Sign Variance Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 5 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
SB16.1adopted
Pattison Outdoor (the "Applicant") has stated that they have been authorized by the owner of the property municipally known as 1221 Finch Avenue West (the "Subject Premises"), to apply for three variances, each subject to two conditions, required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit for one third party electronic ground sign with four sign faces, displaying both electronic static copy and static copy (the "Proposed Sign") at 1221 Finch Avenue West. The Proposed Sign would be located along the northern frontage of the Subject Premises, contains four sign faces (two on each side of the sign) in a back to back configuration and would be perpendicular to, and viewed by traffic travelling westbound and eastbound along Finch Avenue West. The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 8.66 metres from the grade and is proposed to contain a combination of third party electronic static copy on sign faces measuring 2.91 metres vertically by 5.79 metres horizontally with a total sign face area of 16.85 square metres; and, first party static copy on sign faces measuring 1.57 metres vertically by 3.57 metres horizontally with a total sign face area of 5.60 square metres. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1. The Proposed Sign would require three Variances to Chapter 694, each subject to two conditions, to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit. The requirements of Chapter 694 which have been requested to be varied, and the proposed varied requirements are summarized below: 1) § 694-25C(2)(a) - An Employment "E" Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided the sign face area shall not exceed 20 square metres. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign will have a sign face area of 22.45 square metres; 2) § 694-25C(2)(d) - An Employment "E" Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided the sign shall not be erected within any required setback of a building from a street as regulated by the City's applicable Zoning By-law, which requires a minimum 9 metres setback. Proposed New Requirement: That the Proposed Sign have a 1 metre setback from the street; and, 3) § 694-25C(2)(j) - An Employment "E" Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided the sign shall have no more than two sign faces. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign will contain four sign faces in total. If granted, each of the three requested variances, would be subject to the following conditions: 1) Any and all existing first party ground signs located at the north frontage of the premises municipally known as 1221 Finch Avenue West shall be removed and all associated permits revoked, prior to the erection or display of the Proposed Sign; 2) The portion of the sign marked as 'Area 'B' in Schedule A of Attachment 1 to this report be used for first party sign copy only. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information provided by the Sign By-law Unit staff, the CBO has determined that there is a sufficient basis to conclude that the nine required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the three variances, subject to the noted conditions as described further in Appendix 1 to this report.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Granted the requested variances to sections 694- 25C(2)(a), 694-25C(2)(d), and 694-25C(2)(j), each subject to two conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at the property municipally known as 1221 Finch Avenue West, as described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 9, 2022) from the Manager, Sign By-law Unit, Toronto Building.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee grant the requested variances to sections 694- 25C(2)(a), 694-25C(2)(d), and 694-25C(2)(j), each subject to two conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at the property municipally known as 1221 Finch Avenue West, as described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB16.2amended
Xmedia (the "Applicant") has stated that they have been authorized by the owner of the property municipally known as 476 Evans Avenue (the "Subject Premises"), to apply for seven variances, each subject to three conditions, required to allow for a permit to be issued for one third party electronic ground sign with two sign faces, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") at 476 Evans Avenue. The Subject Premises is a relatively unique location within the City, as it is one of the few locations that is subject to more than one of the 74 separate area specific restrictions enacted by City Council, which specifically prohibit any third party signs from being erected on the premises. The Proposed Sign would be located along the north-west frontage of the Subject Premises, facing the Gardiner Expressway, in a westerly and north-easterly direction. It will have a maximum height of 13.47 metres, and will contain two rectangular sign faces, in a "back to back" configuration each with a maximum horizontal measurement of 14.63 metres (centre line) and maximum vertical measurement 4.27 metres (bisecting line), with a sign face area of 62.47 square metres. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1. Seven variances to Chapter 694, each subject to three conditions, are required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit for the Proposed Sign. The requirements in Chapter 694, which have been requested to be varied, and proposed new requirements are as below: 1) § 694-24.A(1) - A third party sign shall not be erected or displayed or caused to be erected or displayed in whole or in part within 400 metres of any limit of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway from Highway 427 to the Humber River, transferred from the Province by Order in Council 534/97. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be erected and displayed within the prohibited area comprised of any location within 400 metres of any limit of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway from Highway 427 to the Humber River, specifically the Proposed Sign would be erected and displayed approximately 1.5 meters of southern limit of F.G. Gardiner Expressway between Highway 427 and the Humber River). 2) § 694-24.A(17)- A third party sign shall not be erected or displayed or caused to be erected or displayed in whole or in part within 400 metres of any limit of Highway 427 contained within the municipal boundaries of the City. