Monday, March 12th, 2007 ::: Audits of By-Law Enforcement

In today’s Audit of Municipal Licensing and Standards, we look at MLS’s ineffective action against Pattison’s unauthorized billboard on the northerly elevation of 193 Spadina.

On December 30, 2005 Municipal Standards Officer Anthony Bartolo attended the property and took this photo of the northerly elevation.

On February 21, 2006, after the file was passed to Officer Danny Baird, Baird issued this Notice of Violation, ordering the illegal sign removed within 14 days.

On March 6, 2006, the property owner sent this keen letter, via registered mail and fax, to Steve McGregor, Director of Leasing, Pattison Outdoor in which the property owner wrongly states: “we are not responsible for the cost incurred by removing the sign”.

On March 1, 2007 our King/Spadina volunteer took this photograph of the northerly elevation of 193 Spadina:

Over a year after the sign was ordered removed, the illegal posterboard remains. This sign requires the following two variances to the signs by-law:

• Facing a Street: No third party fascia sign may face a street. This sign faces Pheobe Street.
• Separation of Signs: No third party fascia sign may be located within 60 Metres of another billboard, this sign is within 60M of at several billboards, at least one of which is legal.

Buildings Department records indicate that no permit has been issued for this billboard nor has a variance application made it to Community Council. 193 Spadina is the latest addition to our map.

Conclusion: Over a year of by-law enforcement against this sign has not resulted in the removal or legalization of the sign.

We are still investigating the legality of Pattison’s billboard on the southerly elevation of this building.