The issue of the size and brightness of signs on commercial buildings at Lakeside Village on Six Mile Road became the central part of a discussion at a recent View Royal council meeting.
The developer of 430 Six Mile Rd., X.W. Sunrise Developments, had applied for an amendment to its development permit to allow it to keep the “market” portion of its existing illuminated sign for Urban Ground Market, as well as to clarify size and placement regulations for future external signage.
During the public input portion of the discussion, Ron Stonehouse, who lives with his family on Thetis Vale Crescent one street back from Six Mile Road, complained that the Urban Ground sign was so bright his children “don’t need to sleep with a night light.” He asked council whether the sign would be lit 24 hours a day moving forward.
The staff recommendation was to grant the variances to permit larger and higher signage than current bylaws allow for, but have the separate “market” part of the sign removed. Given Stonehouse’s comments, an alternative guided by Mayor David Screech saw the variances granted and the market sign retained, but only if the times the signs were lit were limited.
Lisa Jeffery, representing X.W. Sunrise, had said retaining the word “market” was crucial for the grocery store’s marketing. Without any argument she agreed that the illuminated signage would be turned off at 9 p.m. and not come back on until 8 a.m. Council then approved the changes.