May 11, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:16 Clarence Square, Application No. 998014: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Pattisson Outdoor c/o Just Cole, 2345 Yonge Street, Toronto,
Ontario, M4P 2E5, on behalf of 693399 Ontario Ltd., 110 Davenport Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 3R3. (Downtown)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to permit one non-illuminated mural sign.
Financial Implications:
Not applicable.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that:
City Council refuse Application No. 998014 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of
Toronto Municipal Code to permit one non-illuminated mural sign.
Comments:
The property is located on the north side of Clarence Square, between Spadina Avenue and Blue Jays Way, in a
reinvestment area (RA) district. The property accommodates a three storey row townhouse complex. The property is listed
on the City=s Inventory of Heritage Properties.
The applicant is requesting permission to erect one non-illuminated mural sign on the east wall of the building (see Figure
1). The sign has a length of 12 metres and a height of 3.0 metres, with an area of 37 m5.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that third party signs are not permitted on buildings
listed or designated historical.
At its meeting dated October 6, 1997, the former City of Toronto Council passed By-law 1997-0606, which among other
things, prohibits third party fascia signs and mural signs on buildings listed or designated historical. City Council took this
action based on concerns raised by Heritage Toronto. According to staff at Heritage Toronto, side and rear walls of
historical buildings are often the most vulnerable to erosion because they are primarily constructed of brick. It is the
opinion of Heritage Toronto that repeated cleaning, glueing and painting of brick walls or affixing of signage onto such
buildings may deteriorate these walls or obscure important heritage features.
In this instance, Clarence Square is a unique historical urban square in the city and the row townhouses along this street are
good examples of a 19th century building type. It is their opinion that the size of the sign and its use for the purposes of
third party advertising distracts from the architecture of the building and the quality of the public space. Although the mural
would not be visible from the Clarence Square Park, it would be visible to motorists and pedestrians travelling west on
Wellington Street and approaching the park.
Given these reasons, I am recommending that this application be refused as I find the variance requested to be significant
and not within the general intent and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code. Contact Name:Lora Mazzocca
elephone: (416) 392-0421
Fax: (416) 392-7536
E-Mail: lmazzocc@city.toronto.on.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Development Approval and Deputy Chief Building Official
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