Digital signs could be coming.
Digital signs could be on their way to communities across Ottawa.
Councillors will soon consider a proposal from staff to allow digital billboards in most commercial and industrial areas, subject to a number of new or amended regulations, with a decision to be taken in the coming weeks. You can read all about the proposed changes here.
As you might be aware, the City has been studying the idea for more than 18 months. Carling (at Kirkwood) was selected as one of three digital billboard pilot sites after City Council directed staff to investigate the issue in 2010.
Highlights of the proposed digital billboard changes provided by the City include:
- Limit digital signage to billboards only at this time, and allow in many, but not all, commercial and industrial areas of the City
- Establish a maximum night-time brightness for digital billboards – to be the most restrictive in Canada
- Set a minimum length of time that images must remain static in order to minimize distraction
- Introduce new and greater setbacks requirements compared to conventional billboards in order to buffer digital billboards from sensitive land uses.
Some have complained that digital billboards will act as a distraction to drivers and that the City’s proposed setbacks are inadequate, given that they are less than what is currently required for illuminated signs. What do you think?
Community members can submit comments until Friday, June 15, 2012 by sending written feedback to digitalsigns@ottawa.ca. Residents and stakeholders who submit comments or make a request to be notified of the Planning Committee meeting will be notified of the meeting date and will also be able to make a presentation at Planning Committee.
What do you think about digital billboards in Ottawa’s commercial and industrial areas? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below and contribute to the process by emailing the City to make your voice heard.
Putting huge electronic billboards all over the city is a horrible idea, and we must try to stop it! Please take a minute and send your objections to digitalsigns@ottawa.ca today.
Also voice your objection to the Mayor — (613) 580-2496 or Jim.Watson@ottawa.ca
and Councillor Maria McRae — (613) 580-2486 or Maria.McRae@ottawa.ca
There are many reasons we need to stop this:
1. The signs are annoying. Do we really want to be bombarded with electronic advertisements whenever we drive somewhere?
2. The signs are a distraction to drivers (bright, constantly changing advertisements). We already have enough accidents caused by drivers being distracted.
3. It will create a slippery slope, and soon we could end up with bigger, brighter signs throughout the city. Merivale, Carling and other streets could end up looking more like Las Vegas than Ottawa.
4. Many residents will be able to see these bright signs from their homes, despite any limits put on the brightness.
If we don’t stop this from happening, Ottawa will no longer be the beautiful city it is.