REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: January 14, 2021 Report No. APC-21-004
TO: Chair and Members of the Advisory Planning Commission
FROM: Karen Hay, Planner and Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Development Variance Permit - 1151 Esquimalt Road (Archie Browning Sports Centre - sign)
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the Esquimalt Advisory Planning Commission [APC] recommends to Council that the application for a Development Variance Permit authorizing a new freestanding sign with animated video display, to be located adjacent to the Esquimalt Road entrance to the Archie Browning Sports Centre, consistent with the plans provided by Graphic FX Signworks stamped “Received January 12, 2021”, the landscape plan provided by Esquimalt Parks staff stamped “Received August 7, 2020”, located as shown on the BCLS Site Plan provided by Wey Mayenburg Land Surveying Inc. stamped “Received September 14, 2020”, and to be operated according to the “Operating Guidelines” provided by Esquimalt Recreation staff stamped “Received January 13, 2021; including the following variances for the property located at 1151 Esquimalt Road [PID 001-114-239; Lot 1, Section 11, Esquimalt District, Plan 14686], be forwarded to Council with a recommendation to either approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application; and provide reasons for the recommendation.
• Vary Sign Regulation Bylaw 1996, No. 2252 - Part 6 - Prohibitions - to allow the freestanding sign to occasionally have third-party advertising and therefore act as a billboard (for community event related advertisers)
• Vary Sign Regulation Bylaw 1996, No. 2252 - Part 7 - General Provisions - Section 9.8.1 - to allow the freestanding sign to be located on a property frontage of less than 30 metres (i.e. property has a 7.62 metre frontage on Esquimalt Road)
• Vary Sign Regulation Bylaw 1996, No. 2252 - Part 7 - General Provisions - Section 9.8.2 (a) - to allow the freestanding sign to be located within 20 metres of a residential zoned property (i.e. from 30 metres to 20 metres)
• Vary Sign Regulation Bylaw 1996, No. 2252 - Part 7 - General Provisions - Section 9.8.2 (b) - to allow a freestanding sign to be located 1.4 metres from a property line (i.e. from 2.0 metres to 1.4 metres)
• Vary Sign Regulation Bylaw 1996, No. 2252 - Part 7 - General Provisions - Section 9.8.2 (c) - to allow the freestanding sign to be larger than the landscaped area in which it sits. (i.e. sign area of 30.54 m2 and landscaped area of 29.95 m2)
• Vary Sign Regulation Bylaw 1996, No. 2252 - Part 7 - General Provisions - Section 9.8.3 (b) - to allow the area of the freestanding to be greater than 20 square metres (i.e. from 20 m2 to 30.52 m2)
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Declaration of Climate Emergency
Local Government Act
Official Community Plan Bylaw, 2018, No. 2922 [OCP]
Sign Regulation Bylaw 1996, No. 2252
Development Application Procedures and Fees Bylaw, No. 2791, 2012
Advisory Planning Commission Bylaw, 2012, No. 2792
Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw, 1997, No. 2175
Local Government Act
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Strategic Priority: We encourage a resilient and diverse economic environment
Strategic Goal: We encourage a resilient and diverse economic environment.
Strategic Action: Support revitalization and beautification initiatives along Esquimalt Road.
BACKGROUND:
Appendix A: Air photo and Freestanding sign regulations
Appendix B: Sign plans, site plan, landscaping plan, visibility study
Appendix C: Operating guidelines
Appendix D: Applicant’s presentation
PURPOSE OF APPLICATION:
The applicant is requesting variances to the Sign Regulation Bylaw 1996, No. 2252
to allow the installation of a new Freestanding sign (Pilon sign) with video display to replace the smaller existing manual display Freestanding sign, and to also be used by Esquimalt Recreation staff as a billboard for third party advertising on occasion when connected with a community event. The existing old sign also requires staff to manually change the messaging which is labour intensive and can include workplace hazards. The development variance permit is required before a Sign Permit can be issued for the installation of the sign.
CONTEXT:
Applicant: Brock Abel, Graphic FX Signworks
Owner: Township of Esquimalt
Designer: Graphic FX Signworks
Property Size: 18,126.13 m2
OCP Land Use Designation:
Current: Institutional
Proposed: Institutional
Zone: Public/ Institutional [P-1]
Existing Land Use: Archie Browning Sports Centre
Surrounding Land Uses:
North: Residential
South: Residential
East: Commercial
West: Commercial
OCP ANALYSIS:
Not in a development permit area for form and character therefore not requiring a development permit.
SIGN BYLAW ANALYSIS:
The proposed freestanding sign (pylon sign) will replace the freestanding sign that has existed in this location for years. Sign Regulation Bylaw, 1996, No. 2252 <https://www.esquimalt.ca/government-bylaws/bylaws-enforcement/bylaws/sign-regulation-bylaw-consolidated> provides regulations for the placement and size of signs, and prohibits signs that have a third-party advertising, billboards, and limits the amount of animation on signs. The bylaw is twenty-five years old and does not foresee the potential impacts from large video terminals (LED display screens). The sign by its size meets the requirement that no more than 25 percent of the display surface would be animated. The size of the sign and the preferred location adjacent to Esquimalt Road, on a very narrow frontage of the Archie Browning Sports Centre property, necessitate the variances being requested.
COMMENTS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS:
Community Safety Services (Building Inspection): Project requires the services of a BC Architect. No other concerns. Subject to review for Building Code and Bylaw compliance at time of Building Permit application.
Engineering Services: The proposed sign will not impact the engineering aspects of this property.
Police: A digital screen will distract drivers as they pass by and could pose as a safety hazard especially if they show a video or animation etc. Would support digital signage with letters, numbers and showy bright lights; however, would not support a TV screen approach with moving animation or anything that moves.
ISSUES:
Is the proposed large freestanding animated (digital) sign appropriate in this location?
There is considerable evidence that signs and particularly digital signs with animation can be distracting for drivers and can increase risk for road users; therefore, the Esquimalt Recreation department has developed ‘draft Operating Guidelines’ for the proposed sign’s digital display (Appendix C).
The Advisory Planning Commission has two alternatives to choose from.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Forward the application for a Development Variance Permit to Council with a recommendation of approval including reasons for the recommendation.
2. Forward the application for a Development Variance Permit to Council with a recommendation of denial including reasons for the recommendation.