Sign Variance Committee

The full agenda, as filed

All 8 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.

• SB4.1deferred

  Sign Variance Committee - Roles and Expectations of Public Members

  The Manager of Public Appointments will provide an overview of the rules and expectations of public members - Sign Variance Committee.

  The Sign Variance Committee deferred consideration of the presentation until the next meeting of the Sign Variance Committee on September 24, 2019.

• SB4.2received

  Integrity Commissioner - Code of Conduct and Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

  The Integrity Commissioner will provide an overview of the Code of Conduct and Municipal Conflict of Interest Act provisions.

  The Sign Variance Committee received the presentation for information.

• SB4.3received

  Overview of Sign By-law and City Policy and Procedures

  The Manager, Sign Bylaw Unit will provide an overview of the Sign By-law and City Policy and Procedures.

  The Sign Variance Committee received the presentation for information.

• SB4.4received

  Overview of Sign By-law and Roles and Obligations of Sign Variance Committee

  City Legal Services will provide an overview of the Sign By-law and roles and obligations of the Sign Variance Committee.

  The Sign Variance Committee received the presentation for information and directed that the powerpoint presentation remain confidential as it relates to the education and training of members.

• SB4.5adopted

  Appeal Concerning Variances for One First Party Wall Sign at 185 The West Mall

  This report addresses an appeal concerning two variances sought respecting one illuminated first party wall sign displaying static copy (the Proposed Sign). During the appeal process, GTA Office West Inc. (the Appellant) modified its proposal to include that each of the two requested variances are subject to two conditions: that the Proposed Sign be aligned with an existing sign currently displaying sign copy related to "Pomerleau" (the Pomerleau sign), along the east elevation, and an existing wall sign at the upper-most storey of south elevation of the building, currently displaying sign copy related to "West Metro" (the West Metro sign), be removed prior to the issuance of any sign permit for the Proposed Sign. The Proposed Sign is to be located on the east elevation of the mechanical penthouse of an existing 15-storey building located at 185 The West Mall (the Subject Premises). It is to contain one sign face, directed towards Highway 427, and will function to identify a business located at the Subject Premises. The sign face shall consist of individual channel letters displaying "CDW", and an associated individual "loop" surrounding of the letters, with a total sign face area of 35 square metres. In support of the original application, the Appellant filed materials included in Attachment #2 of this report. After conducting a review of the original application, a decision was made by the Chief Building Official (the CBO) to refuse the requested variances required for the Proposed Sign. Following this refusal, an appeal was filed by the Appellant. The Appellant has filed materials in support of the modified proposal, found in Attachment #3 of this report. Following a review of all the materials submitted, the CBO has determined that the Appellant has provided sufficient information to establish that, with the imposition of the proposed conditions, the Proposed Sign meets all nine of the criteria which are required for a variance approval to be granted. As such, the CBO supports the Sign Variance Committee granting the two requested variances, subject to the proposed conditions, to allow for a sign permit to be issued for the Proposed Sign.

  The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Granted the two requested variances to subsections 694-21(E)(4)(b) and 694-21(E)(4)(d), each subject to both of the specified conditions, with respect to the Proposed Sign at the premises municipally known as 185 The West Mall, as described in greater detail in Attachment 1 of the supplementary report (June 24, 2019) 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 two requested variances to subsections 694-21(E)(4)(b) and 694-21(E)(4)(d), each subject to both of the specified conditions, with respect to the Proposed Sign at the premises municipally known as 185 The West Mall, as described in greater detail in Attachment 1 of this report.

• SB4.6adopted

  Appeal Concerning Variances for One First Party Wall Sign at 135 Fenelon Drive

  This report addresses an appeal concerning three variances sought respecting one first party wall sign displaying static copy (the Proposed Sign). The Proposed Sign is to be located on portions of the north elevation between the 15th and 18th storeys of an existing 20-storey apartment building at 135 Fenelon Drive (the Subject Premises). The Proposed Sign is to contain one rectangular sign face, directed north towards Highway 401 and towards vehicular traffic travelling south-bound on the Don Valley Parkway. The height of the Proposed Sign (the highest point of the sign measured from grade) would be 48.46 metres. The Proposed Sign's sign face would have a bisecting line (horizontal dimension) of 12.19 metres and centre line (vertical dimension) of 9.14 metres, and would function to identify "Beaux Properties", the owner and manager of the apartment building on the premises, as well as advertise apartments available for rent within the building. After conducting a review of the initial sign variance application made by N.K. Girdhar and Associates (the Applicant), 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 Sign. Following this decision, an appeal was filed by the Applicant. 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, which are required for a variance approval to be granted. Specifically, insufficient information was provided to determine that the Proposed Sign is compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area; supports Official Plan Objectives for the premises and surrounding area; does not alter the character of the premises or surrounding area; and is not contrary to the public interest. As such, the CBO does not support the Sign Variance Committee granting the requested variances for the Proposed Sign.

