May 4, 1998

 To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:177 Beverley Street, Application No. 998012: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Teresa Yau, 55 Alamosa Drive, North York, Ontario, M2J 2N8, on behalf of The Chinese Presbyterian Church, 177 Beverley Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1Y7. (Downtown)

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:

1.City Council approve Application No.998012 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one illuminated fascia sign.

2.The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No.998012, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.

Comments:

The property is located on the south-east corner of Beverley Street and Baldwin Street, in a residential (R3) district. The property accommodates a place of worship. The applicant is requesting permission to install one illuminated fascia sign on the west elevation of the building (see Figure 1). The sign has a length of 2.7 metres and a height of 0.8 metres, and an area of 2.2 m5.

The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that the height of sign above grade (5.1 metres) exceeds the maximum height permitted of 2.0 metres by 3.1 metres.

The variance occurs because the sign is higher than permitted by the Municipal Code. Signs in residential districts are required to be small and low in order to order to limit any negative impact on neighbouring residential uses. In this instance, the sign cannot be installed any lower because it would interfere with an existing canopy. Given that the sign is within the permitted 2.5 m5 size limit for fascia signs in this district and that the nearest residential building from which the sign would be visible is approximately 30 metres north of the site and across Beverley Street, I am prepared to recommend 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

(p:\1998\ug\uds\pln\to981578.pln)-ms