Springbank Councillor Jerry Arshinoff wants to increase transparency surrounding development projects in Rocky View County (RVC), by posting signage on land being considered for future development for residents to see.
Posting this signage is “the simplest way to allow those in the community to know what’s going on,” Arshinoff explained to RVC council on Nov. 26.
“One of the difficulties in many developments is that the people in the area are unaware of it, or the extent of it or even where it is,” he said.
Arshinoff presented a notice of motion for signage associated with planning applications at the council meeting on Nov. 5, and administration prepared a report for council to consider on Nov. 26.
Rocky View County (RVC) Senior Planner Matthew Wilson said in his presentation to council the principle of onsite signage “is a sensible inclusion within policy 307.” Administration uses the policy to determine the notification area for a planning application and if the proposal has the “potential for substantial impacts” to the community.
Wilson said, posting signage on land being considered for a land use redesignation, conceptual scheme or Master Site Development Plan is “relatively easy” because the parcel of land being considered is clear.
He said posting signage for Area Structure Plan amendments would be difficult and could cause confusion, since the land being considered is large and the effect of the amendment may not be clear.
Wilson added that posting signage for subdivision applications and development permits shouldn’t be necessary since the land “would have already been through three or four phases of on-site signage by that point.”
Council unanimously agreed to direct administration to prepare amendments to policy 307 to have onsite signage included as a requirement for larger developments. The report will be presented to the Policy and Priorities Committee for a decision.
According to a County report, policy amendments will identify which planning applications should have onsite signage; the size of the sign required to be placed on the land; the size and design of lettering to be included on the sign; and the information that must be included.
The report will also include the length of time the signage must be maintained on the land, whose obligation it is to put up and maintain the sign, and the location of the sign.
“Bottom line is there is a great advantage in notifying the people going by who are most likely going to be directly effected by what is proposed. I can’t see any reason not to go forward,” said Arshinoff.
Councillors agreed they’d like to see a report of administration’s recommendations be presented for a decision at a future Policy and Priorities Committee meeting.
