Variances from Chapter 297, Signs,
of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code -
(Davenport, Downtown, Midtown, North Toronto)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following reports from the Commissioner of
Urban Planning and Development Services:
(September 24, 1998)
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 m5. 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 m5.
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
Insert Table/Map No. 1
56 Blue Jays Way
Insert Table/Map No. 2
56 Blue Jays Way
Insert Table/Map No. 3
56 Blue Jays Way
Insert Table/Map No. 4
56 Blue Jays Way
(October 1, 1998)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit two non-illuminated fascia signs
and one illuminated fascia sign at 1 Dundas Street West.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)City Council approve Application No.998077 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City
of Toronto Municipal Code to permit two non-illuminated fascia signs and one illuminated fascia sign.
(2)The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998077, 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 Dundas Street West, Yonge Street, Bay Street and Queen Street West, in a
mixed-use (commercial residential) district. The property is known as the Toronto Eaton Centre.
The applicant is requesting permission to install signage on the east elevation of the building in conjunction with the
renovation of the Toronto Eaton Centre=s Yonge Street facade (see Figure 1). The facade renovation includes the addition
of new storefronts, mirroring the pattern of typical storefronts found on the east side of Yonge Street. The renovation also
includes new signage opportunities, consistent with the Downtown Yonge Street Regeneration Program initiative, the aim
of which is to revitalize Yonge Street as Toronto=s main shopping and entertainment street. The proposed signs have
dimensions as follows:
1.non-illuminated fascia sign AA@, has a length of 2.7 metres and a height of 0.8 metres, with an area of 2.2 m5;
2.illuminated fascia sign AB@, has a length of 3.6 metres and a height of 4.2 metres, with an area of 15.6 m5; and
3.non-illuminated fascia sign AC@, has a length of 4.7 metres and a height of 1.8 metres, with an area of 8.5 m5.
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
1.fascia sign AA@ will obstruct and interfere with windows of the building;
2.the area of sign of fascia sign AB@ will exceed 15% of the building face of the second storey commercial unit; and
3.fascia sign AC@ will not be mounted wholly against the wall of the building and
will be erected above the second storey level and more than 10 metres above grade.
The first variance occurs because the entire building is glazed making it impossible to display signs without partially
obstructing windows. In this instance, however, the sign ( sign AA@ ) is used to identify the municipal address of the
property and would be mounted on top of the proposed entrance canopy approximately 2.0 metres from the building face
and would not negatively affect views or light transmission.
The second variance occurs because fascia sign AB@ would be larger than permitted on the second floor. The Municipal
Code allows fascia signs on the second floor provided the area of the signs does not exceed 15 percent of the building face
of that storey. This application is the first phase of new signage to be affixed to the new Eaton Centre facade which will
add interest and excitement along this section of Yonge Street, consistent with the revitalization policies for this area.
Further, the larger than permitted area of sign is acceptable given the building=s long facade and large mass. The third
variance occurs because fascia sign AC@ would be attached to the curved parapet instead of the wall of the building at a
height of 10.2 metres above grade. The sign consists of 1.8 metre high individual letters that would run horizontally across
a newly constructed parapet. While the sign would be located above the 2nd storey level, a substantial portion of the sign
would be located below 10 metres and has been designed to complement the facade which is currently being renovated.
Given these reasons, I am recommending approval of this application, as I find the variances requested to be minor and
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
Insert Table/Map No. 1
1 Dundas Street West
Insert Table/Map No. 2
1 Dundas Street West
(October 1, 1998)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit one encroaching illuminated
fascia sign facing a street for third party advertising at 327 Lonsdale Road.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable
Recommendations:
That City Council approve Application No. 998069 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one encroaching illuminated fascia sign for third party advertising at 327
Lonsdale Road.
Comments:
The property is located on the south-east corner of Spadina Road and Lonsdale Road, in a mixed use
(Commercial-Residential) district. The property accommodates a two storey commercial building with a bakery on the
first floor and a travel agency and a beauty salon on the second floor.
The applicant is requesting permission to install an encroaching illuminated fascia sign on the north elevation of the
building for the purpose of third party advertising (see Figure 1). The sign has a length of 3.66 metres and a height of 2.44
metres, with an area of 8.93 m5.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following way:
(1)The sign will not identify a business within the building.
The variance occurs because the sign would be used for the purpose of third party advertising. The Municipal Code only
permits first party advertising signs to face onto a public street.
