July 15, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:1 Balmoral Avenue, Application No. 998052: Request for approval of variances
from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application
by Vivienne Skoberne, 68 Millwick Drive, Unit #16, Weston, Ontario, M9L 1Y3, on behalf
of One Balmoral Limited, 68 Millwick Drive, Unit 16, Weston, Ontario, M9L 1Y3.
(Midtown)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit up
to 29 illuminated awning signs at 1 Balmoral Avenue.
Financial Implications:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
- City Council approve Application No. 998052 respecting minor variances from Chapter
297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit up to 29 illuminated
awning signs on condition that:
(i)the signs consist only of individual letters and logo; and
(ii)the height of the copy (letters) not exceed 0.6 metres.
- The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998052, 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 Balmoral Avenue, Yonge Street and
Farnham Avenue, in a mixed-use (commercial/residential) district. The property
accommodates a nine storey mixed-use building with residential uses on the upper storeys
and commercial uses at grade. The applicant is requesting permission to install 22
illuminated awning signs on the Yonge Street elevation, 5 illuminated awning signs on the
Balmoral Avenue elevation and 2 illuminated awning signs on the Farnham Avenue
elevation of the building. (see Figures 1-3). Two of the proposed signs each have a length of
6.5 metres and a height of 1.0 metre, with an area 6.7 m², and the remaining 27 signs each
have a length of 2.7 metres and a height of 1.0 metre, with an area of 2.7 m².
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
- awning signs are not permitted in the Yonge/St. Clair district;
- the awning signs will have a minimum vertical clearance of 2.4 metres instead of 2.5
metres;
- two of the proposed awning signs will be located within 20 metres from a lot in a
residential district; and
- the awning signs will not be located on a wall that is part of the commercial unit.
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.
The awning signs would be used as the primary identification of the retail uses. If the
awnings did not contain signage, they would be permitted and would not be subject to the
provisions of Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code. The awning signs are, in my opinion, in
keeping with the character of the building and I therefore consider the variance to be
acceptable in this instance.
The second variance relates to the height of the signs above grade. The height of signs
above grade is regulated in order to ensure that pedestrian safety is maintained. In this
instance, while the signs do not meet the minimum required 2.5 metre standard under the
Municipal Code, they do meet the minimum required standards under the Ontario Building
Code and their reduced clearance will not endanger or inconvenience pedestrians.
The third variance occurs because the Municipal Code requires signs to be set back at least
20 metres from a residentially zoned lot in order to reduce the impact of illumination on
abutting residential properties. In this instance, however, the residentially zoned uses are
located west of the site and the closest residential use from which the signs would be visible
would be approximately 60 metres to the west on Farnham Avenue.
The fourth variance results from the location of the awning signs. The signs will be attached
to the front wall of the building instead of on the wall of the commercial units. In this
instance, the commercial units are recessed 0.8 metres from the main front wall of the
building, and the placement of the signs on the front of the building will improve the
visibility of the retail uses, which I consider acceptable.
I am recommending approval of this application with the conditions noted above. The
applicant concurs with my recommendations.
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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