Sign bylaw battle won't stop

Photo: Contributed

The man who owns Kelowna’s largest sign rental shop is hoping he can convince city council to rethink its new portable sign bylaw proposal.

Otherwise, he feels his business will slowly but surely perish.

The first reading of the city’s new portable sign bylaws was held this week, and the increases on rental rates made Okanagan Portable Signs owner Brad Buchanan nearly spit out his coffee.

“I was shocked,” Buchanan said. “It is ridiculous and completely unfair.”

Under the new fee structure, applicants would pay $75 for signs erected for 30 days or less, $175 for those up 31 to 60 days, and $350 for signs placed from 61 to 90 days. It’s not a deal if you choose the longest stretch of time, which is the city’s attempt to limit the number of signs that dot the city’s landscape.

Currently, it costs $30 for one month, $40 for two and $50 for three.

The sign issue has been ongoing for a while, initiated by former city manager Ron Mattiussi’s dislike for the look of the signs that dotted Harvey Avenue and elsewhere.

At first, the city was going to ban the signs completely, and then it was going to restrict the colours of the sign letters. Ultimately, it was decided earlier this year that everything would stay mostly the same, with changes to only the fees and some bylaw wording.

For more on this story, visit Okanagan Edge.