There’s unlikely to be a repeat of last summer’s controversial issue of farm produce signs on the side of Richmond’s roads.
Veteran Richmond farmer Bill Zylmans ended up in court last fall after the City of Richmond took umbrage with his giant strawberry sign that had been out on city land during the berry season at Westminster Highway and Knight Street for decades.
Zylmans ultimately won his battle in court, after a judge ruled in his favour.
But the wrangle compelled city council to examine the problem and, last week, they approved a staff report on agricultural signage, which included clarification on permitted, temporary “community special event signs.”
Such signs, says the report, could include the seasonal advertising of Richmond farm produce, such as Zylmans’ strawberries.
For this year, the city has approved two community special event signs for Zylmans’ W & A Farms, to be installed for the month of June during the berry season.
One sign will be visible southbound on Knight Street and the second sign will be located eastbound on Westminster Highway.
The signs, says the report, are placed on city land and will not require provincial approval.
“These proposed signs are in full compliance with the provisions of community event signs permitted in the Sign Bylaw. As noted earlier, community event signs do not require a permit fee, are permitted on city property for a temporary period and can be renewed,” reads the report.
Generally speaking, such signs are “intended to advertise community, charity or civic events and can include the seasonal sale of local produce. These signs can be displayed on the same property as the event and on other properties, with the owner's permission,” the report added.
In addition, the city will allow such signs on its property, with its permission, as long as an application has been submitted.
There is no cost for the application and all locations are reviewed by staff to ensure that the placement of the sign does not interfere with infrastructure or intersection sight lines.
As part of the agricultural signage review, council agreed that city staff continue working with Richmond farmers to retain so-called “legacy signs” that meet safety requirements to promote agricultural activities.
In 2019, there were 44 licensed farm stands in Richmond. Farm stands, or any agricultural property, are permitted to have a variety of sign types on site that can be used to advertise their products year-round and off-site only for harvest season.
