One member of Town council hopes the pilot project to reduce the proliferation of signs south of Oliver will be a soft sell, but he’s not banking on it.
“I think there’s going to be a sizable backlash,” said Jack Bennest.
He noted the Ministry of Transportation and the regional district are embarking on a project to reduce the number of signs along the highway from Road 1 to Road 22.
Bennest said letters will be sent to property owners in January about their signs. The regional district bylaw regulates the number of signs that landowners are permitted to have on their property. For example, owners are allowed at least one sign advertising their business, but cannot have signs advertising someone else’s business.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said some people have signs advertising motels that are 10 miles away.
Bennest said if there was no regulation and enforcement of signs, everyone would just go “wild.”
“When you drive down the highway, people are putting signs on trees and utility poles. It just seems never-ending.”
