Banff’s politicians have backed away from a move to ban signs mounted on vehicles that primarily advertise or promote a business amid fears the intent may be misinterpreted.
It is one of several decisions made as part of Phase 2 of the Land Use Bylaw review. Town council passed third and final reading of the bylaw Monday (June 25).
Council had earlier indicated they want to prevent mobile billboards, with trucks carrying large TV screens and blasting advertising from speakers, but are comfortable with the Eddie Burger Bar car and Discover Banff Tours vehicle.
While they scrapped the proposed legislation from the Land Use Bylaw, they do want to see some wording in another bylaw to deal with the issue of preventing mobile billboards.
“Primary use is the driver here, although it leaves it open to misunderstanding,” said Councillor Stavros Karlos at a council meeting Monday (June 11).
“I don’t believe the intent here was to target the Eddie Burger car or the elk on Discover Banff Tours, but I can see a time we see a delivery truck flashing multiple ads and that’s not something we want.”
Proposed language in the bylaw would have banned any sign erected or attached to any vehicle where the primary use of such vehicles shall be to advertise or identify a specific business.
Town administrators said the proposed legislation aimed to prevent mobile billboards mounted on the back of trucks, which can include large TV screens and speakers blasting music or advertising.
Senior planner Darren Enns said these mobile devices are increasingly being used in North America, such as during the Vancouver Olympics, where zoning and land use controls prohibit or limit traditional billboards, such as in Banff.
“We put to legal counsel if the Land Use Bylaw was the appropriate way to deal with this issue and they didn’t think so. They suggested the business licence bylaw,” Enns said.
“If council gives us direction to address the worse case scenario that we’re concerned about, then it can be done in fairly short order.”
Councillor Leslie Taylor voiced support for scrapping administration’s recommendation for the Land Use Bylaw, but did say she wanted the issue of mobile billboards addressed in another bylaw.
She said almost every vehicle connected with a business has a contact number, and she indicated she actually quite liked the elk atop the Discover Banff vehicle and the burger on top of the Eddie Burger vehicle.
“But what Mr. Enns describes is ghastly and obviously just not what we want in our town,” she said.
“I hope and expect we would strengthen provisions in other bylaws to deal with this concern.”
