September 14, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:1669 Queen Street East, Application No. 998063: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Alison Platt of Daniels Corporation, 20 Queen Street West, Suite 3400, Toronto, Ont., M5H 3R3 on behalf of Keywick Developments Inc., EMM Financial Corp., 1700 Langstaff Road, suite 2003, Concord, Ontario, L4K 3S3. (East Toronto)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to install three

non-illuminated ground signs for the purpose of advertising the sale of new residential units within "Woodbine Park Community" at 1669 Queen Street East.

Financial Implications:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1. That City Council approve Application No. 998063, respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit three non-illuminated ground signs at 1669 Queen Street East, on condition that the signs be permitted only for a period of 12 months from the date of City Council approval.

2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998063, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.

Comments:

The 33 hectare property is the site of the former Greenwood Racetrack, bounded by Queen Street East, Woodbine Avenue and Lakeshore Boulevard East, and is zoned residential. The applicant is requesting permission to install signage in order to market residential properties which have been approved for this site (see Figure 1).

Ground signs 1 and 2 have a length of 3.7 metres and a height of 2.4 metres, with an area of 8.9 m² and sign 3 has a length of 7.2 metres and a height of 4.9 metres, with an area of 35.3 m² (see Figure 2).

The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:

1. the area of a sign is not permitted to be more than 1 m². The proposed ground signs 1 and 2, each will have an area of 8.9 m², while ground sign 3 will have an area of 35.3 m²; and

2. the height of a sign is not permitted to be more than 2.0 metres. The proposed ground signs 1 and 2, each will have a height of 3.7 metres, and ground sign 3 will have a height of 6.1 metres.

The variances occur because the land is zoned residential. Signs in residential districts are required to be small and low in order to limit any negative impact on the streetscape and on neighbouring residential uses. The proposed signs are much larger and higher than permitted by the Municipal Code. However, given that the non-illuminated signs will be temporary and will be erected at least 30 metres away from the closest residential property, there will not, in my opinion, be any adverse impacts.

I am recommending that this application be approved, with a condition respecting the length of the approval period, as I consider the proposed variances to be acceptable in this circumstance. The applicant is in agreement with this recommendation.

Contact Name:Norm Girdhar

Telephone: (416) 392-7209

Fax: (416) 392-7536

E-Mail: ngirdhar@city.toronto.on.ca

Beate Bowron

Director, Community Planning, South District

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