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be erected and displayed within the prohibited area comprised of any location within 400 metres of Highway 427 contained within the municipal boundaries of the City, specifically the Proposed Sign would be erected and displayed approximately 290 metres from the Highway 427 off-ramp onto the F.G. Gardiner Expressway. 3) § 694-25.C(2)(a)- An Employment "E" Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the sign face area shall not exceed 20.0 square metres. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would have a sign face area that would not exceed 62.47 square meters on each sign face (which is approximately three times the permitted sign face area on each sign face). 4) § 694-25.C(2)(b)- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the height shall not exceed 10.0 meters. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would have a height that would not exceed 13.47 meters. 5) § 694-25.C(2)(d)- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the sign shall not be erected within any required setback of a building from a street as regulated by the City's applicable Zoning By-law. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be located within the minimum permitted rear and side yard setback in the City's applicable Zoning By-law, specifically within 1.5 metres from the rear and side yard property lines where the required rear and side yard setback for the premises are 7.5m & 3m respectively. 6) § 694-25.C(2)(f)- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided where a sign is located within 250 metres of an R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district, the sign cannot face any premise in the R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district.- Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would face OS sign districts located within 125 meters of the North West sign face and within 220 metres of the South West sign face, as well a CR sign district located 230 meters to the North East and an R sign district located 220 metres to the South East. 7) § 694-25C(2)(h) - An (E) Employment Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided there shall be no more than one ground sign or electronic ground sign erected on the premises. Proposed New Requirement: The Subject Premises be allowed to contain a third party electronic ground sign, although the Subject Premises contains a single first party ground sign (A ground sign located on the South East frontage of 476 Evans Ave, identifying the existing business in the property, "Global Alliance"). Each of the seven requested variances will be subject to the following three conditions: Condition 1. The sign face bottom shall be no less than 4.25 metres from the ground for all sign faces. Condition 2. The Proposed Sign shall be located no closer than 1.5 metres from the northern property line of the Subject Premises. Condition 3. The Proposed Sign shall be located no closer than 1.5 metres from the eastern property line of the Subject Premises. 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; supports the Official Plan objectives for the premises and surrounding area; does not alter the character of the premises and surrounding area; does not adversely affect adjacent premises; does not adversely affect public safety, including traffic and pedestrian safety; and, is not contrary to the public interest. Therefore, the CBO does not support the Sign Variance Committee granting the seven requested variances, each subject to three conditions, for the Proposed Sign.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Refused to grant any of the seven requested variances to sections 694-24.A(1), 694-24.A(17), 694-25.C(2)(a), 694-25.C(2)(b), 694- 25.C(2)(d), § 694-25.C(2)(f), and § 694-25.C(2)(h), each subject to conditions, which would be required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the proposed Sign at the property municipally known as 476 Evans Avenue as described in Attachment 1 to this report (March 9, 2022) from the Manager, Sign By-Law Unit, Toronto Building, and such additional conditions included in April 1, 2022, Presentation from Rav Banwait, Xmedia Outdoor.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant any of the seven requested variances to sections 694-24.A(1), 694-24.A(17), 694-25.C(2)(a), 694-25.C(2)(b), 694- 25.C(2)(d), § 694-25.C(2)(f), and § 694-25.C(2)(h), each subject to three conditions, which would be required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the proposed Sign at the property municipally known as 476 Evans Ave as described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB16.3adopted
Due to Construction Media (the "Applicant") has stated that they have been authorized by the owner of the property municipally known as 170 Brockport Drive (the "Subject Premises"), to apply for four variances required to allow for a permit to be issued for one third party electronic ground sign with two sign faces, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") at 170 Brockport Drive. The Proposed Sign would be located along the south frontage of the Subject Premises, facing Belfield Road, in a westerly and easterly direction. It is proposed to have a maximum height of 7.62 metres, and two rectangular sign faces, in a "back to back" configuration, each with a maximum horizontal measurement of 5.79 metres (centre line) and maximum vertical measurement of 2.91 metres (bisecting line), with a maximum sign face area of 16.85 square metres. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1. Four variances to Chapter 694 would be required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit for the Proposed Sign. The requirements of Chapter 694 which have been requested to be varied, and the proposed varied requirements are summarized below: 1) § 694-24.A (10) - A third party sign shall not be erected or displayed or caused to be erected or displayed in whole or in part within 400 metres of any limit of Highway 27 from Highway 401 to Steeles Avenue, transferred from the Province by Order in Council 535/97; Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be erected or displayed or caused to be erected or displayed in whole or in part within 22.0 metres of any limit of Highway 27, specifically the Highway 27 off-ramp onto Belfield Road. 2) § 694-24.A (16) - A third party sign shall not be erected or displayed or caused to be erected or displayed in whole or in part within 400 metres of any limit of any portion of Highway 409 contained within the municipal boundaries of the City. