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City of Vancouver seeking public input on high tech signs

FILE PHOTO: Neon lights on Granville St. in Vancouve.
FILE PHOTO: Neon lights on Granville St. in Vancouve.

Like images on a video screen sign, technology is changing quickly and the City of Vancouver wants input on the updating of sign rules.

To get that feedback, the city has launched on online survey asking for input on different types of signs, the way they are used, and their impact on the city.

Vancouver is interested in the possible expansion of electronic signs.

“Signs are everywhere in our city,” said Randy Pecarski, who is the acting city director of city planning for Vancouver. “This is the first comprehensive sign update [for the City of Vancouver] since 1989.”
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Pecarski calls the move a “complete re-boot” of the by-law.

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The project has two phases with the first being mainly about business identification. The second phase will look at the role of signs advertising city-wide.

“We’re going to ask about the signs we currently have and what we don’t have,” Pecarski said. And the survey will allow the city to “engage citizens of Vancouver, the design community, the sign industry and importantly, the business community on what they’re looking for as it relates to the signs in the city.”

The survey gives examples of digital signs that have changing images and videos that could be used in downtown business windows. It also shows  projected image signs that are displayed across entire sides of buildings.

Those types of signs are currently not allowed but the survey asks if for input on if they should be permitted, for a time-limited basis.

The survey also outlines a proposal to allow sponsorship signs on non-profit facilities like the Vancouver Art Gallery.

But signs can be a touchy issue.

B.C. Place faced heat after a large video display was installed near Terry Fox Plaza because some residents in nearby condos complained about light pollution.

Sections of the survey outline rules that would keep brightly lit signs away from residential areas and would limit the hours they could be used.

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After gathering the public’s input on signs, a report is expected to go to city council this winter.

Check out the survey: HERE

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