CITY OF TORONTO
URBAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
997105
Development Approval
Contact: Lora Mazzocca
392-0421
January 15, 1998
To: Toronto Community Council
Subject: 601 Yonge Street: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit three non-illuminated fascia signs (Ward 24).
Origin: Commissioner, Urban Development Services, upon referral of an application by Sasha Milenov Architect, 63 St. Clements Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1H1, on behalf of Puffin Developments Ltd., 16 Birch Avenue, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 1C8. (p:\1997\ug\uds\pln\lu971497.pln)
Recommendations:
1. That City Council approve Application No. 997105 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit three non-illuminated fascia signs.
2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 997105, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on the north-east corner of Yonge Street and Gloucester Street, in a mixed-use (commercial/residential) district. The property accommodates a five storey commercial building which is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
The applicant is requesting permission to remove three existing fascia signs and install three new fascia signs in the same location (see Figures 1 and 2). The signs have dimensions as follows:
Sign No. 1 has a length of 3.81 metres and a height of 0.76 metres, with an area of 2.89 m²;
Sign No. 2 has a length of 5.43 metres and a height of 0.76 metres, with an area of 4.12 m²;
Sign No. 3 has a length of 2.36 metres and a height of 0.76 metres, with an area of 1.79 m².
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that they will obstruct and interfere with windows of the building. The ground floor of the building contains floor to ceiling windows making it impossible to display signs without partially obstructing windows. In this instance, however, the signs would be installed in the same location as the existing signs which are to be removed, approximately 2.87 metres above grade, and would not adversely affect views or light transmission.
Heritage Toronto has advised that they have no objections to the proposed signage.
I am recommending approval of this application, as I find the variance requested to be minor and within the general intent and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code.
John Morand
Commissioner
