King property Management Ltd…

King property Management Ltd.

142 Oakdale Road, Toronto, Ontario M3N 1V9
Telephone: (416) 305-2541 | Email: julius.suraski@gmail.com

December 05, 2016.
Arielle Mayer
Senior Policy Advisor
Ministry of Transportation
777 Bay Street
Suite 3000
Toronto Ontario
M7A 2J8

EBR Registry Number: 012-8680

MTO SUBMISSION REGARDING 3RD PARTY SIGNAGE UNDER THE CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

I represent a group of property owners with outdoor signage in the Highway 400 + 401 corridor. (400 + 401 SIGN GROUP).
I am a landowner and business operator whose property faces Highway 400 situated on the east side of Highway 400 north of Sheppard Avenue and south of Finch Avenue. I erected a sign structure on my building in 2002, advertising my business with a municipal permit as well as a permit from MTO.
I have been the property owner since 1988 and over the years have witnessed the proliferation of signs in this corridor, many I suspect that have been erected with no permit.
My sign has always been used as a location sign, advertising the business of my tenants within the building.
I have been approached by all the major outdoor advertising companies, seeking to rent my sign for the use of “3rd party advertising” that is for businesses not located in my property. The past offers are tempting and I know several landlords whose properties face the corridor who have taken up such contracts.
Many of the landlords to whom I have spoken suggest that this additional revenue is what allows them to do repairs and upgrades to what are otherwise old industrial buildings that are unattractive to newer businesses that require more electrical capacity, warehouse height and modern amenities.
What has become clear to me over the years is that the City of Toronto has mismanaged the outdoor sign by-law program and has been negligent in the administration of the sign by-law.
This has caused an unsightly proliferation of signage along the corridor and lost opportunities for the Province. It is a clear example of bureaucratic bungling.
I believe that the economics of outdoor signage should yield a positive outcome for MTO that can generate significant revenue and provide valuable public services for the general community.
The future of billboard signage is “digital” as opposed to the “static” signs that currently exist. I have met with the major digital sign manufacturers and am very knowledgeable about the new innovative technologies that are available.
Based on my research and discussion with over 40 landowners in the corridor described I can suggest the following:

1.That MTO abandon the distinction between first and third party billboard usage and should allow 3rd party billboard signs on private property so long as they meet a stipulated size standard and a minimum distance between signs, illumination and movement restrictions.

2.MTO should allow the erection of digital billboards for the use of 3rd party advertising on the condition that 20% of the use of the sign be devoted to public service messaging.
Public service messages should include such things as amber alerts, emergency public safety messages, traffic alerts, weather alerts, and general tourism information that promotes Ontario’s tourist destinations.

3.MTO should allow the erection of digital billboards on a revenue sharing basis with private landowners that yields a return of 10% of the gross revenue generated by each sign.

I would advise the MTO to undertake a pilot project to explore these, and other revenue-generating opportunities.
I am an independent property manager and would be prepared to undertake a contract with MTO to research, develop and implement a sensible corridor sign management program that would have significant public service benefits in addition to creating a significant revenue stream that is transparent, auditable and easily managed.

Thank you for your consideration.

Julius Suraski, B.Com., CA, C.Med.
General Manager,
King Property Management.

[Original Comment ID: 205240]