Application for Five Variances, subject to One Condition, respecting One Third Party Electronic Ground Sign located in the Galt Subdivision (40 metres west of Highway 427)

The Proposed Sign will be located on an existing elevated structure above the railway, approximately 300 metres north of North Queen Street, between The East Mall and The West Mall and 40 metres west of Highway 427 and facing in a north-easterly and south-easterly direction along Highway 427. The Applicant has retained Van Horne Outdoor to act as their representative with respect to this application. The Proposed Location is a Utility ("U") Sign District, which allows third party electronic ground signs. The Proposed Sign will have a height of 18 metres from the grade, and will contain two rectangular sign faces, each measuring 14.63 metres horizontally by 4.27 metres vertically, with a sign face area of 62.47 square metres. One of the five variances will be subject to a condition that the sign faces on the Proposed Sign will be in a "v-shaped" configuration with an interior angle not exceeding 45 degrees. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1. The Proposed Sign requires five variances to Chapter 694, to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit. The requirements in Chapter 694 which have been requested to be varied, are as follow: 1. The Proposed Sign is located approximately 40 metres west of the western limit of Highway 427 whereas the Sign By-law prohibits third party signs within 400 metres of Highway 427; 2. The Proposed Sign has a sign face area of 62.47 square metres, whereas the Sign By-law allows a maximum sign face area of 20 square metres; 3. The Proposed Sign has a height of 18 metres, whereas the Sign By-law permits a maximum height of 10 metres; 4. The Proposed Sign is approximately 30 metres to a CR - Commercial Residential sign district located south of the location of the Proposed Sign, whereas the Sign By-law requires a separation distance of 60 metres; and, 5. The Proposed Sign has a "v-shaped" configuration, whereas the Sign By-law requires the sign faces to be located in a back-to-back configuration. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and the results of research and investigation by Sign By-law Unit staff, the CBO has determined that the Applicant has not provided sufficient information to determine that the Proposed Sign meets all nine of the criteria established in §694- 30A of the Sign By-law. Specifically, the information provided has not established that: the Proposed Sign is compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area; will support the Official Plan objectives for the Subject Property and surrounding area; will not adversely affect the adjacent premises; will not adversely affect public safety, including traffic and pedestrian safety:, does not alter the character of the premises and surrounding area; and, is not contrary to the public interest. Therefore, the CBO does not support the Sign Variance Committee granting the five requested variances for the proposed sign.