As discussion turned to a store sign smaller than a quilt, West Vancouver council’s debate centred on whether or not they should be debating at all during their Feb. 10 meeting.
The district generally limits businesses to two signs, including an awning. However, Rexall Pharmacy on 16th Street recently put up a third sign, about 90 centimetres wide, 40 cm high and sticking out from the wall like a road sign – despite a 2002 ruling prohibiting any exterior signage facing the street.
“It boggles the mind that this actually can end up on a council agenda,” Coun. Craig Cameron said.
Coun. Marcus Wong seemed relieved at Cameron’s reaction.
“I thought Coun. Cameron was going to propose an amendment to the colour of the proposed sign,” Wong joked. “We’ll debate that endlessly and have a public hearing.”
Cameron suggested these decisions could be directed to the director of planning. “Should he foresee a sign brouhaha developing, he could bring it to council,” Cameron suggested.
However, West Vancouver’s director of planning Jim Bailey informed council that the Local Government Act mandates that exceptions to the sign bylaw must be decided by council.
Speaking on behalf of Rexall, project manager Novinder Dhahan apologized for prematurely putting up the projecting sign.
“It was something our sign company did,” she explained. “Initially our proposal was for an illuminated sign and we were told [we’re] probably not going to get that.”
Wong started to ask about the illuminated sign when he noticed his fellow councillors seemed anxious to move to the next agenda item.
“I notice my colleagues are making coughing sounds at me already,” he observed.
“Well,” replied Mayor Mary-Ann Booth, audibly clearing her throat. “May I suggest that we move this item through?”
Noting some businesses are “impossible to find, even when you know what you’re looking for,” Booth said it’s likely time to bring the district’s sign bylaw into the 21st century.
“There’s a lot of irregularities … from a bygone era when businesses weren’t necessarily as encouraged or supported,” she said.
Council unanimously approved the variance permit for the sign that had already been installed.
