The RDOS will tell the Ministry of Highways to go ahead and take down road side signs in the right of way as it (the Regional District) will commence enforcement action in its jurisdiction.

The Regional District and the Ministry (MOTI) agreed to do a joint project to clean up the highway in Area C (Road 1 to 22) – a pilot project that will expand to all areas of the RDOS and possibily the rest of the province.

The Directors also decided two things today:

Plan for some changes in the regulations connected to the Zoning Bylaw for signage on farms and to use surplus economic development funds to research best practices in many different jurisdictions on roadside business promotion.

Director Michael Brydon told the board some parts of the highway north of the border are worse than what exists in Mexico.

Director Allan Patton says 80 percent of the signs are in the land controlled by the Ministry and the bulk of the problem on farmland is “third party” signs.

Patton says he and the RDOS planning staff want to hear concrete and constructive ideas about possible changes in the Zoning Bylaw. Those changes if brought forward will require more public input.

Presently a farm can have one two sided sign and one fascia sign on a building set back from the highway to advertise farm products.