Standing up for their sign at Hillside Orchards are, from left, Mary Held, Heide Held, Guenther Held and Hilda Held. In front is Autumn Pelly.
Lyonel Doherty photo
Two business owners have spoken out against the regional district’s enforcement of sign regulations on private property along Highway 97 south of Oliver.
“Where has the Charter of Rights gone?” asked Heide Held from Hillside Orchards.
She‘s reacting to regional district staff sending letters to property owners informing them of the rules governing signage.
The district is working with the Ministry of Transportation in cleaning up the “proliferation” of illegal signs erected on private property.
Under the regulations, signs are limited to one per parcel and must not exceed a certain size or height.
Area C director Allan Patton said the blitz is being focused on property owners south of Oliver (from Road 1-20).
These letters inform the landowner that any contravening signs must be removed or altered.
“This year we’re trying to get voluntary compliance. Next year there will be immediate tickets,” Patton said.
Ultimately, if property owners refuse to get rid of their illegal signs, the regional district will do it for them.
Patton said a private landowner can have one sign advertising his or her own business, but the sign cannot advertise a third-party business.
The director noted he was willing to amend the regulations by allowing people to erect two signs per business.
Held admitted that signage is starting to make the roadsides messy and “dangerous.” But that’s the ministry’s concern, not the regional district’s, she pointed out.
Held believes the district should not be dictating what people do with their signs on their own property. She cited right-to-farm legislation as well, adding that signage plays a key role in farming operations.
“If we didn’t have our signs, we would not be able to make a living and feed our children. Our livelihood greatly depends on our signs.”
Held explained that their farm signs were put in place in the 1970s.
“In my opinion, my signs are not an eyesore, nor do they cause any obstructions to traffic.”
She is questioning why it is now a crime to have more than one sign on your property.
“I agree there needs to be guidelines, but the guidelines set out in the bylaw have greatly restricted the rural business of farmers and the way they farm.”
Held said she cannot afford to move her sign or lower the height of it to comply with the bylaw.
Regardless, the regional district hopes property owners will think safety, aesthetics and sight lines when it enforces the rules.
Patton said this isn’t the first time the regional district enforced the regulations; they seem to do it every 10 years, which is something they want to avoid.
“We have to be on it all the time. Once the public knows the rules, it won’t be so difficult to enforce,” Patton said.
The director stated that too many signs along Highway 97 becomes a safety issue relating to driver distraction. He also noted that maintaining sight lines is very important.
Patton said it has come to the point where there are so many signs that most people don’t see them anymore. Therefore, the signs aren’t as effective.
The Ministry of Transportation says it recognizes the importance of signs to assist drivers in finding local businesses. But too many private signs can distract drivers.
The ministry has several programs in place to assist the motoring public in finding local businesses. Property owners can contact the ministry to see what it has to offer in the form of signage.
Many fruit stands along the highway already have ministry-authorized signs, and these will remain.
Within highway rights-of-way, only authorized signs are permitted. In addition to the ministry’s speed and safety signage, authorized signs can include tourist info signs, service club signs and crime watch signs.
The ministry says that the billboards near Senkulmen Business Park are the jurisdiction of the federal government.
Holly Plante, president of the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce, said she has heard complaints from businesses that have invested quite a bit to have signage created with the impression they would be standing over the long term.
Oliver bed and breakfast operator James Moore believes that having signs along Highway 97 is essential for the business community.
Moore said his needs highway exposure for his business, particularly his U-pick operation. His two signs cost about $1,700 a decade ago
“I need my highway clientele to pick my fruit so that I can earn enough money to maintain my farm status,” Moore noted.
According to Moore, all of the signs on Highway 97 “grow the economy” in the South Okanagan.
Roza Aylwin, the regional district’s bylaw enforcement coordinator, clarified that the rules permit one freestanding sign per parcel if it is advertising something being sold on the property.
In Held’s case, Aylwin said the farmer is permitted to keep both of her signs, however, one will require a variance approval since it exceeds a height of three meters (10 feet).
She noted that people can apply for a variance if their signs exceed height restrictions.
Aylwin also said the regional district will also accept proof from people who say their signs were erected prior to the adoption of the bylaw.
In the meantime, farmers and sign holders are invited to a meeting on the issue at South Valley Sales on Tuesday, Feb. 4 starting at 4 pm.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
