Mixed signals

Store owner balks at compromise solution

It was a hardship case. The owner of the Beach Bum store in Picton had purchased a new building in December. Unaware the County had rules for such things, the store’s owner, Cynthia Nicholls, contracted for and purchased a new sign for the exterior of her business. She was equally oblivious to design guidelines that apply to Main Street Picton as a Heritage Conservation District. When County officials insisted in April that her sign comply with the rules and guidelines, Nicholls protested that money was tight and that replacing the sign was “an expense she could do without.”

Some council members were queasy about the optics of compelling the owner of a small business to buy a new sign.

Hoping a compromise could be found, council overruled staff and its own Committee of the Whole decision, deferring a final resolution until August. It sent Nicholls away, along with the Prince Edward Heritage Advisory Committee, to “review options”.

In June, PEHAC met to consider a revised sign proposed by Nicholls. While it still didn’t adhere to Heritage Conservation District guidelines (it remains too large and its colour scheme too garish)—the proposed revision was viewed as an improvement. Rather than a sheet of flat vinyl, the revamped sign would now feature a border, raised lettering as well as a more muted yellow background. It would, however, continue to span the entire width of the building—more strip mall than downtown boutique.

The committee recommended that council approve the revision. County staff, too, have given its approval while acknowledging it does not fully comply with the design guidelines. Council was to have considered the issue on Tuesday night.

But this week, the storeowner isn’t so sure. Sensing that public opinion may be on her side, Nicholls was set to ask that council to defer its decision again. This time to determine the outcome of a petition circulating in the community.

“I do feel that a decision regarding the sign should be prolonged until our efforts are exhausted,” wrote Nicholls in her deputation to council. At least until the “outcome of the petition is known.”

It is a risky gambit. Nicholl’s tactic could backfire. Council may well decide to deny her request for relief, insisting that she comply with sign rules as they are written—as well as the Heritage Conservation District design guidelines—thus forcing her to remove the existing sign and replace it with one that complies with the regulations.

Some on council will already be feeling discomfort at making an exception for the storeowner. They fear the precedent, even a compromise, might make the Heritage Conservation District unworkable and unenforceable.

Ever since a wild man and a wrecking ball smashed a hole in the side of a 133-year-old brick church on Main Street five years ago, residents, council and municipal staff have become highly sensitized about the issues and challenges of conserving architectural heritage— particularly when it is privately owned.

Council may be persuaded to bend—but is unlikely to break, regardless the number of names on a petition.

The HCD plan cane be found by clicking here.