Sechelt Council is endorsing the Planning Committee’s recommendation to reject a car dealership’s new sign, leaving the dealership threatening to go to court.
South Coast Ford had been hoping for a variance to allow the sign, which uses LEDs to spell out changing messages. The District says that makes it an “animated” sign, and illegal under the sign bylaw.
South Coast Ford says it should be allowed under the rules for “changeable letter signs”.
Council disagreed. Mayor Bruce Milne says the sign bylaw is clear. “It’s been in place for almost 10 years,” he says. “And I think the community’s been very clear on those (kinds of) signs.”
The decision triggered a sharp exchange with a company representative, leading Milne to say he’d shut down Wednesday’s Council meeting if it didn’t come to order.
