Wilmot, Waterloo meeting a good sign

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

by SUSAN MANN

Officials from Waterloo Region and Wilmot Township are still working to determine how their two sign bylaws can coexist.

Caught in the middle of the two bylaws are farmers who have been putting up farm directional signs on regional roads in the township. Wilmot Township officials have told farmers to take most of them down.

Representatives from the two municipalities met last week to discuss the matter but so far haven’t been able to resolve it. Bob Henderson, Waterloo Region’s manager of transportation engineering, says the meeting went well and “we’re hoping to come to a solution in the very near future.”

In an earlier interview, Andrew Martin, Wilmot Township planner and economic development officer, says the township has a legal opinion stating its bylaw prohibiting signs takes precedence over the region’s, which allows signs, including farm directional signs, on regional roads. The township is considering some changes to its bylaw to enable businesses to put up signs at the closest intersections.

Henderson says Wilmot’s position is one opinion. “We’re currently holding discussions with our legal department to determine who takes precedence.”

For the region’s bylaw, there are positional restrictions, but no restrictions on the size or number of signs. The region’s bylaw also doesn’t have any time restrictions. The signs can include words and pictures.

Mark Reusser, Waterloo Federation of Agriculture vice president, says Henderson’s meeting with township officials “appears to already have had some kind of effect. And that is they (Wilmot Township) appear to be amenable to talking about changing their sign bylaw.” BF