{"id":21535,"date":"2018-09-06T14:52:03","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T18:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/?p=21535"},"modified":"2018-09-06T14:52:03","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T18:52:03","slug":"sign-bylaw-changes-give-business-owners-more-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/sign-bylaw-changes-give-business-owners-more-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Sign bylaw changes give business owners more options"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Brock Weir<\/strong><\/p>\n

New changes to Aurora\u2019s sign bylaws are expected to give business owners clear options on how they can get the word out.
\nCouncil approved amendments to the bylaw this summer, which include the introduction of one-year permits for portable signs, commonly referred to as A-frames, with a $100 price tag for each sign.
\nPortable signs will also be allowed on private and public property in the downtown core, \u201csubject to liability insurance and an indemnification agreement.\u201d
\nSigns must not be taller than one metre or have an area of .6 metres. Setbacks from driveways, curbs and buildings are also set out in the bylaw, as are the times that signs must be removed at the end of a business day.
\nThe formal stamp of approval on the bylaw is expected to be handed down this month.
\nThe revised sign bylaw has been in the works since 2012, involving multiple consultations with local business owners.
\nFeedback from the business sector called for increased flexibility on permanent signs and a \u201cbetter balance for temporary signs between business needs and the visual appearance of the community, streamlining the process by delegating authority to staff for sign variances and the approval of signage through the Site Plan progress, updating the bylaw to reflect changes in the sign industry and technologies, and providing clarity and consistency in the bylaw,\u201d according to the report before Council by Techa van Leeuwen, Aurora\u2019s Director of Community Services.
\n\u201c[The bylaw] provides more flexibility and increased sign exposure than previously permitted,\u201d said Ms. van Leeuwen. \u201cThe only component of reduced signage was related to A-frame signs. A-frame signs were removed as a permitted sign as there were ongoing non-compliance issues. A-frame signs were being placed on municipal property, were not removed at the close of business, create mobility issues if placed on sidewalks, add to visual clutter and can be hazardous during inclement weather.
\n\u201cThe by-law created increased flexibility, enhanced sign permissions and efficiencies. The by-law did, however, eliminate A-frame signs as a permitted form of signage. Staff did undertake an education campaign by visiting many businesses and informing them of the new sign bylaw requirements. Some businesses [that] found alternative signage, however did express concern. Staff have met with representatives from the Chamber to present a proposal that would allow portable signs through an annual permit system. The Chamber was receptive and in agreement with the proposal and requested some other minor amendments.\u201d
\nOne business owner who has been a champion of further flexibility is chiropractor Dr. Brian Moore. Ahead of the revisions going to Council, Moore advocated for larger signs being allowed as they were used before \u201cwith no perceived detriment to the Town.\u201d
\nBy the time Council tackled the matter, local lawmakers were largely in favour of the proposed changes, but the overall look of street-side A-frames caused some division.
\n\u201cThis should come as no surprise to anyone around the Council table, but I am opposed to the changes that are recommended. I find A-frame signs to be aesthetically un-pleasing,\u201d said Councillor Paul Pirri before citing studies that suggest an advertising bombardment. \u201cI don\u2019t think people need to see any additional signage to indicate where businesses that everyone in Town know where they are located. I understand in a location like Yorkdale where you have businesses that are on a first storey, second storey or basement, the need to have some additional indications of where things are, but in Aurora I find them aesthetically unpleasing. I don\u2019t think they are required. If you look back to some of the comments made by the Chamber, it was indicated that only five per cent of respondents thought that we needed to make these changes. I am not inclined to make any changes tonight.\u201d
\nMayor Geoff Dawe, on the other hand, said while he \u201cappreciated\u201d Councillor Pirri\u2019s viewpoint, a balance must be struck.
\n\u201cAt the same time, I also appreciate that businesses want to advertise and they are always looking for the opportunity to get their name out there. Notwithstanding the delegates\u2019 request to increase the size, I think this might be a good way to start to look at how we might do a change that has been done in conjunction with not only our staff, but what other municipalities are doing and what the chamber finds would be beneficial to their membership.\u201d
\nCouncillor Wendy Gaertner also had her reservations, stating that she didn\u2019t like the \u201clook\u201d of A-frames, but added they did serve a purpose.
\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t mind trying this on a temporary basis,\u201d she said. \u201cThe problem is people don\u2019t take their signs down at night and on weekends.\u201d<\/p>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New changes to Aurora\u2019s sign bylaws are expected to give business owners clear options on how they can get the word out.
\nCouncil approved amendments to the bylaw this summer, which include the introduction of one-year permits for portable signs, commonly referred to as A-frames, with a $100 price tag for each sign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general_news","category-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3D2k4-5Bl","publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-26 07:06:36","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21535"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21535\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}