I’ve been following the sign issue since our Area Directors waded into it last year. This ODN item refers to the justification of clutter, safety and aesthetics. I don’t recall any swell of public outrage regarding signs and despite the Province actually exercising some sense lately, our Directors insist on continuing the crusade.
Hopefully this month’s review will adopt some principles which might look like these:

1. Farmers and other businesses need to advertise in order to survive and prosper.
2. Both landowners and 3rd parties should be able to advertise along Hwy 97.
3. There are several classes of signs, some of which are professional and handmade, permanent and seasonal and those on public land and those on private land. Consideration needs to be given to all.

IMO, the highway signage in the OK Valley has always been part off the charm of the place, entertaining and informing both the traveling public as well as locals.

With the proliferation of off-highway wineries and other rural enterprises its no wonder the number of signs has also increased. I think all of these professional permanent signs serve a valuable purpose and should continue to be allowed, moving off the road allowance if necessary to private property. I don’t understand anyone having a quarrel with the professional fruit stand and winery signs or the attractive display of signs on the southeast corner of the Highway and Road 9. Clutter will be self policed as the effect is lost, if signs overlap each other.

Consideration also needs to be given to the necessity of seasonal signs. Most of these are handmade and let the public know that u pick is available, or cherries are ready or the temporary fruit stand is open. They might be rough and some think they are ‘ugly’ but they serve an important purpose to both the farmer and the public. IMO these should be allowed for the season, i.e they can go up when they are relevant and must come down after the ‘season’.

Unfortunately politicians love to try impose their personal preferences by creating ‘issues’ where really none exist (Think of the last big one that adversely affected us all-street addressing).

Yes, there’s the odd bit of clutter……what does it hurt? If the Region wants to take on clutter, bite off a big piece like the huge billboards on Westbank First Nations land going down the hill to the Bennett bridge at Kelowna. See how far they get with the band and senior governments.
Safety issue? I supposed its happened, but I don’t recall signs being the cause of car accidents in this Area.

We don’t need more rules and more bureaucracy to enforce them. I suggest signs are not an issue for the vast number of residents. Unfortunately the Directors have made such a big issue out of it that its become a hill to die on.

Hopefully people will come out to the public meetings and provide some opinions and direction to their leaders