Signs throughout the city could soon be subjected to new rules, including limits on their brightness and intensity, as well regulations intended to “reduce visual clutter” created by mobile signs and banner flags.
“Regulations in Guelph’s 25-year-old sign bylaw are outdated; they don’t reflect changes in sign design and styles, or current urban design principles,” explains Bill Bond, senior bylaw administrator, in a city news release. “The proposed update to the sign bylaw brings it in line with the policies in our official plan, and improves customer service by giving staff the authority to make decisions about minor variance requests that currently have to be approved by council.”
Recommended changes are included in a report heading to council’s committee of the whole meeting on July 5, beginning at 1 p.m. and streamed live at guelph.ca/live, with potential ratification the evening of July 19.
The proposed bylaw updates follow more than two years of consultation with businesses, property owners, sign companies, builders, realtors and the public, as well as council direction on draft recommendations originally presented in October.
Among the changes highlighted in a city news release are:
- staff be delegated authority to grant minor sign variances (they currently go to council for a decision)
- further breakdown of rules for different types of signs and their uses
- updated regulations for site and wayfinding signs including improved visibility and sightlines with reduced visual clutter
- limits for brightness and intensity of signs
- new regulations to reduce visual clutter of mobile signs, banner flags and portable signs on private property
- new regulations for signs to protect heritage characteristics of designated buildings and properties
The sign bylaw sets out the rules for all exterior signs in the city including where signs can be placed, what types of signs are allowed and how big they can be. The bylaw covers both permanent and temporary signs, including ones placed in or on windows.
The deadline to register as a delegate or make a written submission for the July 5 committee of the whole meeting iis July 2 at 10 a.m. To register, visit guelph.ca/delegation, call 519-837-5603 or email [email protected].