While some back-lit signs have recently been approved by the town in contravention of its own land-use bylaw, that will no longer be an issue.

Council unanimously opted to give the Cochrane Planning Commission the authority to give discretionary approval of back-lit signs in most retail and commercial zonings in the Cochrane. It does, however, remain a no-no in some areas, most notably the Historic Downtown.

Council's decision to soften its black-sky position on back-lit signs was largely influenced by a presentation by town planner manager Riley Weldon. While the Cochrane Planning Commission (CPC) had previously recommended the decision be deferred until the massive land-use bylaw rewrite was completed, the planning department did not share this view, nor did town council.

Weldon said the planning department receives constant pressure from businesses to use back-lit signs and the requests accompany almost all applications. He presented quantitative research from the Sign Research Foundation that indicated businesses have the perspective that illuminated signs are important for brand recognition, marketing strategies after dark and their ability to both enhance images and communicate location. That research was not specific to back-lit signs.

That presentation seemed design to counter a position taken at a Mar. 25 public hearing by Sunset Ridge resident Kevin Burns who believes offering quality customer service is the key to success in business and getting repeat customers, not back-lit signs.

"This proposed sign bylaw I believe is short-sighted and doesn't actually help the business community itself," he said at the public hearing. "Really is this going to solve the problems of a failing or struggling business, placing a back-lit sign on a roadway or is the lack of response to complaints and filthy outdoor areas, litter-flung parking lots and cigarette butts in front of the doorway more indicative of the way a business will run itself?"

The planning department analyzed several communities with dark sky policies and found they were largely utilized by tourism/resort based communities and in historic business districts or those with strong architectural aesthetics. Each community examined had their own unique approach to dealing with the issue.

Councillor Patrick Wilson was fence sitting and debating whether it should be deferred. He said he was a fan of the town's dark-sky policy but wasn't totally convinced back-lit signs were the biggest culprit of light pollution in the community.

"I sometimes question how much back-lit signs are actually going to add to light pollution," said Wilson. "I feel like the bigger problems are based upon parking lot lights, street lights and the intensity of front-illuminated lights rather than these back-lit signs."

He was assured these issues would be addressed in the new land-use bylaw.

Councillor Morgan Nagel, who originally supported the 2015 prohibition, believed it was only fair for backlit signs to become a discretionary use.

"As Councillor Wilson has now pointed out a few times, what has happened is now some companies that are deemed to be bigger and more powerful just happen to get their hands on the back-lit signs and If some people are doing it, everybody should be able to do it. If we want to be able to attract serious businesses to Cochrane we need to allow businesses to act seriously, which includes nice signs."

He did toy with the idea of it becoming a permitted use but recognized the value in having the CPC as the regulatory body.

"This discretionary use gives CPC lots of tools to keep people under control and make sure they don't get too crazy so it won't be like Time Square or Las Vegas in Cochrane."

The CPC will be guided by regulations as to what is acceptable and that gave councillors comfort with the issue. Those rules and considerations would include halving the intensity of back-lit lights in the evening and limiting the number of these signs on one property.

With the amendments passed, any business, new or existing, in the specified land use districts are able to apply for a back-lit sign. Administration will process the application and the Cochrane Planning Commission will be the approving authority.

Councillors Tara McFadden and Alex Reed were absent from the meeting.