City denies massive billboard bid, despite councillor's endorsement

The city's sign variance committee Tuesday pulled the plug ona proposal to erect a 20-metre-tall electronic billboard near the Gardiner Expressway that would havetowered sixstoreys over nearby homes and businesses.

The plan had the backing of local Coun. Mark Grimes, despite the fact that staff were recommending against it.

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"Having a large electronicsign that close to the Gardiner Expressway could result in some distraction to drivers," said Ted Van Vliet, manager of the city's sign bylaw unit.

"The city has looked at the issue and there hasn't been evidence to directly link these signs to traffic accidents.However, driver distraction is an ongoing concern and that's brought out in the staff report."

The company that wanted to erect the sign Pristine Printing had admitted that their proposed sign was too big and too close to the Gardinerto satisfy city regulations. But they asked the sign variance committee to overlook those shortcomings. Theirapplication was backed by Grimes, who did not appear at Tuesday's meeting.

The committee voted unanimously to deny the exemptions.

Grimes wrote a letter of support for the sign, whichwould stand on Bestobell Road a small street running north off Evans Avenue toward the Gardiner in south Etobicoke,where Grimes is seeking re-election.

City documents show the billboard was designed toflash advertisements 24 hours a day, seven days a week,facing drivers heading out of the city along the busy highway, as well as castinglight over nearby homes.

"I have consulted with the property owner on this matter and am of the opinion that the proposed single-sided ground sign will have no negative impact on the community or the existing streetscape, as there are a number of other similar signs present," Grimes wrote in a letter to the committee in July.

"In addition, I have received no concerns or objections in my office," the letter states.

But some residents on North Carson Street, just over a block from the proposed sign site, told CBC Toronto they were concerned.

"You should send a letter to people who live in the community to see what they think," Norm Holden said.

"Pinpoint where it is and let us see first, before you do it."

Down the street, his neighbour Alda Rodrigueswas also opposed.

"Not a good idea. This is a residential area," she said. "I'm not happy about it."

The sign was supposed to sit on the property of Pristine Printing, on Bestobell Road.

That company askedthe city for six separate variances.But a city staff report saidthe company's application didn't meet all the criteria for the variances to be granted, arguing the proposed sign would be much taller, wider and closer to the Gardiner thanbylaws allow.

The billboard "will alter the character of the premise or the surrounding area; and, is contrary to the public interest," according to a staff review.

Proposal would 'adversely affect' residents

City bylaws state electronic billboards must be at least 400 metres from the highway. This proposal calledfor the billboard to stand sixmetres away.

City staff saidthe proposed billboard was to be perched on a stand about 15 metrestall three times taller than most of thebusinesses and homes in the area.The billboard's face was tobe more than three times larger than normally permitted.

The report, written by Robert Bader, supervisor of tax, variance and permits in the sign bylaw unit,saidthe proposed billboard would "adversely affect" nearby residents and motorists.

Residential neighbourhood nearby

"The proposed sign is incompatible with the surrounding area, in part, because of its proximity to sensitive land uses, namely residential," the report said.

"The proposed sign will face and be visible to an established low-rise residential neighbourhood on the south side of Evans Avenue, placing it near where people live," the report continued.

"This visibility concern is exacerbated by the height and sign face area of the proposed sign."

'No one attended'

The report also statedthat a public meeting was held at the Etobicoke Civic Centre in June of this year. "No one attended."

CBC Toronto has tried to arrange an interview with Grimes about his support for the sign, but calls and emails to his office have not yet been returned.

This isn't the first time Grimes has supported the idea of a massive billboard in the same community.

Grimes backed 2013sign proposal

In 2013, he pushed for another electronic billboard at 486 Evans Avenue about 150 metres from where the current proposed billboard would have beenlocated. The application was denied.

Staff determined that sign application wasn't "compatible with the surrounding neighbourhood and buildings," according to a report authored by Van Vliet. That report also suggested there's evidence such signs can be dangerous distractions for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

Electronic billboards can be extremely lucrative, bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in revenue to property owners,especially if they are near busy stretches of road and unobstructed.

In 2010, the city passed new billboard regulations to harmonize where they can be built, and how large they can be. Existing signs were grandfathered.