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be erected or displayed or caused to be erected or displayed in whole or in part within 130 metres of the northern limit of Highway 409. 3) § 694-25.C (2)(c) - An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the sign shall not be erected within 30.0 metres of the intersection of a major street with any other street. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be erected or displayed or caused to be erected or displayed in whole or in part within 11.2 metres from the intersection of Belfield Road and Brockport Drive. 4) § 694-25.C(2)(d) - An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the sign shall not be erected within any required setback of a building from a street as regulated by the City's applicable Zoning By-law; (which for the Subject Premises would be 4.5 metres). Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be erected with a 3.9 metres setback with respect to the front yard of the Subject Premises; and with 3.15 metres setback respecting the side yard of the Subject Premises. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and the results of additional research and investigation by Sign By-law Unit staff, the CBO has determined that insufficient information has been provided to establish 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; supports the Official Plan objectives for the premises and surrounding area; does not alter the character of the premises and surrounding area; does not adversely affect adjacent premises; does not adversely affect public safety, including traffic and pedestrian safety; and, is not contrary to the public interest. Therefore, the CBO does not support the Sign Variance Committee granting the four requested variances for the Proposed Sign
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Refused to grant any of the four requested variances to sections 694-24.A(10), 694-24.A(16), 694- 25.C(2)(c), § 694-25.C(2)(d) required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign at the property municipally known as 170 Brockport Drive as described in Attachment 1 to the March 9, 2022 Report from the Manager, Sign By-Law Unit, Toronto Building.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant any of the four requested variances to sections 694-24.A(10), 694-24.A(16), 694- 25.C(2)(c), § 694-25.C(2)(d) required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign at the property municipally known as 170 Brockport Drive as described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB16.4amended
Zip Signs Ltd. (the "Appellant") has stated that they have been authorized by both Desjardins Financial Security (the "Sign Owner") and the owner of the property municipally known as 3410 Sheppard Avenue East (the "Subject Premises"), to appeal a refusal decision made to a Sign Variance application (21-172811). The application required one variance from the Sign By-law in order to allow for permits to be issued for each of the two first party wall signs (the "Proposed Signs") to be erected and displayed above the second storey of an office building. The Proposed Signs would be erected on the fourth storey of the building on the Subject Premises. One on the east elevation ("Proposed Sign East") and one on the west elevation ("Proposed Sign West"). Both of the Proposed Signs would have a rectangular sign face with a maximum bisecting line of 1.73 metres (vertical measurement); a maximum centre line of 4.57 metres (horizontal measurement), and a maximum height of 14.58 metres. The Appellant notes that the Proposed Signs would, if allowed, contain sign copy that would identify "Desjardins Financial Security", a tenant in the building at 3410 Sheppard Avenue East. There are no conditions proposed requiring such specific sign copy, and the variances for each of the Proposed Signs, would allow for signs that contain any form of first party sign copy. After conducting a review of the Sign Variance application, a decision was made by the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building (the "CBO") to refuse to grant the requested variances required for the erection and display of the Proposed Signs. Following this decision, the Appellant filed an appeal of the CBO's decision. This appeal was filed in accordance with the requirements of the Sign By-law. The CBO has reviewed all materials presented in connection to this Appeal, and determined that the Appellant 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, which are required in order for a variance approval to be granted. Specifically, insufficient information was provided to determine that the Proposed Signs would not alter the character of the premises and surrounding area and that the Proposed Signs would not be contrary to the public interest. As such, the CBO does not support the Sign Variance Committee granting the requested variances for the Proposed Signs.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Granted the requested variances to section 694-21.D(5), required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of each of the Proposed Signs at the property municipally known as 3410 Sheppard Avenue East as described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 11, 2022) from the Manager, Sign By-law Unit, Toronto Building; and further that the sign be constructed with illuminated channel letters on a non-illuminated background.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant the requested variances to section 694-21.D(5), required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of each of the Proposed Signs at the property municipally known as 3410 Sheppard Avenue East as described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB16.5received
Public Appointments to the Sign Variance Committee
At its meeting held March 9, 2022, City Council appointed Anne Milchberg and Janet Ross to the Sign Variance Committee for a term of office from March 10, 2022 to March 9, 2026, and until successors are appointed. These appointments fill the positions previously held by Irene Buncel and Nigel Waterman whose terms of office came to an end on March 9, 2022.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Received the letter (March 15, 2022) from the City Clerk.