October 7, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:56 Blue Jays Way, Application No. 998061: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Svetlana Levant / Pride Signs Ltd., 280 Holiday Inn Dr., Cambridge, Ont., N3C 1Z4 on behalf of Beutel Goodman Real Estate Group, 145 King Street West, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1J8. (Downtown)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to maintain four illuminated ground signs on the Blue Jays Way frontage for identification purposes at 56 Blue Jays Way.

Financial Implications:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1. That City Council approve Application No. 998061 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain four illuminated ground signs on the Blue Jays Ways frontage at 56 Blue Jays Way on the condition that:

- all existing A-frame signs on the public sidewalk in front of the building must be removed prior to issuance of the necessary permits.

2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998061, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.

Comments:

The property is located on the west side of Blue Jays Way, south of King Street West, in the King-Spadina Reinvestment Area. The property accommodates a historically designated theatre building and a three storey restaurant. There are two existing approved ground signs on the property and now the applicant is requesting permission to maintain four additional illuminated ground signs for identification purposes (see Figure 1). Signs A and B, each have a length of 1.5 metres and a height of 2.5 metres, with an area of 2.6 m². Signs C and D each have a length of 1.3 metres and a height of 2.5 metres, with an area of 2.4 m².

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

1. only one ground sign for the purpose of identification is permitted within any frontage of a property; and

2. 2 of the 4 signs (Signs A and B) are not set back 2.0 metres from the street line, as required.

The first variance occurs because only one ground sign is permitted within any frontage of the property. The number of signs permitted within a single frontage is regulated so as to prevent sign clutter. In this instance, given, that the lot frontage is over 40 metres long and the signs are low and small, they do not negatively impact the streetscape.

The second variance relates to the setback requirement for ground signs which is aimed at ensuring that, where possible, commercial streetscapes and view corridors are preserved and enhanced and sight lines for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are improved. In this instance, 2 of the 4 signs (Signs A and B) have a setback of only 1.4 metres. However, they do not block sight lines or otherwise endanger or inconvenience pedestrians. Further, the owner has agreed that as a condition of approval he will remove all existing A-Frame signs from the public sidewalk.

Staff of the Toronto Historical Board have reviewed the plans and have advised that they are acceptable.

I am recommending approval of this application with conditions respecting the removal of certain existing A-frame signs, as I consider the requested variances to be minor and within the general intent and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code.

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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