COUNCIL REPORT - TEMPORARY SIGN PERMIT – 2311 WATKISS WAY

TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL COUNCIL REPORT

TO: Mayor & Council DATE: July 12, 2012 FROM: Jeff Chow, Senior Planner MEETING DATE: July 17, 2012

TEMPORARY SIGN PERMIT – 2311 WATKISS WAY

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Council approve a temporary sign permit for a free-standing sign for the purpose of real estate advertising as presented in the July 12, 2012 report from the Senior Planner.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES’ COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To present Council with information pertaining to a Temporary Free-Standing Sign for the purpose of real estate advertising at 2311 Watkiss Way.

BACKGROUND:

The applicant is in the process of building a mixed use commercial/townhouse development at 2311 Watkiss Way under Development Permit 2011/04. The lot is oddly-shaped and the front yard setback of less than 7.5m means that a free-standing sign is not permitted on the site without a variance.

The applicant had previously posted a 4.3m tall 12m² temporary sign within the Town’s road right-of-way and was subsequently ordered to remove the sign until an application for a sign permit was approved. A temporary sign permit application was rejected by Council on June 19, 2012 with comments made regarding the proposed size and location. Temporary signs are permitted for a 12-month period and extensions are subject to staff approval.

ISSUES AND ANALYSIS:

The applicant has submitted the following in support of their application:

• Site Plan showing proposed location of the sign – applicant – June 30, 2012
• Sketch of the sign dimensions – applicant – June 12, 2012
• Photo of the proposed sign face – applicant – June 12, 2012

In Sign Zone 4 the maximum free-standing sign allowed is 6m² per sign face, and 6m high. This sign is 12m² in area and 4.3m tall, so if the sign were to be permitted under the Land Use Bylaw it would need variances for size (6m²) and for the front yard setbacks of the buildings on the site being less than 7.5m.

Staff supports the application as the proposed sign location because it would be 5.0 m further from the road than the previous proposal. The sign would be sited 5.0 m from the lot line abutting Watkiss Way (15m from the edge of pavement) as shown below. As such, staff believes that the increased viewing distance would mitigate the size of the sign, which has already been manufactured.

The applicant has stated that no trees will be altered or removed during this process.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Council approve a temporary sign permit for a free-standing sign for the purpose of real estate advertising as presented in the July 12, 2012 report from the Senior Planner.

SUBMITTED BY:

Jeff Chow, Senior Planner

REVIEWED BY:

Lindsay Chase, MCIP, Director of Development Services

Attachments

1. Sketch of the sign dimensions – applicant – June 12, 2012
2. Photo of the proposed sign face – applicant – June 12, 2012