April 24, 1998
To:Chairman and Members
North York Community Council
From:Mr. E.Y. Uzumeri P.Eng., Chief Building Official/Building Commissioner
Subject:22 Glen Park Avenue. (Ground Sign on City property)
Purpose:
Evaluate and make recommendations concerning a request by Gerald A. Oxman, of Apex Financial Consulting Services,
for a variance from the sign by-law to permit a directional ground sign that exceeds the permitted area to be located on City
property.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)The request be approved as a minor variance from the sign by-law.
Council Reference/Background/History:
In a letter dated March 26, 1998, Gerald A. Oxman, of Apex Financial Consulting Services, is requesting permission to
erect an illuminated ground sign having an area of 24 square feet on City property just north of the sidewalk between the
property line and the sidewalk at 22 Glen Park Avenue.
Section 4.1. of Sign By-law 30788 permits one directional sign for places of worship to be erected on highways provided
that the sign area does not exceed 5.1 square feet. The proposed sign is 24 square feet in sign area and therefore
contravenes the by-law.
The proposed directional sign, if erected on private property in a residential zone, could have a sign area of 21.5 square
feet. In order to save an existing stand of Mountbatten cedars forming a high hedge along the lot line, the applicant wishes
to locate the sign on City owned property directly south of the hedge. Since the hedge obscures the church from public
view, the sign serves to provide direction to the public who wish to access the facility.
Council Reference/Background/History cont=d
The sign will be placed on the strip of land between the front property line and the sidewalk and will be oriented parallel to
the hedge and visible to east and westbound traffic on Glen Park Avenue. Although the sign will be moved approximately
2 feet south of the lot line and closer to the street it will be well back from the curb and should not present a hazard for
motorists or pedestrians.
As required by section 4.1.6. of the sign by-law, the Trustees of Grace Tabernacle have entered into an agreement made on
February 24th 1998 with the City of Toronto to indemnify and save harmless the City from any liability relating to the
erection of the sign.
Conclusions:
It is the opinion of this department that the variance is minor in nature and that the intent of the sign by-law has not been
compromised by the erection of this sign. Therefore it is recommended that this request be approved as a minor variance
from the sign by-law.
E.Y. Uzumeri P.Eng.
Chief Building Official/Building Commissioner
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