Area C director Allan Patton is shaking his head over the Ministry of Transportation’s decision to delay sign enforcement on Highway 97 south of Oliver.
“To me the partnership is gone,” Patton said, referring to both parties working together to reduce the proliferation of signs between Oliver and Osoyoos.
The director criticized the ministry’s district manager (Murray Tekano) when the official said the government is delaying enforcement until fall to allow businesses to take advantage of the summer season.
“They just sprung it on us . . . it was really a communication breakdown,” Patton said, noting the ministry should have consulted the regional district first.
Last fall both parties entered into a verbal agreement to enforce sign regulations – the ministry would enforce the rules within the highway right-of-way, and the regional district would enforce the rules on private property.
Property owners are allowed one sign per parcel advertising their own products or services. Signs are restricted to 10 feet in height. Another rule is that property owners cannot erect a “third-party” sign advertising someone else’s business.
Following numerous complaints from business owners, the regional district stated it would consider amending the sign bylaw to address these concerns.
Patton said these business owners have every right to give the regional district grief. “We had a bylaw in place for decades and never enforced it (until now).”
According to Patton, the vast majority of the public supports the regional district’s move to clean up the proliferation. Simply put, too many signs detract from the natural beauty of the area, he pointed out.
“Overall, I believe that the proliferation of signage is a detriment to businesses . . . you can’t see the signs for all the signs.”
Patton said he has noticed that a lot of people have removed their contravening signs since the regional district issued warning letters to property owners. He noted the regional district is continuing its plan to enforce the regulations despite the ministry backing off until fall.
Patton said they may have considered delaying enforcement until the fall if the ministry had notified them earlier about the change in direction.
A ministry spokesman told the Chronicle that they have chosen to revisit (delay) their approach to enforcement based on local concerns.
The ministry is encouraging voluntary compliance by sign owners as they head into summer.
“This approach would be less impactful to local business owners as they move into their busy season,” the ministry stated.
The ministry admits this may be a change in the original strategy, but the ministry believes this approach will achieve the desired results. The ministry will work with sign owners to address the immediate safety concerns caused by unauthorized signs on Highway 97.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
