By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The white sign that hangs from the crossbar off a white post at Green and King streets pointed the way to Breakers on the Lake for half a century before a recent windstorm.
Representing the motel’s owners at Cobourg council Monday, Tina Northcott argued for – and won – permission for the business to replace the sign just the way it was.
Located at the foot of Green Street, immediately east of the Victoria Park beach, the Breakers has been owned by the Lloyd family since 1959. In addition to their donations and fundraising initiatives in support of Northumberland Hills Hospital, the Humane Society and other community agencies, they have played a key role in the local economy – in their own operations, of course, and in directing guests to avail themselves of local stores, restaurants and events.
The four-foot-square sign hanging from the six-inch-square pole has been in place since the 1960s, long predating the 2009 sign bylaw. Updates have been made over the years – adding small floodlights on the ground beside the sign for illumination, for example, and replacing the original hand-painted letters with vinyl ones.
But its appearance has never changed and, according to the letter from owner John Lloyd, they are unaware of any complaint from neighbours or from the town.
Then, earlier this year, a violent windstorm blew it down. And now that it’s gone, Northcott said, these same neighbours (not to mention Breakers guests) are asking about it.
The entire sign (including pole) remains intact, she added, and they just want to replace the sign that they understand was grandfathered under the 2009 bylaw.
“I am in full support of getting this sign back up,” Deputy Mayor Suzanne Seguin declared.
“The Breakers is a landmark of Cobourg, and people have come there for years. Frankly, I don’t see a problem going forward – it’s the same sign in exactly the same location.”
When Councillor Aaron Burchat made a motion to that effect, the rest of council agreed.
