May 7, 1998

 To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:48 St. Clair Avenue West, Application No.998028: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Provincial Sign Service Ltd., 375 Frankcom Street, Ajax, Ontario, L1S 1R4, on behalf of Delisle Properties Ltd., 1 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 3B6. (Midtown)

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. 998028 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one illuminated fascia sign.

1. The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No.998028, 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 West, in a mixed-use (commercial/residential) district. The property accommodates a 12.5 storey office building. The applicant is requesting permission to install one illuminated fascia sign in the form of a corporate logo on the south elevation of the building (see Figure 1). The sign has a diameter of 0.9 metres, and an area of 0.81 m5.

The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that the sign will not consist only of letters.

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 permitted. The purpose of this regulation is to produce signage, which in terms of its size and design, is appropriate for this secondary commercial node.

Given the modest size of the proposed corporate logo sign and recognizing the existence of other comparable logo signs in the immediate vicinity, the proposed signage would not, in my opinion, be unnecessarily obtrusive.

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.

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

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