Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5H 2N2
www.toronto.ca
Tel: 416-392-0421
Fax: 416-392-7536
File No. 998048
Urban Planning and Development Services
January 12, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:276 King Street West, Application No. 998048: Request for approval of variances
from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by
Peel Pub Toronto Inc., 276 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1J2, on behalf of Ed
Mirvish Enterprises Ltd., 581 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6G 1K3. (Downtown)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to maintain one
illuminated awning sign and one illuminated mural sign at 276 King Street West.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
- City Council approve, in part , Application No. 998048 respecting minor variances from
Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one
illuminated mural sign.
- City Council refuse, in part, Application No. 998048 respecting minor variances from
Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one
illuminated awning sign.
- The applicant be advised, upon partial approval of Application No. 998048, 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 Pearl Street, Duncan Street and King Street
West, in the King-Spadina reinvestment area (RA) district.. It contains a four storey building,
occupied by a restaurant, The Peel Pub, on the first floor, with the upper floors occupied by
other retail, museum, service and storage uses. The building is listed under the City's
Inventory of Heritage Properties.
The applicant is requesting permission to maintain one illuminated awning sign and one
illuminated mural sign to identify the first floor restaurant use, The Peel Pub (see Figure 1).
The awning sign has a length of 15.5 metres and a height of 2.1 metres, with an area of 32.5
mē . The mural sign has a length of 15.5 metres and a height of 5.8 metres, with an area of 90
mē. The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
- the area of the awning sign (32.5 mē) exceeds the maximum permitted area of 30% of the
building face of the first storey commercial unit by 1.7 mē;
- the Municipal Code requires that individual awning signs have a maximum area of 25 mē.
The awning sign has an area of 32.5 mē;
- the awning sign has a vertical clearance from the sidewalk to the bottom of the sign of 2.4
metres instead of 2.5 metres; and
- the area of the illuminated mural sign (90 mē) exceeds the maximum permitted area of 25
mē by 65 mē.
This application is problematic. These signs were installed without a permit. It was the
responsibility of the applicant to consult with Heritage Toronto prior to installation to ensure
that both the signage and its mountings were appropriate for the building. Staff of Heritage
Toronto have advised that they would not have recommended approval of the existing signs
without extensive revisions.
I can accept retention of the mural sign, given the character of other such signage in the
King-Spadina entertainment area. A better treatment for the mural sign would to have painted
the logos only within the window openings, and not across the brick facade. Heritage Toronto
staff have advised that removal of the mural sign would cause further damage to the
brickwork. For this reason only, Heritage Toronto staff accept retention of the mural sign.
However, I do not support retention of the awning sign. It has an inappropriate visual impact
and overpowers the well-articulated facade of this historic building. I consider that permitting
both an oversized illuminated mural sign as well as an oversized awning sign on this heritage
building is excessive and seriously compromises the heritage value and integrity of the
property.
Heritage Toronto staff agree with my opinion. In a meeting prior to submission of this minor
variance application Heritage Toronto staff had requested that the applicant replace the portion
of the awning sign over the entrance to the restaurant with a glass canopy, and recover the
awning, by January 2000, in a colour scheme which will blend, rather than contrast with the
historic building. At that time, the applicant was agreeable to this proposal.
In conclusion, I am recommending approval of the minor variances necessary for the
illuminated mural sign. I am recommending refusal of the minor variances necessary for
retention of the awning sign.
Contact Name:Lora Mazzocca
Telephone: (416) 392-0421
Fax: (416) 392-7536
E-Mail: lmazzocc@toronto.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Community Planning, South District
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