City staff to address questions about digital billboards
Tightening rules meets road blocks at planning committee

OttawaCommunityNews.com
July 19, 2016
Jennifer McIntosh

Planning committee chair Jan Harder said she wants to add some “common sense” to a very important file on July 12.

Following a briefing by staff on a review of the city’s policy on digital billboards, the committee had a list of questions they want answered before the item will be heard by full council on Aug. 21.

“I think there’s consensus around the table to get it right,” Harder said.

Among the changes will be reducing the size and height of signs in the downtown area. But in the rural area, digital billboards will be allowed – limited to commercial or industrial land uses.

As part of the review, staff consulted with 380 stakeholders and received 125 responses.

For the most part, Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury said he was in favour of the plan, but wanted to do something about the strobe light signs lining businesses on sections of Montreal Road.

“Some people say it’s like Las Vegas, I say it’s Los Cheapos,” he said, adding he didn’t want to see those stores get grandfathered as part of the review.

But the comment derailed the discussion, prompting some councillors to ask where it ends.

“Would this mean you could be in trouble for having a really bright bedroom window?” Cumberland Coun. Stephen Blais asked.

College Coun. Rick Chiarelli asked staff to consider exempting Christmas and other religious decoration from any rules that would prohibit lighted window signs.

Some of the public delegations suggested Ottawa’s council may be a little cautious when it comes to sign technology.

Paul Seaman, who works in the real estate department of Public Affairs Canada, said he didn’t want to see the city create a bylaw that would require a variance at the very next meeting.

“People tend to fall into two camps,” Seaman said. “People really hate them (digital signs) and those who don’t care.”

Seaman said the city could learn from Vaughan, Ont.

Harder said Ottawa is not as “bold” as Vaughan.

"We’re not as bold as other cities, we tend to err on the side of caution,” Harder said.

At the end of the day, committee members wanted staff to come up with a set of rules that could be flexible for the needs of the specific communities.

The sign bylaw is tied to zoning, but doesn’t have anything to do with zoning compliance. The aim of the review is to standardize the approach towards signs and promote business.