  The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Refused the requested variances to subsections 694-21B(4)(a), 694-21B(4)(b) and 694-21B(4)(c) with respect to the Proposed Sign at the premises municipally known as 135 Fenelon Drive, as described in greater detail in Attachment 1 of the report (June 24, 2019) 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 the requested variances to subsections 694-21B(4)(a), 694-21B(4)(b) and 694-21B(4)(c) with respect to the Proposed Sign at the premises municipally known as 135 Fenelon Drive, as described in greater detail in Attachment 1 of this report.

• SB4.7amended

  Appeal Concerning One Variance for One First Party Wall Sign at 3601 Victoria Park Avenue

  This report addresses an appeal concerning one variance sought respecting one illuminated first party wall sign displaying static copy (the Proposed Sign), which is to be located along the west elevation of the upper-most storey of an existing five-storey building at 3601 Victoria Park Avenue (the Subject Premises). The Proposed Sign has one sign face which is rectangular in shape, with a bisecting line of 11.38 metres and centre line of 1.07 metres. The Proposed Sign is currently intended to display sign copy along identifying the "Lowell Academy" private high school, located within the building at the Subject Premises, directed towards traffic on Victoria Park Avenue. Shiupong Management Ltd., through their agent Graphix Signs Inc. (the Applicant), filed a variance application for a first party wall sign above the first storey in an Employment (E) Sign District. After conducting a review of this variance application, a decision was made by the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building (the CBO) to refuse the requested variance for erecting one first party wall sign above the first storey in an Employment (E) Sign District. Following this decision, Shiupong Management Ltd., through their agent Forward Signs (the Appellant), filed an appeal of the CBO's decision. The CBO has 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 for a variance approval to be granted. Specifically, the Appellant has not provided any compelling information for the CBO to determine that the Proposed Sign is compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area, supports the Official Plan objectives for the property and surrounding area, is not contrary to the public interest, and does not alter the character of the premises or surrounding area.

  The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Granted the requested variance to subsection 694-21(I)(5)(A) with respect to the Proposed Sign at the premises municipally known as 3601 Victoria Park Avenue, as described in Attachment 1 of the report (June 24, 2019) 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 the requested variance to subsection 694-21(I)(5)(A) with respect to the Proposed Sign at the premises municipally known as 3601 Victoria Park Avenue, as described in Attachment 1 of this report.

• SB4.8adopted

  Application by Pattison Outdoor for One Third Party Electronic Ground Sign at 115 City View Drive

  This report reviews and makes recommendations to the Sign Variance Committee regarding a proposal by Pattison Outdoor, on behalf of the property owner (the Applicant), to allow for one third party electronic ground sign displaying electronic static copy (the Proposed Sign), as described in further detail in Attachment 1. The Proposed Sign would be located at the south-west corner of the property municipally known as 115 City View Drive (the Subject Premises), which contains a one-storey building intended for light industrial use. The Proposed Sign would have a height of 9.14 metres from grade, and contain two sign faces in a back-to-back configuration with a sign face area of 18.6 square metres on each side. The Subject Premises is designated as an E Sign District, which allows third party electronic ground signs, and the proposed height and sign face area are in-line with the Sign By-law requirements for third party electronic ground signs in an E Sign District. Only the south-facing sign face would display electronic static copy; the north sign face would display static copy. The Proposed Sign is intended to capture the attention of traffic travelling along City View Drive and, further west, Highway 27. The Subject Premises is located in two overlapping area-specific restrictions specified by the Sign By-law, where third party signs shall not be erected. It would be located within 400 metres of the northern limit of Highway 409, and within 400 metres of the eastern limit of Highway 27. The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building (the CBO), has determined that the Applicant has not provided sufficient information to establish that the Proposed Sign meets all nine of the criteria set out in §694-30A of the Sign By-law, which are required for a variance approval to be granted. Specifically, the Applicant has not provided sufficient information to allow the CBO to determine 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 or surrounding area, and is not contrary to the public interest.

  The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Refused the requested variances required to allow the Applicant to obtain a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 115 City View Drive, as described in Attachment 1 to the report (June 18, 2019) 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 the requested variances required to allow the Applicant to obtain a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 115 City View Drive, as described in Attachment 1 to this report.