September 14, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:195 Spadina Avenue, Application No. 998044: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Pattison Outdoor, c/o Just Cole, 2345 Yonge Street, 5th Floor,
Toronto, Ontario, M4P 2E5, on behalf of 994941 Ontario Ltd., 2877 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Etobicoke, Ontario, M8V
1J1.(Downtown)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to permit one illuminated roof sign for third
party advertising at 195 Spadina Avenue.
Financial Implications:
Not applicable.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that:
City Council refuse Application No. 998044 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of
Toronto Municipal Code to permit one illuminated roof sign.
Comments:
The property is located on the east side of Spadina Avenue, on the south side of Phoebe Street, in an industrial (IC) district.
The property accommodates a three storey industrial building. The applicant is requesting permission to install one
illuminated roof sign near the north-west corner of the building (see Figure 1). The sign has a length of 6.0 metres and a
height of 3.0 metres, with an area of 18 m².
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that the height of the sign above grade (17.24 metres)
will exceed the maximum permitted height of 15 metres by 2.24 metres.
The height of sign is regulated in order to reduce the impact of signs on the streetscape and on adjacent uses.
The sign would project 3.9 metres above the roof line of the building and would be highly visible from residential uses on
the north side of Phoebe Street, a unique row of townhouses that are listed under the City's Inventory of Heritage
Properties, and from two residential buildings across the street on the west side of Spadina Avenue.
At its meeting on February 18, 1998, Toronto Community Council adopted my report dated February 2, 1998 to promote
the revitalization of Chinatown along Spadina Avenue, between Queen Street West and College Street. Among other
things, the report recommended the introduction of residential permissions in this area as a continuation of existing
residential neighbourhoods established on either side of Spadina Avenue. The implementation of these initiatives is
currently being studied. The sign would be higher than otherwise permitted in this and other industrially zoned districts and
in my opinion could set an unfortunate precedent for other properties in this area.
I am recommending that this application be refused as I find the variance requested to be significant and not 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, Community Planning, South District
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