PAGE 16, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5,1989 WHITBY FREE PRESS A BUSINESS UPDATE INFORMATION FEATURE NEWS Town drafts sign bylaw By Mike Johnston By the end of this year por- table signs in Whitby could be allowed. only on a temporary basis. Whitby's planning department .is currently drafting a bylaw by which all portable signs vould be per mitted only for new businesses or special occasions, and only for a certain period of time. The bylaw, according to plan- ning director Bob Short, will be similar to one introduced to council in 1987. That bylaw allowed for the signs to be installed only for a certain period of time and only for new businesses or special ocassions. "I can see certain sit" qtions where a (portable sign) co'uld be permitted~ but our intent is to eliminate them," said Short. When the bylaw was introdu- ced in 1987, Short said the lou- dest complaints came from businesses that either sold or rented the signs. "Some businesses wanted to maintain them while others said they would renove theirs if their neighbor would remove theirs," said Short who expects to have the bylaw ready for council this fail. One councillor ha py to see the bylaw will be Joe £irumm. "I hope the bylaw gets rid of them. They are a blight on the community,»said Drumm. He is opposed to the temporary use of the signs, noting it would be tough for Whitby staff to keep track of the days that a sign is in front of a store or business. "I don't want to be counting the days,"4aid Drumm. Besides being an "eyesore" Drumm said the signs can cause a distraction to drivers. "We have to get rid of them. We (council) need the courage to do it. "I think more people are upset about the signs than in favor of them," said Drumm. Stuart Craig, manager of the Downtown Business Improve- ment Area (BIA) said that at any time at least five downtown busi- ness use portable signs. He said the 13A's board of directors have not discussed the signs but agree they should not be permitted. "The board doesn't like them," said Craigr. He sai~d that at one general meeting, merchants were talking about how to spruce up the downtown and one suggestion was to get rid of the portable signs. I'm sure we will be talking about them in the future," added Craig. Don Rogers of Signet Signs in Whitby, told 'he Free Press he stopped renting portable signs after the Town raised the issue. two years ago. bThey are an eyesore. If businesses want that type of sign they should be permanent," said Rogers. lie noted that when he stopped dealing with * portable aigns, many of his customers did as well. Two examDles were Melanie Pringles on 'lhickson Rd. S. and Olco on Dundas St. E. Rogers said both switched from .portable signs to radio-graph signs, which are placed either on top or below the main sign of a business. "If you drive along Hwy 2 it makes you sick," said Rogers. An employee of Action Signs in Oshawa said any ban by the Town would hurt their business. "They (the signs) do help our customers," said the enployee, noting that in Ajax and Picker- ing permits are required for some portable signs. While unable to give a percen- tage,, she said a lot of the com- pany's business is in Whitby. She indicated the company would be keeping a close eye on any decision council will be mak- ing. Nim i I