A decision that could impact business in the City of Cranbrook will have to wait for another two weeks, until a vacationing city councillor returns to duty.

After a lengthy discussion surrounding whether to allow electronic changeable copy sign/electronic bulletin boards/LED variable message advertising signs along arterial, collector or primary highways within the city, Cranbrook council March 5 voted to wait two weeks before making a decision.

The reason: Coun. Denise Pallesen is on vacation and fellow councilors noted they recognize her interest in having a vote on the matter, which was brought to the city’s attention by Cranbrook Minute Muffler owner Clint Habart a few months ago. Habart wants to install a LED sign outside his Highway 3/95 strip business.

Council members expressed a variety of views toward the signs.

“I don’t see why we should ban them,” began Coun. Angus Davis. “These signs are a sign of the times.”

Coun. Gerry Warner said his favourite sign is the city’s own LED sign at the Victoria Ave. corner of the Rec-Plex parking lot.

“If the city was to turn this down – in conscience – we’d have to remove my favourite sign,” he said, adding, “The strip is a business street. Where do you draw the line on distraction? Too much regulation – busy body interference.”

Coun. Bob Whetham pointed out the city’s own LED signage “are not without complaints. I’m not convinced you have to allow everything under the sun. I really don’t think the size of a sign is an indication of how successful a business may be.”

Coun. Sharon Cross said the beauty and love of a city is reflected in its signage.

“The messages we present to the world must be consistent,” she said, suggesting that “if the place is beautiful” as Cranbrook and area is, then it should be kept that way.

“Some of the old signage is not very attractive” along the strip, suggested Coun. Diana J Scott, before stating her support for LED signage. “I don’t think it’s something we should be regulating. We have to get with the times” and council should let business owners use the signage they feel they need to use in order to be successful.

Mayor Wayne Stetski said he favours creating “sign standards” in Cranbrook. The strip is “not the most attractive area we have” because of the wide array of signs along it. Thinking aloud, he mulled over establishing a Highway 3 sign standard. “I’m quite torn,” he admitted.

Council then voted on the staff recommendation to deny the sign, with Cross, Whetham and Mayor Stetski voting in favour and Warner, Davis and Scott opposed.

Noting the importance of a balanced vote for such a decision, council agreed to chief administrative officer Will Pearce’s suggestion to postpone a vote until Coun. Pallesen returns.

“Then we can blame her for what happens,” exclaimed a laughing Davis before forwarding a motion to postpone, which was unanimously approved.

Concluding, Scott suggested the under-formation Highway 3 Committee would be a good place to discuss the matter further.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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