Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5H 2N2
www.toronto.ca
Tel: 416-392-7209
Fax: 416-392-0580
File No.999002
Urban Planning and Development Services
January 25, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:40 Eglinton Avenue East, Application No. 999002: Request for approval of
variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon
application by Ken McKeever / Roberts Awnings & Signs, 40 Belvia Road, Toronto, Ontario,
M8W 3R3, on behalf of 40 Eglinton Avenue East Holdings Ltd., 393 University Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1E6. (Ward 22 - North Toronto)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit one
illuminated projecting sign for identification purposes at 40 Eglinton Avenue East.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
- That City Council approve Application No. 999002 respecting minor variances from
Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one
illuminated projecting sign at 40 Eglinton Avenue East.
- That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999002, of the
requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and
Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on the north side of Eglinton Avenue East, between Yonge Street and
Mount Pleasant Road, in a mixed-use zoning district. The property accommodates a nine
storey office building with a "Summit Grill House" restaurant / tavern on the first floor.
The applicant is requesting permission to erect one illuminated projecting sign for
identification purposes for the restaurant. The sign will have a length of 1.37 metres and a
height of 1.68 metres, with an area of 2.30 mē, (see Figure 1).
The proposed sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following
ways:
1. the area of the proposed sign (2.30 mē) exceeds by 0.90 mē the maximum 1.40 mē sign area
permitted; and
2. the sign will project 1.37 metres over the public walkway instead of the permitted 1.0
metre.
The first variance occurs because the area of the proposed sign (2.30 mē) exceeds by 0.90 mē
the maximum 1.40 mē sign area permitted. The size of signs above grade is regulated in order
to reduce the visual impact of signs on the streetscape and on the buildings to which they are
attached. The maximum area for a projecting sign is based on the amount of frontage the
commercial unit has on the street. In this instance, the sign exceeds the permitted size because
the frontage of the unit is relatively narrow (14.0 metres). However, the frontage of the
building in which the unit is accommodated is 37.2 metres long and therefore, the size of the
proposed sign is, in my opinion, appropriate.
The second variance results from the extent of the sign's projection from the building face.
The proposed sign would project 1.37 metres over the walkway which exceeds by 0.37 metre
the maximum 1.0 metre projection permitted by the Municipal Code. In this case, however,
the building is set back 1.37 metres from the lot-line. The proposed sign, although extending
over the pedestrian walkway, will be located wholly within the applicant's property and will
therefore not encroach into the public sidewalk. It is my opinion, that the sign is in keeping
with other signs along this segment of Eglinton Avenue East and its extent of projection will
not endanger or inconvenience pedestrians.
I am, therefore, 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) 392-0580
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Community Planning, South District
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