Council halts billboard proposal pending policy review
Milton council rejected a request from RCC Media to erect two oversized digital billboards on CN lands north of Highway 401 near Regional Road 25, and directed town staff to develop a clear regulatory framework before any future proposals of that scale are considered.
The company had proposed one sign facing eastbound and another facing westbound traffic. The application followed a refusal issued under delegated authority by Jill Hogan, Milton's commissioner of development services, who concluded the requested variances were not minor and that the town's existing sign bylaw did not contemplate billboards of this size and digital format.
"The variances being proposed are not minor in nature," Hogan told council, adding the current bylaw "was never written to contemplate digital billboards of this type and of this size."
During a delegation, RCC Media representative Robert Corridore said the proposal forms part of a province-wide digital signage program coordinated with the Ministry of Transportation, CN Rail and CP Rail, with about 40 locations planned across Ontario. He acknowledged the Milton signs exceeded local height and size limits and said the company hoped to meet the province's rollout schedule.
Mayor Gord Krantz asked whether a provincial minister's zoning order (MZO) covering the CN lands would override the town bylaw and allow the signs to proceed. Hogan said the MZO does not negate municipal bylaws, noting it permits consideration of the proposal but remains "quite explicit" that local regulations must still be followed.
Next steps and local implications
Council supported a staff-led, comprehensive review of the Town's sign bylaw. Staff expect to return with recommended changes and guidance around mid-2027. Until that process is complete, applications for similar large digital signage in Milton are unlikely to be approved.
- Proposal: two digital billboards on CN lands north of Hwy. 401 (one eastbound, one westbound)
- Applicant: RCC Media
- Decision: variance refused by commissioner; council declined to overturn and ordered bylaw review
- Staff action: comprehensive sign bylaw review, return mid-2027
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Sign variances | Refused by commissioner |
| Council decision | Supported staff direction for review |
| Bylaw review completion | Expected mid-2027 |
The decision signals the town's intent to set explicit rules for large-format digital signs before permitting them along major corridors. For residents and motorists, that means no immediate change to the visual environment along this stretch of Highway 401 while the municipality updates its regulatory framework. For RCC Media and other proponents involved in provincial rollouts, Milton's pause introduces a local review step that could affect timing and design of future installations.
Council's approach underscores a broader planning principle: significant deviations from existing regulations prompt municipal review rather than ad hoc approvals. Staff will consider impacts such as scale, illumination, safety and conformity with local land-use objectives as part of the upcoming bylaw examination.
