May 1, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:50 St. Clair Avenue East, Application No. 998011: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of
the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Smith Sign Company, 45 Riviera Drive, Markham,
Ontario, L3R 5J6, on behalf of 1016256 Ontario Ltd., c/o Realmatt Property Mgmt., 1315 Finch Avenue West, Toronto,
Ontario, M3J 2G6. (Midtown)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to permit one illuminated projecting sign.
Financial Implications:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1. City Council approve Application No. 998011 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City
of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one illuminated projecting sign.
2. The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998011, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits
from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on the north side of St. Clair Avenue East, in a mixed-use (commercial/residential) district. The
property accommodates a four storey commercial building. The applicant is requesting permission to install one
illuminated projecting sign on the south elevation of the building (see Figure 1). The sign has a length of 0.6 metres and a
height of 0.8 metres, and an area of 0.48 m5.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that a projecting sign is not permitted in a
commercial/residential district in the Yonge-St. Clair area.
The building is located in the Yonge-St.Clair area for which there are specific sign regulations. Only fascia signs consisting
of individual letters not exceeding a vertical dimension of 0.5 metres are allowed to be displayed on the front wall of a
building. These provisions are intended to prevent oversignage and reduce the visual impact of signage on buildings in this
area.
Given that the sign is of modest size and is located well above grade and would not interfere with or inconvenience
pedestrians, I am prepared to support the requested variance in this circumstance.
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
(p:\1998\ug\uds\pln\to981583.pln)-ms
