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.998089
Urban Planning and Development Services
January 15, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:687 Yonge Street, Application No. 998089: Request for approval of variances from
Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Patty
Chui / Forward Signs & Advertising Co. Ltd., 4144 Midland Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario,
M1V 4S7 on behalf of John Lieberman, Abraham Lieberman, 193 Willowbrook Road,
Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 5L5. (Ward 24 - Downtown)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to maintain one
illuminated fascia sign for identification purposes on the front elevation at 687 Yonge Street.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
- That City Council approve Application No. 998089 respecting minor variances from
Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one
illuminated fascia sign for identification purposes on the front elevation at 687 Yonge
Street.
- That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 998089, 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, in a mixed-use zoning district. The
property accommodates a two-storey commercial building. The applicant is requesting
permission to maintain one illuminated fascia sign for identification purposes (see Figure 1).
The sign has a length of 3.41 metres and a height of 1.78 metres, with an area of 6.07 mē.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
1. the fascia sign identifying the commercial unit located on the first storey is projecting more
than the permitted 0.8 metre above the second floor level;
2. the aggregate area of the sign exceeds the permitted 30% of the building face of the first
storey commercial unit; and
3.the sign obstructs and interferes with a window of the building.
The first variance occurs because the sign is projecting 1.42 metres above the second floor
level, and exceeds by 0.62 metre the maximum 0.80 metre projection which is permitted. The
purpose of the By-law is to ensure that each tenant has an opportunity to display adequate
signage. In this case, the applicant has confirmed that only one tenant is occupying the entire
building and the second floor is being used for office and storage use. Therefore, no one is
denied the opportunity to display signage.
The second variance relates to the maximum sign area permitted on the first floor. The
maximum area permitted for a fascia sign on the first floor level and which also extends onto
the second floor level is not more than 30 percent of the building face of the first storey
commercial unit. The area of sign (6.07 mē) exceeds by 2.06 mē the maximum 4.01 mē sign
area permitted. The size of signs is regulated in order to reduce the visual impact of signs on
the streetscape and on the buildings to which they are attached. In this instance, the sign
exceeds the maximum permitted area because the frontage of the building is relatively narrow
(3.81 metres). However, the size of the fascia sign is consistent with many of the other
existing signs that have been erected along this portion of Yonge Street and is not, in my
opinion, excessive.
Respecting the third variance, the sign does obstruct a portion of a window, however, the
obstruction of this window does not affect any residential views nor light access, as the
applicant has advised that this space is used for associated storage and office functions.
Staff of the Toronto Historical Board have no comments on this application and they have
advised that the property is not included on the City of Toronto's Inventory of Heritage
Properties or designated under the terms of the Ontario Heritage Act.
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) 392-0580
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Community Planning, South District
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