Sign Variance Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 2 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.
SB4.1adopted
Pattison (the "Applicant") have stated that they are authorized to make an application for four variances required to allow the erection and display of a single-sided third party electronic ground sign displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") to be located in an Employment ("E") Sign District, which is, immediately to the north of Finch Avenue West, and immediately east of Weston Road at the premises municipally known as 2300 Finch Avenue West (the "Subject Premises"). The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 10.00 metres, and would contain one rectangular sign face, facing east, with a maximum horizontal dimensions (centre line) of 6.10 metres; maximum vertical dimension (bisecting line) of 3.05 metres; and a maximum sign face area of 18.60 square metres. The Proposed Sign is further described in Attachment 1 to this report. The Proposed Sign would require four variances to Chapter 694, to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit. The four requirements of Chapter 694 which have been requested to be varied, and the proposed new requirements are summarized below: Existing Requirement 1: § 694-25C(2)(g)(i)- An E - Employment Sign District may contain a third-party electronic ground sign, provided the sign be located a minimum of 500.0 metres from any other third-party electronic sign located on the same street Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be erected no closer than 480.0 metres from an existing third-party electronic ground sign located at the property east of Arrow Road to the east. Existing Requirement 2: § 694-25C(2)(d)- An E - Employment 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. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be as regulated by the City's applicable Zoning By-law, which requires a setback of 9.0 metres, but would have a minimum setback of 3.0 metres from a street. Existing Requirement 3: § 694-25C(2)(e)- An E - Employment Sign District may contain a third-party electronic ground sign, provided the sign shall not be erected within 60.0 metres of any premises located, in whole or in part, in an R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be located no closer than 40.0 metres north of a premises in a CR Sign District to the south. Existing Requirement 4: § 694-25C(2)(f)- An E - Employment Sign District may contain a third-party electronic ground sign, provided where a sign is located within 250.0 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 be located within and face CR Sign Districts located no closer than 40.0 metres to the Proposed Sign. The Applicant has made an application seeking that each of the required variances would be subject to the following three conditions: 1) That the Proposed Sign be operated at a maximum brightness level of 150 nits between sunrise and sunset; 2) That a physical barrier be installed and maintained along the southern edge of the sign face, which shall sufficiently block illumination from the sign to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official; and, 3) The Proposed Sign shall face in an easterly direction and be located within the area noted in the diagram titled 'Diagram 1: Location of Proposed Sign' in Attachment 1 to this report. After reviewing the Applicant's submissions and the additional information provided by City staff, the CBO determined that there are sufficient reasons to conclude that the nine required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the four variances, each subject to three conditions, as described in Attachment 1 to this report.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Granted the requested variances to sections 694-25C(2)(g)(i), 694-25C(2)(d), 694-25C(2)(e) and 694-25C(2)(f) 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 Appendix 1 to the report (August 23, 2023) from the Manager, Citywide Priorities, 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)(g)(i), 694-25C(2)(d), 694-25C(2)(e) and 694-25C(2)(f) 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 Appendix 1 to this report.
