October 7, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:2629 Yonge Street, Application No. 998067: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Dominic Rotundo/Neon Products, 453 Chancellor Drive, Woodbridge, Ontario, L4L 5E1 on behalf of Scotia Bank Inc., 44 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario,

M3N 4L4. (North Toronto)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit one encroaching illuminated fascia sign for identification purposes at 2629 Yonge Street.

Source of Funds:

Not applicable

Recommendations:

That City Council refuse Application No. 998067 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one encroaching illuminated fascia sign at 2629 Yonge Street.

Comments:

The property is located on the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Sheldrake Boulevard, in a mixed use (Commercial-Residential) district. The property accommodates a three-storey mixed-use building with retail stores on the first floor. The applicant is requesting permission to erect one encroaching illuminated fascia sign on the southwest corner of the building, at the second-floor level for identification purposes (see Figure 1). The sign has a length of 6.9 metres and a height of 0.8 metre, with an area of 5.5 m².

The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following way:

1. The proposed fascia sign for identification will not be located on a wall that is part of the commercial unit being advertised.

The variance occurs because the Municipal Code allows signs to be erected only on the portion of the wall belonging to a particular commercial unit, so that each commercial store is allowed to be identified. The intent of this provision is to prevent over signage and limit the possible negative impact of signage on the appearance of buildings by permitting signs where they have traditionally been displayed. In this instance, the "Running Room" sign would be located on the second-storey level at the southwest corner of the building, directly above the "Sanna" couture design shop. Signage already exists to identify the Running Room's Yonge Street frontage. Further, the proposed sign on the flanking street conflicts with signage for the ground-floor tenant. I feel the additional signage would be excessive and would set an undesirable precedent for other corner properties.

I am, therefore, recommending refusal for this application.

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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