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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 25, 2009 - 9 When it comes to billboards -- size does matter By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Town of Oakville may have lost the ability to ban billboards within town limits, but it still has control over the size of the signs and those in the advertising business do not like that one bit. About 20 representatives from the advertising community filled the Trafalgar Room at Town Hall, Monday afternoon, to attend one of two public meetings being held to gather input over proposed changes to the now defunct sign bylaw. The Ontario Court of Appeal struck down the bylaw, which regulated sign (billboard) locations within Oakville, in November after the court ruled that portions of it were Advertising industry asks Town to loosen restrictions on size of billboard signs an infringement on the right to freedom of expression. As a result of the decision, Town staff have reworked the bylaw, proposing changes that would make it less restrictive. Planning Consultant Paul Stagl spoke about some of these changes during the meeting. "The first thing the working group is thinking about recommending is opening up the previous prohibition of having more than one sign per property, but subject to some regulations," said Stagl. "One of the other things we looked at was opening up the northsouth corridors by adding permissions for multiple signs on individual properties." Stagl noted employment lands (zoned E1) are also being considered as appropriate places for billboards as are large properties in excess of 300 metres. To regulate some of these changes, Town staff have proposed billboards be a minimum of 300 metres apart, that they be a minimum of six metres away from any buildings located on the same property and that consideration be given to placing a cap on the number of billboards within the town at any given time. While some in the advertising industry liked of some of these new regulations, almost all who addressed Town staff called on them to go farther, particularly in the area of size. Billboards are currently legislated to a maximum limit of 80 square feet in Oakville. "It seems the Town has gone quite a long ways from its initial steps in terms of advertising signs and the qualifiers it's introducing and it all seems not too Integra fundraiser in memory of Steven Hamel The family and friends of an Oakville man killed in a boating accident last year are hosting a fundraiser this Sunday to support Integra, a Toronto-based organization that helps children and adolescents dealing with learning disabilities. Steven Hamel, 24, overcame many challenges imposed on him by a learning disability, including learning to read and living on his own, before his death on June 21. Steven's father, Mike Hamel, credits Integra with helping to turn his son around. The fundraiser is at the Oakville Boston Pizza, 270 North Service Rd W., at 1 p.m. Admission requires the purchase of a Steven Hamel memorial bracelet and while the exact price of that bracelet has yet to be settled on, Mike Hamel noted it will be negligible with the money going to Integra. For more information, call Hamel at 905-827-8538. bad," said Sid Catalano, Pattison Outdoor Advertising. "But, I want to bring sizing into this discussion because I think it's important. The advertising industry across the country has its own standard size easel that we put our message into to be displayed. For the billboard, there are two standard sizes in this country, the minimum ones would be a 10 foot by 20 foot (200 square feet) and 12 foot by 16 foot (192 square feet)." Catalano said these standard sizes provide for consistency across the country, while abnormal sizes like the one in Oakville, mean the company requires a second production run. "It just adds confusion that you don't need," he said. "In not adopting these standard sizes, are we still somewhat being prohibitive?" Blair Murdock, representing several property owners including the Ontario Realty Corporation and the Canadian National Railway, also voiced concerns over size. "It doesn't sound like it's open for discussion, but from an industry standpoint it is shame it's not open because I think the resolutions of this bylaw could be done a lot more simply if you opened it up and did allow that standardized size," said Murdock. Murdock also recommended that rather than cap the number of billboards put up in Oakville, the Town should increase the size of the billboards allowed and put a cap on square footage. This way there would only be a few large billboards instead of many little ones scattered throughout the town. The Town will gather further public input on the proposed changes to its sign bylaw during a Thursday public information meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. in Town Hall's Oakville Room. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: SMART METERS & DOOR TO DOOR SALES PEOPLE Oakville Hydro has received concerns from customers that they have been approached by door to door salespeople selling electricity contracts in relation to smart meters. Please be aware the Oakville Hydro does not have representatives going door to door. Oakville Hydro has not started the deployment of Smart Meters to support the Provincial Government's goal of installing a Smart Meter in every Ontario home and small business by 2010. We are anticipating starting the implementation in the late fall of 2009 and will communicate with our customers well in advance. If you are approached by someone at your door selling electricity, or wanting to install a Smart Meter, it is not a representative of Oakville Hydro. Remember to always: · Ask for their official identification and their name · Ask for their company name and phone number · Ask them to leave literature with you · Don't offer any information or show them any of your hydro bills unless you are sure of whom you are dealing with · If you have any concerns about the conduct of an energy retailer, please contact the Ontario Energy Board at www.oeb.gov.on.ca or by calling 1-877-632-2727 For more information about the Smart Meter Program, you may contact the Ministry of Energy at 1-888-668-4636 or visit www.smartmetersontario.ca or www.energygov.on.ca. Visit www.oakvillehydro.com for Energy Conservation information and Energy Saving Tips. Learn more about The Great Refrigerator Roundup and Peaksaver Programs! Programs offered by the Ontario Power Authority and Oakville Hydro. ®Trademark of Toronto Hydro Corporation. Used under license. 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