October 29, 1998

TO:Chairman and Members

North York Community Council

FROM:Mr. Edward Tipping, P.Eng.

Director and Deputy Chief Building Official

SUBJECT:Proposed Billboard Roof Sign at 2013 Finch Ave. W.

(Sign Application S98-3848)

Purpose:

Evaluate and make a recommendation concerning a request by Mr. Just Cole, for a variance from the Sign By-law to permit the erection of an illuminated 10 foot by 20 foot billboard sign on the roof of an existing 2 storey commercial building.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

1)The request for a minor variance from the sign by-law be approved.

Council Reference/Background/History

The building on which the sign is proposed is in a commercial zone (C1) and is located at the southwest corner of Jane St. and Finch Ave. Currently, approval has been given for a billboard roof sign on this building (S98-3786). The approved sign will front on to Jane St. and will be visible from the north and south. The sign, which is the subject of this report, is located on the same building, however, it would front on to Finch Ave. and would be visible from the east and west.

Section 5.2.1.1 of the Sign By-law permits a single roof sign on a building and the sign must be 500 feet from another roof sign. Since this is a single building the sign by-law would not permit two roof signs on the same building, further the distance between the signs, approximately 472 feet, is less than the required distance of 500 feet, measured diagonally as required by the Sign By-law when the roof signs are located on the same building.

The recommendation for this approval stems from the fact that the existing sign and the proposed sign front on different streets. Secondly, there are no existing roof signs within 500 feet from either roof sign along the respective streets on which they front. If the building on which the signs are proposed were divided to be considered two separate buildings, the signs would comply with the requirements of the Sign By-law and a variance would not have been required. This is due to the requirement in the Sign By-law which permits the distance between signs to be measured along the street on which they front, when signs are on separate buildings, and not diagonally. The only negative impact of the proposed sign is that it abuts a residential zone (RM2) directly to west on Finch Ave., however, considering the extensive commercial use of this area the negative impact should be minimal. The Ward Councillors have been notified of this request and have been provided with a copy of the report and attachments.

Conclusions:

It is the opinion of this department that the proposed sign would not have a negative impact on the area and is in keeping with the intent of the sign by-law.

Edward Tipping, P. Eng.,

Director & Deputy Chief Building Official

Attach.

cc.Councillor Maria Augimeri

Councillor Peter LiPreti

Mr. Just Cole