3 of 4
Additional Information:
Should you require further information, please contact me directly at 705-738-3800, ext. 223 or [email protected]. Sincerely,
Lynn Holtz, Economic Development Officer
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