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Mobile signs can now be set up on certain parcels of city-owned land

Council unanimously approved third reading of the mobile sign bylaw amendment at their Sept. 30 meeting, clearing the way for businesses to advertise themselves on specified blocks of city-owned property.

Council unanimously approved third reading of the mobile sign bylaw amendment at their Sept. 30 meeting, clearing the way for businesses to advertise themselves on specified blocks of city-owned property.

Rachelle Pinder from Reflect Signs and to other members of the public had appeared at a public hearing before the second reading Sept. 16 to voice their support for the amendment, but Manitoba Infrastructure objected because some of the land the city had marked for mobile signs to be placed on belonged to the province.

“We have taken out the area north of the Burntwood River and south of Burntwood Road except just along Burtnwood Road there was one spot that is owned by the city that is still there but everything across south of Burntwood Road which is provincially owned is taken out,” said city development service director Harkamaljeet Singh Gill prior to Monday’s vote. 

City manager Anthony McInnis said he had reconfirmed with Manitoba Infrastructure, which no longer had any objections, and that, because the language of the bylaw had not changed, only the map, Municipal Relations said council was free to proceed with third reading.

“I’m glad this obstacle’s been removed and clarified with the MIT and the province,” said Coun. Duncan Wong, with Coun. Les Ellsworth also speaking up in support of the amendment before third reading.

Coun. Jeff Fountain asked if questions that had been raised about ensuring the viability and care of the sites designated for the signs needed to be included in the bylaw or dealt with at the policy stage.

“When a permit’s taken out, it would be part of the permit so it can be taken care of internally through our own processes rather than included in the bylaw,” said McInnis.

The amendment allows mobile signs to be placed on land along Thompson Drive in front of Commercial Place and near the western end of UCN Drive as well as along Burntwood Road on the north side of the old Greyhound bus depot and on Mystery Lake Road near the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba building and across from City Hall. Only two signs are allowed in each advertising zone, though this could be expanded to three per zone if approved by the city. The messages on the signs will also need to be cleared with the city beforehand. Prior to this amendment being passed, businesses could only put mobile advertising signs on their own property.

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