Tay council is concerned about a subdivision sign that prohibits non-residents from entering the area.
"I had a couple complaints head my way through social media regarding signage that has been put up in that area," said Coun. Paul Raymond, talking about the Swan Island Estates and Harbour Club in Port McNicoll. "It's troublesome on two fronts. The signage is very unattractive and it's very regimental. It's almost like you're driving onto a military area."
He questioned whether the road was assumed and if so, would "private" be the right definition of that or not.
"If we're not providing any services, should we not have our own sign up that's a little less garish just indicating that this is private property,?" asked Raymond. "I think it should be our sign and I don't think it should be as strictly defined as they did."
The subdivision had initially wanted to put up a gate, said Steve Farquharson, general manager, protective and development services manager of planning and development services.
"The municipality didn't support that," he said. "One of the reasons was that when the subdivision was originally developed there was proposal for a walkway for people to use and as it was developed, the boardwalk was moved inwards. Non-residents can walk on that boardwalk and putting up signage, from what I can read in the development agreement, has to go through approval.
"In terms of public access, the public has every right to do so because it's a public walkway," added Farquharson.
Deputy Mayor Gerard LaChapelle said he wasn't sure what the sign looked like.
"But I know if they're on private property, we don't have any jurisdiction on it," he added.
LaChapelle said he remembered the topic coming up for disucssion a few years ago when the township built the Tay Trail.
"It was going to wind through there, so we obtained easements for walkways," he said. "I don't know how you can regulate the sign part of it. I do agree they can't stop anybody from going in."
Mayor Ted Walker said the sign currently displayed at the entrance of the subdivision is misleading.
"It sort of gives the hint that it's private in there," he said. "If we have easements for walkways, there's onus on us to indicate that to the residents."
Farquharson said where the subdivision road is private, the development is serviced by the township.
He added he hasn't reviewed the sign against the municipal sign bylaw.
"I was focusing more on the subdivision agreement, but I could take a look to see if it falls within that and if it's in compliance with it."
A staff update on the issue is yet to come forward.
