Havergal Changes the City's Skyline

09/02/2010
Students help defeat Astral Media's LED billboard.

Working with Ms.Peel from the Institute at Havergal, students in Ms. Hartford's Grade 12 law class (Genevieve Yam, Sarah Ewen, Hilary Beck and Emily Nolan) gave deputations on February 9 at the North York Community Council meeting that contributed to the unanimous vote by Council to defeat Astral Media's application for a variance to place a video screen billboard above the Pizza Hut at 1552 Avenue Road (just north of Lawrence Avenue)!

Councillor Moscoe pointed out that the original application had been deferred in May 2009 because the city was in the process of creating a new sign by-law. There is now a sign by-law and the proposed sign did not comply. In fact, it did not comply to the extent that a variation would not have been sufficient to permit it -- Astral would have had to bring an application to amend the sign by-law.

 

Pointing to the new sign by-law, Councillors were unanimous in their rejection of applications by companies for exceptions to the new by-law. Councillor Moscoe pointed out that signs are now in the hands of a citizen's signing committee and out of the hands of municipal politicians.

Our students set a precedent -- companies must now comply with the new sign by-law, and will not be permitted to apply to City Councils for variances. All sign applications must now be made to the new city signage committee.

Our students were poised and well-spoken, having done their research and prepared their deputations. They represented our community effectively and with great result. They made a difference!

As a note: they were joined as deputants by Daniel Simmons (speaking as an area resident); Susan Norberg (who lives across the street from the proposed sign, and provided the above photo), Jonathan Goldsbie from Spacing.ca, and one deputant in favour of the variance (Astral Media).

After hearing deputations, Councillor Stintz moved that the vote on the sign proposal be deferred to the next meeting to enable Astral to consult with the community. The motion to defer was rejected by Council, who then voted unanimously (including Councillor Stintz) against the application for variance.

 

Back at Havergal, Ms. Hartford's Grade 12 Law class celebrated the accomplishments of their four deputants with cake and a visit from Ms. Peel. Principal Groesbeck dropped by to offer her congratulations and reinforced the value of engaging in one's community.

 

The class also was congratulated by dancer and activist Tracee Smith, founder of the organization Outside Looking In.

Congratulations to our brilliant students, Ms. Hartford and Ms. Peel. And thank you to Havergal supporters, the Institute at Havergal, and to Dr. Groesbeck who urged the Havergal community to take up this cause.