TEMPORARY SIGN PERMIT NO. 2022/02 - 258 HELMCKEN ROAD

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT

TO: Council DATE: June 2, 2022 FROM: Jeff Chow, Senior Planner MEETING DATE: June 7, 2022

TEMPORARY SIGN PERMIT NO. 2022/02 - 258 HELMCKEN ROAD

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Sign Permit No. 2022/02 be approved for a period of two years as per the June 2, 2022 report from the Senior Planner titled “Temporary Sign Permit No. 2022/02 – 258 Helmcken Road”.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE:

To consider a sign permit for a temporary construction sign at 258 Helmcken Road.

BACKGROUND:

A building permit application has been submitted to construct a six-storey building on the property formerly addressed as 298 Island Highway. The building (see Figure 1) will be comprised of:

• 560m² of commercial use on the ground floor
• 55 condominium apartment units on the five upper floors
• a partially underbuilding surface parking lot accessed from Island Highway
• two levels of underground parking accessed from Helmcken Road

Figure 1. Rendering

The site has been fenced for several months with freestanding metal grid fencing (Figure 2) since the former restaurant building was demolished and contaminated soil was removed. A site release to permit independent site remediation was issued at the end of April to allow monitored construction. Since then, cleanup work has commenced on the site and water has been drained from the area of soil removal to prepare for excavation.

Figure 2. Existing construction fencing.

PROPOSAL:

The proposal is for temporary construction signs to screen the site, with copy as shown in Attachment 2. The signs would form a banner along the Island Highway and Helmcken Road frontages of the site.

Sign details

DISCUSSION:

This type of sign screening is common for construction projects as they are visually more appealing than plain blank screening and can withstand strong winds. The signs are proposed to be on display for up to two years so that ongoing site preparation can be screened immediately and because the anticipated construction schedule is 18 months once the building permit is issued. The signs also contain information that can reduce the potential number of enquiries regarding the project to the Town.

The printed mesh is weatherproof and graffiti resistant. Staff has observed that rezoning and construction signs have been continuously subject to tagging and graffiti along this stretch of Island Highway as shown in Figure 1. The applicant proposes to have additional replacement sign panels on hand in case of irreparable damage.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Sign Permit No. 2022/02 be approved for a period of two years as per the June 2, 2022 report from the Senior Planner titled “Temporary Sign Permit No. 2022/02 – 258 Helmcken Road”.

SUBMITTED BY: Jeff Chow, MCIP, RPP, Senior Planner

REVIEWED BY: Lindsay Chase, MCIP, RPP, Director of Development Services

Attachments:

1. Property location
2. Sign Proofs – Better Print Victoria (2 pages)