Sign By-law Variance Request -
Billboard Road Sign - Just Cole -
2013 Finch Avenue West - Black Creek
The North York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (October 29, 1998) from
the Director and Deputy Chief Building Official:
Purpose:
Evaluate and make a recommendation concerning a request by Mr. Just Cole, for a variance from the Sign By-law to
permit the erection of an illuminated 10 foot by 20 foot billboard sign on the roof of an existing 2 storey commercial
building.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that the request for a minor variance from the sign by-law be approved.
Council Reference/Background/History
The building on which the sign is proposed is in a commercial zone (C1) and is located at the southwest corner of Jane St.
and Finch Ave. Currently, approval has been given for a billboard roof sign on this building (S98-3786). The approved
sign will front on to Jane Street and will be visible from the north and south. The sign, which is the subject of this report,
is located on the same building, however, it would front on to Finch Avenue and would be visible from the east and west.
Section 5.2.1.1 of the Sign By-law permits a single roof sign on a building and the sign must be 500 feet from another
roof sign. Since this is a single building the sign by-law would not permit two roof signs on the same building, further the
distance between the signs, approximately 472 feet, is less than the required distance of 500 feet, measured diagonally as
required by the Sign By-law when the roof signs are located on the same building.
The recommendation for this approval stems from the fact that the existing sign and the proposed sign front on different
streets. Secondly, there are no existing roof signs within 500 feet from either roof sign along the respective streets on
which they front. If the building on which the signs are proposed were divided to be considered two separate buildings,
the signs would comply with the requirements of the Sign By-law and a variance would not have been required. This is
due to the requirement in the Sign By-law which permits the distance between signs to be measured along the street on
which they front, when signs are on separate buildings, and not diagonally. The only negative impact of the proposed sign
is that it abuts a residential zone (RM2) directly to west on Finch Ave., however, considering the extensive commercial
use of this area the negative impact should be minimal. The Ward Councillors have been notified of this request and have
been provided with a copy of the report and attachments.
Conclusions:
It is the opinion of this department that the proposed sign would not have a negative impact on the area and is in keeping
with the intent of the sign by-law.