Administration will draft changes to the sign section within the City of Red Deer’s Land Use Bylaw, after council tabled first reading until March 5.

Council made two amendments during its meeting on Monday that will be debated further.

The first was proposed by Coun. Vesna Higham, to increase the distance between portable signs from 20 m to 100 m.

Portable signs are defined as flat, easily movable signs with independent supports.

The other was from Coun. Tanya Handley, to make the Residential Proximity Sign Overlay District applicable to all signs within 100 m of a residential district.

Signs that fall into the overlay district must meet additional regulations related to lighting, times of illumination, direction and height.

Handley said her amendment was a result of complaints residents had of signs flashing into their houses.

Sign regulations are intended to balance the public interest concerning aesthetics, safety and non-proliferation, with the needs of businesses to advertise.

Higham said there are some business-friendly changes being proposed. Among them, portable signs being categorized under temporary signs.

“What that means, is you used to have to get a development permit for a portable sign and used to have to pay $106 to apply for that development permit,” Higham said.

“Now, being collapsed into the temporary sign category, the fees have been taken away and you no longer require a development permit. Right there, that has opened up the possibility for many more signs to be placed in our community.”