Based on a survey completed by members, president Sheldon Peddle said the board has come to the conclusion that there is a high level of support for outdoor digital signage, with common sense restrictions put in place.
Twenty-eight member businesses responded to the survey that the board was asked to undertake by the city. Twenty-six of them said yes to outdoor digital signs.
While the response may seem low, Peddle said it’s not for Corner Brook. “People tend not to complete surveys unless they have fairly strong views on things.”
See related: Editorial: Partnering and profiting
The online survey closed on July 5 and after reviewing the survey responses the board came to four conclusions/recommendations:
It recommends outdoor digital signs be allowed with consideration given to location;
That third-party advertising be allowed, with restriction on content and source of origin, i.e. only businesses within the city be permitted to advertise on the signs;
That the city should remove third-party advertising from its own sign at the bottom of University Drive; and
The board offered to work with the city to further develop signage regulations.
Those points were shared with the city staff earlier this week and the offer was accepted. The board will now conduct another survey with members to find out more on what kinds of restrictions they feel should be put in place and what they would be willing to accept.
In terms of some of the comments received through the initial survey, Peddle said they included thoughts on sign location, regulations needed and interest in advertising on an outdoor digital sign.
Consistent with current signage regulations some people felt the signs should only be in retail or commercial zones, not in park areas or green spaces.
“Some people thought it shouldn’t be done in heritage areas,” said Peddle. “We did hear some views that there should be none in the downtown core whatsoever. We also heard that no location should be disallowed.”
As for restriction on the types of advertising the general consensus was it should be nothing that was offensive in regards to gender, race, religion or sexual identification. And signs shouldn’t be used to promote pornography, sex, alcohol, drugs or political or social messaging, both pro and con.
Only seven respondents said they’d install their own sign, while said they’d advertise on one.
“We saw this as very much a positive, because I think it eliminates perhaps some of the fear that these digital signs may pop up everywhere.
“But it also means for individuals who might go through the expense and the effort to put their own sign up that there would be other businesses interested in advertising on it.”
There were also a lot of comments on the city’s current stance of allow third-party advertising on its own sign being inconsistent with it not allowing others to do the same
That issue may be addressed during this Monday’s council meeting
Coun. Keith Cormier issued a notice of motion during the public June meeting that he would put forward a resolution at the next meeting that the City of Corner Brook stop immediately and refrain from selling any more third-party advertising on its LED sign at the bottom of University Drive until such time as the city enacts new signage regulations.
Twitter: @WS_DianeCrocker
The results are in
Do you support the use of outdoor digital signage in Corner Brook?
Yes — 26
No — 2
Undecided — 0
What regulations should be implemented regarding outdoor digital signage? (pick all that apply)
Sign size — 21
Location — 20
Other — 13
Should a business be allowed to sell third party advertising?
Yes — 20
Yes, with restrictions — 4
No — 4
If outdoor digital signage was permitted in the City of Corner Brook would you? (pick all that apply)
Install a sign on your property — 7
Advertise on a sign — 16
Neither — 7
(2 businesses skipped this question)
Based on a survey completed by members, president Sheldon Peddle said the board has come to the conclusion that there is a high level of support for outdoor digital signage, with common sense restrictions put in place.
Twenty-eight member businesses responded to the survey that the board was asked to undertake by the city. Twenty-six of them said yes to outdoor digital signs.
While the response may seem low, Peddle said it’s not for Corner Brook. “People tend not to complete surveys unless they have fairly strong views on things.”
See related: Editorial: Partnering and profiting
The online survey closed on July 5 and after reviewing the survey responses the board came to four conclusions/recommendations:
It recommends outdoor digital signs be allowed with consideration given to location;
That third-party advertising be allowed, with restriction on content and source of origin, i.e. only businesses within the city be permitted to advertise on the signs;
That the city should remove third-party advertising from its own sign at the bottom of University Drive; and
The board offered to work with the city to further develop signage regulations.
Those points were shared with the city staff earlier this week and the offer was accepted. The board will now conduct another survey with members to find out more on what kinds of restrictions they feel should be put in place and what they would be willing to accept.
In terms of some of the comments received through the initial survey, Peddle said they included thoughts on sign location, regulations needed and interest in advertising on an outdoor digital sign.
Consistent with current signage regulations some people felt the signs should only be in retail or commercial zones, not in park areas or green spaces.
“Some people thought it shouldn’t be done in heritage areas,” said Peddle. “We did hear some views that there should be none in the downtown core whatsoever. We also heard that no location should be disallowed.”
As for restriction on the types of advertising the general consensus was it should be nothing that was offensive in regards to gender, race, religion or sexual identification. And signs shouldn’t be used to promote pornography, sex, alcohol, drugs or political or social messaging, both pro and con.
Only seven respondents said they’d install their own sign, while said they’d advertise on one.
“We saw this as very much a positive, because I think it eliminates perhaps some of the fear that these digital signs may pop up everywhere.
“But it also means for individuals who might go through the expense and the effort to put their own sign up that there would be other businesses interested in advertising on it.”
There were also a lot of comments on the city’s current stance of allow third-party advertising on its own sign being inconsistent with it not allowing others to do the same
That issue may be addressed during this Monday’s council meeting
Coun. Keith Cormier issued a notice of motion during the public June meeting that he would put forward a resolution at the next meeting that the City of Corner Brook stop immediately and refrain from selling any more third-party advertising on its LED sign at the bottom of University Drive until such time as the city enacts new signage regulations.
Twitter: @WS_DianeCrocker
The results are in
Do you support the use of outdoor digital signage in Corner Brook?
Yes — 26
No — 2
Undecided — 0
What regulations should be implemented regarding outdoor digital signage? (pick all that apply)
Sign size — 21
Location — 20
Other — 13
Should a business be allowed to sell third party advertising?
Yes — 20
Yes, with restrictions — 4
No — 4
If outdoor digital signage was permitted in the City of Corner Brook would you? (pick all that apply)
Install a sign on your property — 7
Advertise on a sign — 16
Neither — 7
(2 businesses skipped this question)
