June 4, 1999
TO:Chairman and Members
North York Community Council
FROM:Mr. Edward Tipping, P.Eng.
Director and Deputy Chief Building Official
SUBJECT:Sign By-Law Variance Request
1881 Wilson Ave for "Welders Source" Application No. S99-1309
Purpose:
Evaluate and make recommendations concerning a request by Mr. Howard Cane, for a variance from the Sign By-Law to
permit the erection of a first party two sided ground sign at the rear of the property.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that :
1.The request for a variance from the sign by-law be refused.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The area in which the proposed sign is to be located is zoned Industrial MC(H) (see attached site plan). The lot on which
the sign is proposed has a width, at the rear, of approximately 139 feet along the highway and frontage of approximately
140 feet along Wilson Avenue. The proposed sign would be at the rear of the property and face east and west along
Highway 401. The applicant is also seeking a permit from the Ministry of Transportation for the erection of this sign.
Currently there is an existing ground sign at the front of the property, fronting onto Wilson Ave., which does not impact
this application.
For this lot and in this zone MC(H) the By-law would permit a ground sign at the rear of this property provided the sign
was no more than 25 feet in height, and with a maximum sign area of 75 square feet .
The sign being proposed at the rear of the property is a two sided sign with each face being 10 feet high and 25 feet long
and meeting with an internal angle of 90 degrees, with a total sign area of 500 square feet. If the sign were viewed from the
front (ie directly in front of where the faces meet) the visible sign area would be approximately 380 square feet. The
propose sign would have a height of 30 feet from grade.
The variance being sought are the following:
Height: the proposed sign would be approximately 30 feet in height where the By-Law permits 25 feet in Sentence 7.2.2.
The request for a variance for this item is minor in nature and in keeping with the intent of the by-law. The sign height
requested in this variance is due to the nature of the property. The finished grade of the property is lower than the elevation
of the highway and sign height of 30 feet is required so that any sign placed on this property at the rear would be visible to
Highway 401.
Area: the proposed sign faces are 10 feet high and 25 feet long, for a total area of 250 square feet per sign face. The
maximum visible sign area is approximately 380 square feet. The by-law permits a ground sign with a total area of 75
square feet, based on the requirements in sentence 5.3.2.2.
Community Council has in the past approved similar signs in this area. The most recent being a sign for Stephenson`s
Rental Centre, in October of 1998.
Conclusion:
It is the opinion of this department that the proposed sign greatly exceeds the permitted sign area in the by-law and as such
the variance requested to the requirements in the By-Law are not minor in nature.
Contact Person:
Mario Angelucci P. Eng.
Manager Plan Review (North District)
(416) 395-7535
Edward Tipping P. Eng.
Director and Deputy Chief Building Official
cc Councillor G. Mammoliti
Councillor J. Sgro
Mr. H Cane
