Peterborough County Extends Public Consultation Period over Signage Restrictions

Photo supplied. The proposed new bylaw targets unattractive signs like this.

County Council has extended the public consultation period for review of the Sign By-Law and seek public input into the new sign by-law for the County.

The intent is to address the proliferation of signs along County roadsides, particularly in Bush Country areas in the Municipality of Trent Lakes, Township of North Kawartha and the Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen,  that are not visually appealing in these natural areas.

Economic Development advisers suggest that signs send strong messages, sometimes unintentionally, to the visitor.  In her presentation to Cavan Monaghan Council in October regarding Wayfinding signage, Director of Tourism & Communications for Peterborough and the Kawartha’s tourism Tracie Bertrand remarked that in a recent survey, visitors had asked if the region suffered from a pest control problem, given the proliferation of signs from businesses promoting a pest removal service.  Clearly this is not a desirable message to communicate to potential tourists.

The new County By-law limits the type of signs available to business that were drawn up through a collaboration between The County, Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development, the eight townships, the City of Peterborough and Curve Lake First Nations to create a Tourism Wayfinding Toolkit that will address business signage in the region in the form of kiosk style marketing ads.  Limits on sign style and content are site-specific, and are designed to establish a consistent, informative and attractive message across the County.

According to the committee, the primary objective of Tourism Wayfinding signs is to boost visitors to key attractions and tourism businesses throughout the region in order to support the local economy.   They should also enhance the image and general awareness of the destination,  and assist in navigation through the community.

Examples of Wayfinding signs can be found on major transportation routes where signs indicate the boundary of an area, such as the “Welcome to Peterborough County” on Hwy 115, or Cavan Monaghan signs suggesting we “Have it all, right here”.

Information related to Sign By-Law 2007-55, Bush Country Signs and the consultation process completed to date is available on the County website at https://www.ptbocounty.ca/en/governing/by-laws.aspx

County Council has extended the public consultation period so that they can receive additional written submissions from any interested party. Please direct written submissions to:pwinfo@ptbocounty.ca, or via regular mail by 2 pm on Friday, January 5, 2018 to:

Bush Country Sign Consultation, County of Peterborough, County Court House, 470 Water St., Peterborough, ON, K9H 3M3.  KG

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