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Marie Kew of Cedar Court Motel is concerned over new signage By-law

The issue of signage has once again reared its head in Saugeen Shores.

In April, 2010, the Town of Saugeen Shores passed a sign  By-law that would see considerable changes to several areas of signage, including, sandwich boards on sidewalks, awnings, sidewalk tables and chairs and many others.

At that Council meeting, Deputy Mayor, Doug Freiburger, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Mike Smith, said, "It is not our intention as a Council to limit somebody's livelihood and, perhaps, the livelihood of employees.  Whatever we do, we have to go forward with major considerations as to what the impact will be."

Until the week of July 20th, little else was heard regarding the sign By-law until a letter was sent out to some local businesses telling them that their signs would have to be removed or they would be taken down by the town and the owners charged what amounts to a 'handling' fee.

Councilor Victoria Serda also said that businesses, off the main streets, were worried that the Bi-law was going to affect business.  "We don't want to throw up roadblocks," said Bell, "but it's very difficult to treat one business owner any different that the next."

One of those businesses that received a letter and that will be impacted is the Cedar Court Motel in Southampton, according to owners, Marie and Tom Kew.

The owners recently had new signs professionally designed with a lighthouse motif in keeping with the ambience of Southampton and Chantry Island Lighthouse, but were informed they would have to be taken down.

New professionally designed signage

"Our signs are on the highway at the entrances to town," says Marie Kew.  "We are definitely off the 'beaten path' closer to the lake.  If we don't have signs where visitors can easily see them, we are absolutely going to be impacted and we contribute a lot of sponsorship money to a lot of organizations in town, including, the hospital, the museum and many others.  If we have to take our signs down, then what about the Museum and many other businesses?

Local contractors depend on signage

This sign is supposedly on private property

Many visitors who stay with us are, in fact, considering moving to Saugeen Shores.  They ask about local builders and trades people and have said they see their signs on the highway and ask our opinion about them as local businesses.  This is going to hurt a lot of people who have such a short season to make a living.  If the town wants to build on tourism, they seem to be going about it the wrong way."

Some signs are apparently in need of repair or removal while others are kept current

Dennis Middlebrook, who owns the U-Pick berry facility in Southampton is also concerned.    His highway sign was recently removed by the town without his knowledge.  "The signs are only there for three weeks out of the year and have been for more than 15 years.  Now, all of a sudden, they can't be.  I didn't even know a sign had been taken down until town staff brought it to me on July 26.  Apparently, a letter was sent out to the town to some business owners, saying they had until August 3rd to take down their signs.  I never received such a letter and, if it was the 3rd then why did the town take my sign down on July 26?  I just don't get it!"

It appears that many business owners have had issues with signage since April.  Several downtown businesses have also expressed that By-law Enforcement has measured sandwich board signs and their distance from businesses on the main street.

According to one local business owner, "...if Council is trying to kill tourism, they are doing a good job of it.  This is supposed to be a tourist destination that encourages people to be laid back and enjoy the summer attractions while sitting out at a sidewalk cafe, enjoying a latté.  We are being regulated to death and we are the major taxpayers!"

 3 Sandy

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Monday, August 02, 2010