April 29, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:3080 Yonge Street, Application No. 998024: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs,
of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Brill-Light Neon Signs Inc., 6380 Northwest
Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, L4V 1J7, on behalf of The Excelsior Life Insurance Company, 79 Wellington Street
West, Toronto, Ontario, M5K 1N9. (North Toronto)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to permit one illuminated fascia sign.
Financial Implications:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
- City Council approve Application No. 998024 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one illuminated fascia sign on condition that the sign only be
illuminated between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. and that this be controlled by means of an automatic
timing device.
- The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998024, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Lawrence Avenue, in a mixed-use
(commercial/residential)district and residential (R2) district. The property accommodates a six storey office building.
The applicant is requesting permission to install one illuminated fascia sign to identify the municipal address of the
property on the south elevation of the building=s uppermost storey (see Figure 1). The sign has a length of 2.5 metres
and a height of 0.9 metres, with an area of 2.3 m5.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that it will be located on a building at a height
of less than 34 metres above grade.
The Municipal Code requires illuminated logo signs to be located within the uppermost storey of buildings and
higher than 34 metres above grade in order to reduce their visual impact on the streetscape, on the buildings to which
they are attached and on adjacent uses. In this instance, the proposed sign would be located at a height of 19 metres. I
was concerned about the potentially negative impact an illuminated sign at this height might have on the residential
uses south of the site and across Lawrence Avenue. The applicant has advised that the individual letters would be
halo-lit meaning that the letters would be outlined in light rather than fully illuminated in order to minimize the
impact of illumination. The applicant has also proposed to control the hours of illumination by means of an automatic
timing device. Given these controls, I am recommending approval of this application.
Contact Name:Lora Mazzocca
Telephone: (416) 392-0421
Fax: (416) 392-7536
E-Mail: lmazzocc@city.toronto.on.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Development Approval and Deputy Chief Building Official
