FALL RIVER: The sign outside the Gordon R. Snow Community Centre is no longer scrolling like it once did.
For the past two months the sign has only been able to be changed in the morning after Halifax Regional Municipality staff discovered that having the sign scroll violated its own zone bylaws because it was too distracting to motorists. The sign has cost taxpayers between $45-50,000, all of which came from the community’s area rate.
Meanwhile, scrolling, much larger signs, such as the one at the Halifax Metro Centre, at the foot of the busy intersection between Rainnie Drive and Brunswick Street, is deemed not distracting to the public, despite its constant moving and promotion of upcoming events or upcoming Halifax Mooseheads games.
That has District 2 Councillor Barry Dalrymple questioning the logic behind its construction given the area’s bylaws don’t allow for a sign such as it.
“It can’t be used for what it was designed for such as a moving sign with different things like the time, temperature, upcoming events,” Dalrymple said. “For the last two months, it’s only had Winter Camps Open displayed.”
The sign is just one of many issues that have arisen since the centre opened in February 2009.
When the centre, which cost $9 million to build, opened, it was learned the underground well system produced only a little water, however it contained too much iron and manganese. HRM has recently issued a tender to provide water to the facility through a cistern system.
But the centre also saw speeding in the parking lot, which resulted in the installation of speed bumps and no crosswalks nearby for people to access the centre from the other side of the street.
“It’s quite a mistake to build a sign that doesn’t qualify for the zone’s own bylaws,” a mystified Dalrymple said Jan. 5. “During the past year I have spent a lot of time fixing things at the centre.”
He said the issues that were missed may have occurred during the probable rush to complete the Snow centre.
For Dalrymple, knowing the hard earned area tax money of District 2 residents money was used for a sign that now can’t scroll has left him furious.
“I thought the scrolling sign looked nice and was the best part of the recreation centre,” he added.
He explained he has attempted to get a balance on the issue with HRM staff responsible for the bylaws and permits to see if the sign could stay and be used as is.
“I’m not in favour of large, Las Vegas-like moving signs, like those at the Metro Centre,” Dalrymple said. “I was pretty disappointed they suddenly shutdown the sign.”
He noted HRM Planning Department staff is looking at their bylaws to see if they can make changes which would allow for the sign to return to its original way, as a moving sign flashing upcoming events at the centre for all to see.
phealey@enfieldweeklypress.com