Election sign clutter nixed

During election time in Kelowna it's usually 'sign, sign everywhere a sign', well that's about to change.

Political candidates in Kelowna who think more is better will have to switch to Plan B.

Photo: Castanet Staff - File Photo

City Council has amended the city's election sign bylaw allowing only two political signs, per candidate, per frontage.

This includes both public and private property municipal, provincial and federal elections.

Deputy City Clerk, Karen Needham, says the bylaw would pertain to signs exempt from obtaining a sign permit.

These would have a maximum sign area of 1.5m² and a maximum height of 1.8m.

"The restriction applies to each candidate, not to the total number of signs per frontage," says Needham.

"For example it there are 10 candidates there could be 20 signs placed on one frontage."

She says the bylaw would include all frontages including campaign offices, however, she says in those instances the candidate could apply for a sign permit for a larger sign.

The bylaw includes all frontages including popular spaces such as the boulevard along Springfield in front of Rona.

Despite the large area, Needham says that would be considered one frontage.

In past elections, candidates would erect dozens of signs along that one stretch.

Needham did also indicate that the Costco area would be considered two frontages, one along Highway 97 and one along Highway 33.