SB4.2referred
OUTFRONT Media Canada L.P. (the "Applicant") has stated that they have been authorized by the owner of the property municipally known as 9 Hanna Avenue (the "Subject Premises") to apply for three variances, each subject to three conditions required to allow for a permit to be issued to erect and display a single-faced third party electronic ground sign, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") on the Subject Premises; and an additional variance required to allow for a new permit to be issued to allow for the display of another single-faced third party electronic ground sign, displaying electronic static copy currently on the Subject Premises (the "Existing Sign"). The Subject Premises is designated Gardiner Special Sign District ("GG-SSD") with the additional designation "I" on the map contained in Schedule A. Further, the Subject Premises is subject to specific area specific provisions contained in Subsection 2BB to Schedule B, Signage Master Plans and Area Specific Amendments, of Chapter 694, Signs, General, which provides for additional unique signage provisions for the Subject Premises. This specific subsection of Schedule B allowed for the Existing Sign to be erected and displayed on the Subject Premises, on the condition that the Existing Sign be the only sign within a specified area. The Appellant will require a variance to this provision of the Sign By-law. The variance required to allow for a permit to be issued for the display of the Existing Sign would be as follows 1) Subsection 2(BB)(1)(k) of Schedule B, to Chapter 694 - There shall be no more than one third party ground sign erected or displayed within the area delineated with heavy lines on the diagram indicated at Subsection BB(2) as Area Map 1 - 9 Hanna Avenue. Proposed New Requirement: The Existing Sign would be one of two signs sign erected or displayed within the area delineated with heavy lines on the diagram indicated at Subsection BB(2) as Area Map 1 - 9 Hanna Avenue The Proposed Sign requires three variances to Chapter 694 to allow for the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit. The requirements in Chapter 694 which have been requested to be varied, and the proposed varied requirements with respect to the Proposed Sign are summarized below: 1) § 694-26I(4)(a) - The GG-SSD-I may contain an electronic third party ground sign containing electronic static copy, provided the sign face area shall not exceed 50.0 square metres. Proposed New Requirement: The sign face area of the Proposed Sign would be 145.61 square metres. 2) § 694-26I(4)(b) - The GG-SSD-I - may contain an electronic third party ground sign containing electronic static copy, provided the height shall not exceed 15.0 metres. Proposed New Requirement: The height of the Proposed Sign would be 25 metres. 3) § 694-26I(4)(d) - The GG-SSD-I may contain a third party ground sign provided the sign shall be erected only on a premises where, on the day before this chapter comes into effect, an existing lawful ground sign was erected and displayed containing electronic moving copy or electronic static copy as defined by this chapter, and the sign shall replace the existing sign. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would not replace existing lawful ground sign which was erected and displayed on the day before this Chapter 694 came into effect containing electronic moving copy or electronic static copy as defined by Chapter 694. The Applicant proposed has that the variances be granted subject to the following conditions: 1) Light shielding technology shall be installed on the Proposed Sign. 2) The sign shall operate with a reduced brightness of 200 NITS between sunset and sunrise. 3) The sign face shall be oriented in a south-westerly direction If the variances are granted, the Existing Sign would have one rectangular sign face facing in a south-easterly direction, displaying electronic static copy, with a maximum sign face area of 146.0 square metres; a maximum vertical dimension (bisecting line) of 8.53 metres; maximum horizontal dimension (centre line) of 17.07 metres, a maximum height of 25.0 metres; and would be one of two signs in the specified area. Similarly, if variances are granted, the Proposed Sign would have one rectangular sign face facing in a south-westerly direction, displaying electronic static copy, with a maximum sign face area of 145.61 square metres; a maximum bisecting line of 8.53 metres; a maximum centre line of 17.07 metres, a maximum height of 25.0 metres and also be located within the specified area of the Subject Premises. The Applicant wants to have two signs on the Subject Premises that are similar to the Existing Sign (one facing southwest and one facing southeast). The Proposed Sign, Existing Sign, and their variances and conditions are explained in Attachment 1. The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building ("CBO") has reviewed the Applicant's submissions and additional information from the Sign By-law Unit staff. The CBO has found that the Applicant has not met the nine criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law for either the Proposed Sign or the Existing Sign. Therefore, the CBO does not support granting the four variances that the Applicant has requested for the Proposed Sign and the Existing Sign - the four variances and conditions are in Attachment 1.
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 three variances, each subject to three conditions, respecting one third party electronic ground sign at 9 Hanna Avenue as well as one variance subject to no conditions, respecting another existing third party electronic ground sign also located at 9 Hanna Avenue; 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 first meeting of the Sign Variance Committee scheduled in 2024 with this supplementary report, with consideration of this matter to be deferred to that meeting.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee refuse to grant both the requested variances to sections 694-26I(4)(a), 694-26I(4)(b), 694-26I(4)(d) and subject to three conditions - as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign; and the requested variance to Subsection 2BB (1)(k) of Schedule B to Chapter 694, Signs, General, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the alteration, erection and display of the Existing Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to this report.