Purpose:

 To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to permit illuminated signage at 631-651 Spadina Avenue.

 Financial Implications:

 Not applicable.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that:

 1.City Council approve Application No. 998042-Option A respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit illuminated signage on condition that the owner enter into an Encroachment Agreement with the City of Toronto with respect to the glazed cornice.

 Or

 2.City Council approve Application No. 998042-Option B respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit illuminated signage.

 3.The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998042, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.

 Comments:

 The property is located on a block bounded by Glen Morris Street, Spadina Avenue and Harbord Street, in an institutional (Q) district. Construction has recently commenced on a ten storey, 436 room University residence, with retail uses at grade.

 The applicant is requesting permission to install patterned glass signage on the glazed cornice of the building facing Spadina Avenue. The sign has a length of 46 metres and a height of 4 metres, with an area of 184 m². Two options are proposed: Option "A" where the cornice "extends" beyond the southern edge of the building to the midpoint of Harbord Street and Option "B" where the cornice ends at the southern edge of the building (see Figures 1-4). The applicant is requesting approval of Option "A" which is conditional upon City Council's approval of an encroachment agreement. If City Council does not approve Option "A", then Option "B" is recommended.

 The sign illustrated in Option "A" and Option"B"does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that it is not a defined sign type under Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code and is therefore not permitted.

 The site is situated on the western edge of the University of Toronto campus at the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Harbord Street which is one of the six primary entrances to the campus. The sign would be patterned onto the glass wall of the extended interior corridor at the 6th and 7th floor levels. The extended corridor would be cantilevered over Harbord Street thereby forming a decorative cornice. Access to the cantilevered portion of the corridor would be restricted to maintenance staff only.

 The projecting cornice on which the sign is proposed to be located serves as a " gateway" to the University, consistent with the policies identified in the University of Toronto Area Part II Plan which was enacted by the former City of Toronto Council on June 3, 1997. In my opinion, the sign appropriately identifies this major entry point.

 I am recommending that City Council approve Option "A" and adopt Recommendations No. 1 and 3 of this report. However, should City Council wish to approve Option "B" instead because it supports the sign but not the encroachment, it should adopt Recommendations Nos. 2 and 3 of my report.

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