Sign Variance Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 4 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.
SB17.1adopted
Zelinka Priamo Ltd (the "Applicant") has applied for two variances, each subject to four conditions, required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit to erect and display a third party electronic wall sign, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign"), on the premises municipally known as 11 Bay Street (the "Subject Premises"). The Proposed Sign features a single rectangular sign face with a width not exceeding 12.80 meters, a maximum length of 3.70 meters, a sign face area not exceeding 46.90 square meters, and a maximum height of 12.80 meters. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1. The Proposed Sign would be situated within 130 metres of the F.G Gardiner Expressway, entirely within an area governed by a site-specific area restriction that prohibits third-party signs from being displayed within 400 meters of this Expressway. The Subject Premises is designated as a Commercial Residential ("CR") Sign District, where third party electronic wall signs, such as the Proposed Sign, are not expressly permitted. Therefore, variances to Chapter 694 are necessary to allow for a non-permitted third party sign type to be erected within an area where City Council has determined that no third party signs shall be displayed. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information provided by staff, the CBO has determined that insufficient information was provided to demonstrate that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the two variances, each subject to four conditions, as detailed further in Attachment 1 of this report.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Refused to grant the requested variances to sections 694-15.A and 694-24A(3), each subject to four conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report (March 10, 2025).
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant the requested variances to sections 694-15.A and 694-24A(3), each subject to four conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB17.2referred
JOLT Charge Inc (the "Applicant") has submitted a sign variance application requesting one variance required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit to erect and display a double-faced third party electronic ground sign, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign"), on the property municipally known as 3493 Kingston Road (the "Subject Premises"). The portion of the Subject Premises where the Proposed Sign would be placed is designated Commercial Residential ("CR") Sign District, which allows third party signs, however, does not expressly permit electronic ground signs. A variance is required to permit the erection and display of a sign type that is not permitted in the CR Sign District. The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 2.65 meters from grade. It would contain two rectangular sign faces in a back-to-back configuration, oriented northeast and southwest, perpendicular to Kingston Road. Each sign face would measure 0.93 metres by 1.65 metres, resulting in a sign face area of 1.54 square metres. Further details of the Proposed Sign are provided in Attachment 1. The Applicant's Submissions indicate that the Proposed Sign would be affixed to a structure that also features an electric vehicle charging station (the "EV charging station"). As Chapter 694 exclusively regulates signs, this report focuses solely on the components associated to the Proposed Sign. All aspects related to the EV charging station, including relevant laws and regulations, are excluded from the scope of this report. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information provided by staff, the CBO has determined that there is not a sufficient basis to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the one variance, subject to three conditions, as described further in Attachment 1 of this report. Specifically, based on the CBO's assessment the submitted materials do not adequately demonstrate that the Proposed Sign is compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area, supports the objectives of the Official Plan, not alters the character of the area, or aligns with the public interest, and not be a sign prohibited by §694-15B. The latter criterion - prohibition under §694-15B - is evaluated on a binary (yes/no) basis, and failure to meet this single requirement constitutes sufficient grounds for refusal of the variance application.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Referred this matter to the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building for the purposes of receiving further submissions from the Applicant in support of the Application for One Variance, Each Subject to Three Conditions, Respecting One Third Party Electronic Ground Sign - 3493 Kingston Road for the purpose of preparing a supplementary report responding to, and transmitting to the Sign Variance Committee, these further submissions of the Applicant; and to report back to the September 12, 2025 meeting of the Sign Variance Committee.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant the requested variance to section 694-15.A, subject to three conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB17.3adopted
JOLT Charge Inc (the "Applicant") has submitted a sign variance application requesting one variance required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit to erect and display a double-faced third party electronic ground sign, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign"), on the property municipally known as 2901 Lawrence Avenue East (the "Subject Premises"). The Subject Premises is designated Commercial Residential ("CR") Sign District, which allows third party signs, however, does not expressly permit electronic ground signs. Variance is required to permit the erection and display of a sign type that is not permitted in the CR Sign District. The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 2.65 meters from grade and would contain two rectangular sign faces in a back-to-back configuration, oriented east and west, perpendicular to Lawrence Avenue East. Each sign face would measure 0.93 metres by 1.65 metres, resulting in a sign face area of 1.54 square metres. Further details of the Proposed Sign are provided in Attachment 1. The Applicant's Submissions indicate that the Proposed Sign would be affixed to a structure that also features an electric vehicle charging station (the "EV charging station"). As Chapter 694 exclusively regulates signs, this report focuses solely on the components of the Proposed Sign. All aspects related to the EV charging station, including relevant laws and regulations, are excluded from the scope of this report. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information provided by staff, the CBO has determined that there is not a sufficient basis to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the one variance, subject to three conditions, as described further in Attachment 1 of this report.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Refused to grant the requested variance to section 694-15.A, subject to three conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report (May 30, 2025).
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant the requested variance to section 694-15.A, subject to three conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB17.4adopted
JOLT Charge Inc (the "Applicant") has submitted a sign variance application requesting two variances required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit to erect and display a double-faced third party electronic ground sign, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign"), on the property municipally known as 700 Markham Road (the "Subject Premises"). The Subject Premises is designated a Commercial Residential ("CR") Sign District, which allows for third party signs, however, does not expressly permit electronic ground signs. A variance is required to permit the erection and display of a sign type that is not permitted in the CR Sign District. The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 2.65 meters from grade. It would contain two rectangular sign faces in a back-to-back configuration, oriented north and south, perpendicular to Markham Road. Each sign face would measure 0.93 metres by 1.65 metres, resulting in a sign face area of 1.54 square metres. Further details of the Proposed Sign are provided in Attachment 1. Submissions indicate that the Proposed Sign would be affixed to a structure that also features an electric vehicle charging station (the "EV charging station"). As Chapter 694 exclusively regulates signs, this report focuses solely on the components of the Proposed Sign. All aspects related to the EV charging station, including relevant laws and regulations, are excluded from the scope of this report. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information provided by staff, the CBO has determined that there is not a sufficient basis to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the two variances, each subject to three conditions, as described further in Attachment 1 of this report.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Refused to grant the requested variances to sections 694-14.R and 694-15.A, each subject to three conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report (May 30, 2025).
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant the requested variances to sections 694-14.R and 694-15.A, each subject to three conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report.