We are very pleased with the progress on the new bylaw governing billboards and other permanent signage in Toronto. The team drafting the bylaw has many good ideas, such as a five-year sunset clause on new billboard permits and a system to notify residents of variance requests made nearby: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-17603.pdf

We are, however, concerned about a few things, the most alarming of which is the potential for more digital (LED) signage. The ad companies would love nothing more than to convert every single billboard into a digital sign. These signs have a far greater impact on the surrounding communities and on the environment. Such mass conversion was a disaster for Los Angeles: http://www.laweekly.com/2008-11-20/news/digital-billboards-become-a-bohemian-blasphemy/

We intend to do whatever we can to prevent those signs from appearing here.

The next round of public consultations is coming up in late January. Choose one and mark it on your calendar:

Tuesday, January 20
Etobicoke Civic Centre
2 Civic Centre Court, 2nd floor
Council Chambers

Wednesday, January 21
North York Civic Centre
5100 Yonge Street, 1st floor
Council Chambers

Thursday, January 22
Scarborough Civic Centre
150 Borough Drive
Council Chambers

Thursday, January 29
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West, 2nd floor
Committee Room #2

All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m.