The applicant currently has permission (permit # 402583- issued on October 7, 1997) to place a 13.4 m5 illuminated mural
sign for the purpose of third party advertising. The applicant wishes instead to install a 8.93 m5 illuminated fascia sign for
the purpose of third party advertising. The proposed illuminated fascia sign will replace the existing 12.0 m5 illuminated
fascia sign which advertises various suppliers of the Holidays Unlimited travel agency and it looks like a patch work of
various smaller signs. It is my opinion that the proposed sign will enhance and not negatively impact the streetscape and
surrounding uses.
I am recommending approval of this application, in this instance, as I find the variance requested to be acceptable.
Contact Name:
Norm Girdhar
Telephone: (416) 392-7209
Fax: (416) 392-7536
E-Mail: ngirdhar@city.toronto.on.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
327 Lonsdale Road
Insert Table/Map No. 2
327 Lonsdale Road
Insert Table/Map No. 3
327 Lonsdale Road
Insert Table/Map No. 4
327 Lonsdale Road
Insert Table/Map No. 5
327 Lonsdale Road
(September 14, 1998)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to maintain one illuminated fascia sign at
2295 Yonge Street.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)City Council approve Application No. 998064 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one illuminated fascia sign.
(2)The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998064, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on the east side of Yonge Street, between Eglinton Avenue and Roehampton Avenue, in a
mixed-use (commercial/residential) district. The property accommodates a two storey commercial building. The applicant
is requesting permission to maintain one illuminated fascia sign on the second storey level of the building (see Figure 2).
The sign has a length of 6.0 metres and a height of 3.2 metres, with an area of 19.2 m5.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that it exceeds the maximum permitted area of 15%
of the 2nd floor unit frontage. This regulation is aimed at reducing the potential negative impact of signage on the building,
on the streetscape and on upper floor residential units in the immediate vicinity. In this instance, the new sign has been
installed in the same location as the previously existing sign of the same size. The new sign consists of stretched vinyl in
an aluminum frame. The material is durable to withstand the elements and the framing adequately screens the support and
mechanical elements. The property is situated mid-block along a section of Yonge Street which is characterized by a
variety of sign types. The area is commercial in nature and there are no residential uses in the immediate vicinity from
which the sign is visible.
I am recommending approval of this application, as I find the variance requested to be minor and 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
Insert Table/Map No. 1
2295 Yonge Street
Insert Table/Map No. 2
2295 Yonge Street
Insert Table/Map No. 3
2295 Yonge Street
(September 30, 1998)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit a second illuminated logo sign on
the west elevation for identification purposes at 655 Bay Street.
Financial Implications:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
That City Council approve Application No. 998065 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit a second illuminated logo sign on the west elevation of the building at 655 Bay
Street.
Comments:
The property is located on the northeast corner of Bay and Elm Streets, in a mixed-use (commercial/residential) district.
The property accommodates a seventeen-storey office building with retail uses at grade.
The applicant is requesting permission to install a second illuminated logo sign with a length of 7.5 metres and a height of
1.2 metres, with an area of 9.0 m5, on the west elevation, at the fifteenth-storey level for identification purposes (see
Figure 1).
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
(1)only one logo sign for the purpose of identification is permitted on a building face;
(2)the logo sign will not be located within the uppermost storey of the building; and
(3)the proposed sign will obstruct a window.
The first variance occurs because only one corporate logo sign is permitted on a building face. The proposed sign would
be the second sign on the west elevation of the building. This variance is technical in nature because the north and south
ends of the west elevation are each set at an angle of approximately 45 degrees in relation to the Bay Street property line
and face northwest and southwest respectively. Only one sign would be visible to the pedestrians and motorists travelling
along Bay Street.
The second variance occurs because the Municipal Code requires illuminated logo signs to be located within the
uppermost storey of buildings and higher than 34 metres above grade in order to reduce their visual impact on the
streetscape, on the buildings to which they are attached and on adjacent uses. In this instance the proposed sign will be
erected on the fifteenth-storey (two-storeys below the uppermost storey). The two uppermost storeys are significantly
recessed and a sign at this elevation may not be appropriately visible. Therefore, the proposed location two floors below
the top of the building is, in my opinion, appropriate.
Respecting the third variance, the Municipal Code prohibits signs that obstruct or otherwise interfere with a window. In
this case the proposed sign covers only the upper portion of the floor to ceiling windows and would not adversely affect
views or light transmission.
I am recommending approval of this application, as I find the variances requested 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
Insert Table/Map No. 1
655 Bay Street
Insert Table/Map No. 2
655 Bay Street
Insert Table/Map No. 3
655 Bay Street
Insert Table/Map No. 4
655 Bay Street
Insert Table/Map No. 5
655 Bay Street
