LED SIGNAGE

1
LED SIGNAGE

• Criteria for LED / Video Signage in the
• City of Nanaimo

2
Background

• LED / animated signs are high resolution,
  multi-coloured displays of graphics and text,
  both static and animated. These types of signs
  act as large exterior video screens.
• LED refers to Light Emitting Diodes, which
  illuminate the signs.
•  

3
Background
Currently, the CITY OF NANAIMO SIGN BYLAW NO.
2850 does not address this type of signage. The
Vancouver Island Conference Centre is the only
location in the City using this type of signage
and no further LED / animated signs are being
permitted until there is a bylaw in place
addressing the use of such signage.
4
Background

• LED / animated signs have raised concerns in
  other cities and municipalities in regards to
  highway safety, in the form of driver
  distraction, and aesthetics, in the form of
  visual pollution.
• The City is proposing criteria to regulate the
  location, size, safety and aesthetics of LED /
  animated signage.
• A public open house on the issue of LED /
  animated signs will be held on Thursday,
  2009-NOV-19 from 6pm to 8pm in the Lounge at the
  Nanaimo Ice Centre.

5
Staff Recommended Guidelines for LED Signage

• Static images only.
• Require automatic dimming.
• Light intensity should be restricted to ambient
  light levels.
• Prohibit third party signage.
• Hours of operation restricted to those of the
  associated business.
• LED / video signs permitted only where there is a
  demonstrated reduction in overall amount of
  signage.

6
What Other Communities are Doing

• Permitted Not Permitted
• Duncan Victoria
• City of North Vancouver Colwood
• Kamloops Langley
• White Rock Maple Ridge
• Burnaby Parksville
• Prince George Courtenay
• Langford Kelowna
• New Westminister

7
Municipalities Which Permit Animated / Moving
Signage

• Duncan
• Animated or electronic changeable copy signs
  require approval by the GM of Development
  Services.
• City of North Vancouver
• Limited to 30 of sign area.
• Not permitted in the Central Lonsdale sign area.
• Kamloops
• Electronic changeable copy signs shall not exceed
  half of the sign face to a max of 10m2.

8
Municipalities Which Permit Animated / Moving
Signage

• White Rock
• Permitted as an electronic message-board sign.
• Not permitted as a fascia sign but permitted in
  other forms (i.e. free-standing).
• Burnaby
• Only permitted within Comprehensive Development
  Zones. Rezoning is required and it must be
  architecturally integrated and included as part
  of a comprehensive development.

9
Municipalities Which Permit Animated / Moving
Signage

• Prince George
• Permitted as animated signs.
• Permitted in some Commercial and Institutional
  Zones.
• Signs which are deemed to be a distraction to
  drivers are not permitted.
• No sign shall result in direct light or
  significant glare being cast onto adjacent
  properties zoned and used for residential
  purposes.
• Vancouver
• Permitted in one location northeast corner of
  Granville and Robson Streets.
• Permitted through an amendment to the Sign Bylaw
  .
• Max size 28m2.

10
Municipalities Which Permit Animated / Moving
Signage

• Langford
• Permitted by bylaw.
• Permitted as variable electronic signs (LED) .
• Permitted in the following zones
• Limited Commercial Zones,
• Industrial / Business Park, Industrial.
• Institutional.
• Comprehensive Development Zones 3, 4 and 6.
• Pedestrian Commercial Zone.
• Maximum size - 3m2 (32ft2) per side.
• All Message centres must be 3 colours (red,
  green, blue).

11
Communities in Alberta

• Calgary
• Permitted as a condition of use by the Sign
  Bylaw.
• The approving authority shall allow electronic
  message centres, provided that
• the sign is located in a commercial or industrial
  district
• the sign is not located within 300m of any other
  electronic message centre facing the same
  on-coming traffic and
• the sign does not display any third-party or
  sponsor advertising, unless located in a
  commercial or industrial district.

12
Communities in Alberta

• Edmonton
• Permitted as a condition of use by the Sign
  Bylaw.
• Permitted in most Commercial and Industrial
  Zones.
• Illumination may not project onto any surrounding
  residential premises.
• Must be approved by the traffic authority.
• Applicant shall provide evidence that proposed
  sign does not cause undue distraction to traffic.
• Cannot create a hazard to traffic on a public
  roadway from which the sign is visible.

13
Communities in Alberta

• Grande Prairie
• Permitted by bylaw.
• Minimum separation between two electronic message
  display signs is between 100m and 200m, depending
  on size.
• Subject to review by transportation authority.
• Must include a dimming feature that will
  automatically reduce brightness to the ambient
  light level.
• Electronic message sign only allowed on a
  free-standing sign or a billboard.

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Summary of Permitting Mechanisms

• Site Specific
• i.e. permitted by the GM or Mayor and Council
• Vancouver
• Duncan
• Burnaby

• Permitted by a Sign Bylaw
• with specific regulations pertaining to
  electronic message boards
• Langford
• Grand Prairie, AB
• Leduc AB
• Cold Lake AB
• Calgary
• Edmonton

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Summary of Permitting Mechanisms

• Permitted as Animated / Signage
• with no specific criteria to address LED signage
• North Vancouver
• Kamloops
• White Rock
• Prince George

• Sign Bylaws
• which state that animated / LED signs shall not
  constitute a distraction to traffic
• Prince George
• Grande Prairie
• Edmonton

16
Commonly Regulated Aspects - LED Signs

• Size
• Zoning, Commercial Zones, Industrial Zones and
  site specific (CD Zones).
• Subject to review of transportation authorities
  (MOT).
• Proximity to residential properties.
• Static images only (messages changed with no
  special effects).
• Automatic dimming to reflect ambient light
  levels.
• 3-colour signs (red, green and blue).
• Minimum distance between individual signs.
• Third party advertising prohibited.

17
Public Open house

• Public Open House
• Nanaimo Ice Centre
• Thursday, 2009-NOV-19
• 6pm to 8pm