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Council powerless to stop sign

The idea of a vacant lot being used for billboard-type advertising, even with the property owner’s consent, is one that council would prefer not to see in town.

The idea of a vacant lot being used for billboard-type advertising, even with the property owner’s consent, is one that council would prefer not to see in town.

The issue was brought forward for consideration following a request from Bulkley Valley Board and Beam. An operation under the Streetcorner Ministries umbrella, they would like to place a small shed on the property beside

Re/Max, owned by Smithers Lumber Yard.

Bulkley Valley Board and Beam is a non-profit company based in Telkwa that employs, encourages, and empowers marginalized persons of our community, and the advertising on the shed would provide further opportunities for their clients to develop their skills and gain a vision for being productive, project manager Mike Cunningham wrote to council.

But the idea of what council termed as a billboard on a property not owned by that business is one that council, with the exception of Councillor Mark Bandstra, didn’t find appealing for the town.

“It’s not going to be pretty,” Councillor Frank Wray said of the possibility of a free-standing sign on a property that is otherwise unadorned (except in the summer, when the fruit truck is in town).

But council objections wouldn’t stop them, Director of Development Services Mark Allen said, who pointed out that the letter was sent more as a courtesy as nothing in the sign bylaw would prevent them from erecting the shed with advertising.

Council, with the exception of Councillor Mark Bandstra, decided to send Bulkley Board and Beam a letter stating that, while they are appreciative of their services to the communities, they would prefer not to see a shed at that location.