Signs cluttering Highway 97 could be a legal and safety hazard, warns a Peachland councillor who wants the district to crack down鈥攂efore someone gets hurt.
At council鈥檚 June 24 meeting, Councillor Dave Collins raised concerns over the growing number of signs鈥攅specially real estate listings鈥攑opping up along the busy corridor through Peachland.
Collins, a realtor himself, said the district鈥檚 sign bylaw isn鈥檛 being enforced on the highway, even though it technically falls within municipal boundaries.
Many of the signs, he argued, could easily become dangerous debris in windy conditions.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e had more and more private signs being erected鈥攖hey鈥檙e temporary in nature, they鈥檙e somewhat flimsy in a wind storm, and they pose a liability.鈥�
He also pointed out that the situation is putting pressure on local realtors.
鈥淵ou hit a critical mass of signs and their clients will say 鈥榟ow come I don鈥檛 get a sign along the highway,鈥欌�� Collins said.
Without action from the district, he warned, the problem will only grow.
鈥淚 guess the question is, is there anyone on council who wants to see dozens and dozens of listing signs along Highway 97 in Peachland and the potential liability of it.鈥�
Collins is worried that if a sign blows into a vehicle or hits a pedestrian, the district could be dragged into legal action.
鈥淯nless you鈥檝e got some type of letter of indemnity from MOTI (Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure) that says 鈥楬ey you鈥檙e right, this is our corridor, hands off we enforce it鈥� there is a potential issue there.鈥�
He pointed to the bylaw, which prohibits signs on public property in the municipality unless a permit is issued and the sign is covered by insurance that protects the district.
鈥淵ou can say that鈥檚 the province, but it鈥檚 also us鈥攊t鈥檚 within our boundaries. We need to get a handle on it.鈥�
Chief Administrative Officer Joe Creron acknowledged the issue, but said it鈥檚 not currently a top priority.
鈥淚鈥檒l be honest鈥擨 think we have higher priorities right now鈥擨 don鈥檛 have time to get it done by July 8 (council鈥檚 next meeting),鈥� he said.
While the district can create a bylaw, Creron reminded council that the highway is provincial jurisdiction.
鈥淎nytime we鈥檝e seen signs we鈥檝e called MOTI and told them to take care of them,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e probably not in the neighbourhood, so they鈥檒l sit there鈥� until they fall down.鈥�
Still, he said staff will reach out again.
鈥淎nd tell them it鈥檚 their highway and why aren鈥檛 they cleaning up that part.鈥�
Councillor Terry Condon suggested enforcing the current bylaw, regardless of grey areas.
鈥淪omebody else comes along and complains about jurisdiction or appropriate authority we鈥檒l deal with that then,鈥� he said.
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel supported the move and proposed a short trial.
鈥淎nd see what happens in the next 14 to 20 days,鈥� he added.
