A community group has expressed its concerns about a large sign that could be installed beside the main street of a Sunshine Coast town.
The Yandina and District Community Association issued a statement objecting to the proposed sign for an approved service station, on the corner of Farrell and Stevens streets in the heart of Yandina.
The group stated that the signage would be intrusive but the developer advised that it would be consistent with the streetscape and of suitable scale and proportion.
A planning report, by Urban Planet Town Planning Consultants, on behalf of developer Pearl Pacific Properties, explained that the sign would be 6m tall with faces of about 10sqm, set back 1m from the road, and intended to be clearly visible to traffic.
YADCA said it would be unsuitable in the town, which is one of the oldest in the region.
“The signage proposal appears to be based on a presumption that this servo is located on a large area of flat land adjoining a major highway,” the group said.
“In fact, it is in the town’s heritage/character area, tucked into the northwest corner of the intersection where a bend in the road, downhill gradient and street trees limit visibility if approached from the south or east.
“Even a pylon sign twice the proposed 6m height would not be visible until a vehicle is nearly level with the site.”
The group declared that a smaller sign would be sufficient.
“On the northern approach, a low 2m sign would be more in a driver’s line of vision and in keeping with the key standard for heritage/character signage.”
“Signs should not be higher than surrounding buildings. Larger signs may require a professional streetscape or landscape analysis to ensure they do not detract from the area’s visual amenity.”
YADCA president Marie Reeve said the sign did not meet the area’s 5m height code limit.
“The pylon sign is too big and too close to the footpath, even for a standard setting, but this sign is in a character area with a heritage overlay,” she said.
“It would dominate the streetscape, overshadowing the restored Feed Barn next door.”
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But the town planning report remarked that, although the sign would exceed the height limit of 5m and setback of 3m, it would complement the area.
“Given the existing signage in this commercial streetscape, the sign is consistent with the streetscape character as established.”
“The sign, subject to the considerations of height and sign face area, is of a suitable scale and proportion to existing signage in this locality and is not likely to be a dominant built form element in this location.
“Given the nature of the use approved for the site, the location of the land and the corporate design of the proposed advertising devices … the proposed signage is consistent with the intent of the locality and provides for suitable outcomes to provide for high levels of visual amenity, public safety and character considerations for this locality.”
The developer argued the proposed height and setback were acceptable.
“The proposed sign is a standard format for the operator and is consistent in our view with the pylon sign located at the BP to the north of the site.”
“The additional height, in our view, has no identified impacts in this location and is lower in height than the proposed building. The additional height will have no discernible visual impacts in this location than might a 5m structure.”
“The setback area is proposed to be landscaped and provides the most practical exposure for this form of signage. The proposed reduced setback has no impact on traffic or pedestrian safety and has no greater impact on the streetscape aesthetic in this location.”
Ms Reeve said the BP sign dates to when the highway went through town and there were no street trees to block a driver’s view.
“In a low-speed environment, large signs are not necessary.”
Sunshine Coast News has reached out to Pearl Pacific Properties for further comments.
