Turf war between elderly Toronto man and city over fake grass rages on
The city is refusing to back down from a court battle with an elderly man over artificial grass.
“I think the city is bullying me. I think it's not fair,” homeowner Frank Leone told CTV News Toronto on Tuesday.
An image of Frank Leone, and the artificial turf that he used for his front lawn. (CTV News Toronto)Leone said he installed synthetic grass on his North York lawn months ago because he is in his 80s, has suffered a stroke, and has limited mobility.
While there is no specific bylaw pertaining to fake grass, artificial turf is not listed as an approved material for soft landscaping.
To approach the issue within the bounds of the law, Leone said he had a bylaw officer inspect his grass last October, which led to an approval for his synthetic grass.
But just a month later, a city building inspector had a different take on the lawn after a neighbour complained about the landscaping.
The inspector said water could not pass through the fake grass, which led to Leone charged with a failure to comply with an order.
“He's the one being dragged into court and he has a disability. Because the city can't agree with itself,” former city councillor Karen Stintz said.
She pointed out that Leone even has written approval for the grass from a bylaw officer – proof she thought would put an end to the saga.
But Stintz said the city is not backing down.
“I cannot believe that this is the approach they are taking with an elderly man who wants to live in his house, in peace,” she said.
The next step is the city is taking the matter to trial, which means Leone will have to travel to court at least two more times this month, and then again in May.
“This is ridiculous,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016
Security video aired by CNN appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Anglers reel in 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off coast of Florida: 'She found my bait'
A group of fishers said it took roughly 20 minutes to reel in this 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off the coast of Florida.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
Israeli military finds bodies of 3 Gaza hostages killed at music festival
Israeli military says its troops in Gaza found the bodies of three Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack, including German-Israeli Shani Louk.