Signs at a new Main Street business are larger than the regulations in the municipality’s sign bylaw, following a variance at the July 23 council meeting.
The variance, for the Bad Robot electronics and computer store, allows for a wall sign of 2.7 square metres and window signs of 3.2 square metres.
The maximum wall sign allowed under the sign bylaw is 2.5 square metres while the maximum window sign is 1.5 square metres.
The wall sign, when it is in place, will be the same size as the sign for The Source, which had been there earlier.
Maged Said of Bad Robot said the window signs are needed as people will notice his business while walking along Main Street.
He said the existing sign bylaw is too restrictive.
“We think the bylaw’s broken,” he said. “Small business in Summerland has a hard enough time as it is.”
A resolution to approve the wall sign but to postpone a decision on the window sign until after the sign bylaw is revisited was defeated.
A second resolution to approve the larger signs received unanimous approval.
Coun. Robert Hacking was not present for this discussion.
Mayor Janice Perrino said the sign and design policies in Summerland are changing.
In the late 1980s, Summerland adopted an Old English theme for the downtown area. The theme design guidelines specified the colours allowed on buildings, the lettering on signs and the exterior finishes.
In recent years, municipal council has relaxed on the downtown theme.
“I think we’re going more to a Summerland approach,” said Mayor Janice Perrino. “It’s where we need to go in the future.”
The lettering on many of the Old English signs proved difficult to read, she added.
