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.
SB5.1received
Sign Variance Committee - Roles and Expectations of Public Members
The Manager of Public Appointments will provide an overview of the roles and expectations of public members - Sign Variance Committee.
The Sign Variance Committee received the presentation for information.
SB5.2amended
Application for Variances Respecting One Third Party Electronic Ground Sign - 2 Atlantic Avenue
This report reviews an application for six variances, subject to specific conditions, made 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") at the property municipally known as 2 Atlantic Avenue (the "Subject Premises"), described in greater detail in Attachment 1. The Proposed Sign would be located along the southerly frontage of the Subject Premises, which contains a two-storey office building, an associated surface-level parking lot and an existing third party ground sign. The Proposed Sign is intended to be erected and displayed be erected and displayed, after the removal of the existing third party sign, in the same location at the Subject Premises. The Proposed Sign would seek to capture the attention of traffic travelling along the Gardiner Expressway. The Subject Premises is designated "C" within the Gardiner Gateway Special Sign District ("GG-SSD"). Third party electronic wall signs and third party electronic ground signs are permitted on premises with a C designation within the GG-SSD. The Proposed Sign would have a height of 24.38 metres, and contain two sign faces displayed in a "v-shape" configuration, each with a sign face area of 83.30 square metres. The six variances are each subject to the following conditions, as summarized in the November 15, 2019 report from the Manager, Sign By-law Unit, Toronto Building: 1) the existing third party ground sign to be removed from the Subject Premises, and the associated permits revoked prior to the issuance of a permit for the Proposed Sign; 2) an existing third party ground sign located at 7 Fraser Avenue, a nearby premises 350 metres away to the west, be removed and the associated permits revoked prior to the issuance of a permit for the Proposed Sign; and 3) an existing third party roof sign also located at 7 Fraser Avenue be removed and the associated permits revoked prior to the issuance of a permit for the Proposed Sign. Following a review of the Applicant's submission, the Chief Building Official ("CBO") has determined that enough information has been provided to confirm that all of the nine established criteria in the Sign By-law have been met. Therefore, the CBO is supportive of the Sign Variance Committee granting the requested variances, subject to the specific conditions.
The Sign Variance Committee: 1. Granted the six requested variances to sections 694-22E, 694-26I(1), 694-26I(4)(a), 694-26l(4)(b),694-26I(4)(d) and 694-26I(4)(g), each subject to the specified conditions, required to allow the Applicant to obtain a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 2 Atlantic Avenue as described in greater detail in Attachment 1 to the report (November 15, 2019) from the Manager, Sign By-law Unit, Toronto Building, with the following amendment to condition 3, Attachment 1 to the report (November 15, 2019) from the Manager, Sign By-law Unit, Toronto Building to add the word, "westernmost", to read as follows: 3. The westernmost third party roof sign currently located at 7 Fraser Avenue be removed, and all associated permits revoked prior to any application for a Sign Permit being submitted for the Proposed Sign.
Staff recommendation as filed
The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee grant the six requested variances to sections 694-22E, 694-26I(a), 694-26I(4)(a), 694-25C(2)(d),694-26I(4)(d) and 694-26I(4)(g), each subject to the specified conditions, required to allow the Applicant to obtain a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 2 Atlantic Avenue as described in greater detail in Attachment 1 to this report.
SB5.3adopted
Application by Outfront Media for One Third Party Electronic Ground Sign at 400 Eastern Avenue
This report reviews a proposal by Outfront Media, on behalf of the property owner (the "Applicant"), to seek four variances, each subject to specified condition(s), required 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 along the south frontage of the property municipally known as 400 Eastern Avenue (the "Subject Premises"), which contains a two storey building intended for office and retail use. The Proposed Sign would have a height of 7.33 metres from grade, and contain two sign faces in a v-shape configuration, with a sign face area of 19.99 square metres on each side. Only the west-facing sign face would display electronic static copy; the east-facing sign face would display static copy. The Proposed Sign is intended to capture the attention of traffic travelling along Eastern Avenue. The Proposed Sign would be erected and displayed in approximately the same location as an existing third party sign ("Existing Mechanical Sign"), the removal of which along with the revocation of all associated permits concerning this existing third party sign is a condition for the four requested variances. The Subject Premises is designated as an E-Employment 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. However, the Proposed Sign is located in close proximity to sensitive land uses and oriented in a v-shape configuration. 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 to grant the four requested variances to sections 694-22E, 694-25C(2)(e), 694-25C(2)(f), and 694-25C(2)(k) each subject to the specified condition, required to allow the Applicant to obtain a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 400 Eastern Avenue, as described in Attachment 1 of the report (November 14, 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, subject to the specified condition(s), required to allow the Applicant to obtain a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 400 Eastern Avenue, as described in Attachment 1 of this report.
SB5.4adopted
Administration - 2020 Schedule of Meetings for the Sign Variance Committee
This report recommends the 2020 meeting schedule for the Sign Variance Committee. The proposed schedule is guided by City Council's approved schedule, and the availability of meeting space.
The Sign Variance Committee approved the following 2020 meeting dates: January 30, 2020 March 23, 2020 April 23, 2020 May 21, 2020 July 2, 2020 September 22, 2020 October 29, 2020 November 26, 2020
Staff recommendation as filed
The Deputy Secretary, Sign Variance Committee, recommends that: 1. The Sign Variance Committee approve the following 2020 meeting dates: January 30, 2020 March 23, 2020 April 23, 2020 May 21, 2020 July 2, 2020 September 22, 2020 October 29, 2020 November 26, 2020