April 22, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:126 John Street, Application No.999019: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Steel Art Signs, 37 Esna park Drive, Markham, Ontario, L3R
1C9, on behalf of Festival Hall Developments, 40-42 Widmer Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5W 2E9. (Downtown-Ward 24)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit one illuminated projecting sign and
one illuminated canopy sign at 126 John Street, also known as Festival Hall.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1. City Council approve Application No.999019 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of
Toronto Municipal Code to permit one illuminated projecting sign and one illuminated canopy sign.
2. The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999019, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits
from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on John Street, Richmond Street West and Widmer Street, in a reinvestment area (RA) district. The
proposed development is known as Festival Hall, an entertainment complex consisting of approximately 13,000 square
metres of retail space on the first two floors, and a 14-theatre, 4,300 seat multiplex cinema on the uppermost floor.
At its meeting of March 2 & 3, 1999, City of Toronto Council gave approval to install signage related to the theatre and
retail uses. The purpose of this report is to give consideration to a variance application for signage by Playdium
Entertainment which occupy the two historically designated buildings fronting on John Street. The buildings are known as
the John Burns Carriage Manufacturers Building and the Turnbull Elevator Company Building and are good examples of
19th Century Renaissance Revival and 20th Century Commercial-Industrial style building types.
The canopy sign has a length of 4.5 metres and a height of 0.3 metres and the projecting sign has a length of 1.8 metres and
a height of 2.1 metres. In addition to the two signs that are part of this application, an additional three signs, which are
permitted, will be installed on the buildings (see Figures 2, 3, and 4).
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
1. the area of the canopy sign (3.02 mē) exceeds the maximum permitted area of 1.81 mē by 1.21 mē;
2. the area of the projecting sign (3.81 mē) exceeds the maximum permitted area of 2.34 mē by 1.47 mē;
3. the thickness of the projecting sign (0.88 metres) exceeds the permitted thickness of 0.5 metres by 0.38 metres; and
4. the sign will project 2.28 metres instead of the maximum permitted projection of 1 metre.
A canopy will be installed on the north end of the building that will mark the point of entry to Playdium. The canopy will
be of a skeletal steel construction, clad in aluminum sheet, with a copper leaf finish. The name "Playdium" will appear on
both sides of the canopy as well as along the front and has been included in the area calculation. I consider the variance
acceptable in this instance because the names will not be visible from the same vantage point.
The remaining three variances have to do with the size of the projecting "orb" sign and its extent of projection from the
building face. The size of the projecting sign is based upon the amount of frontage the unit has on the street. In this
instance, the property is approximately 25 metres long, and its slightly larger size will not negatively impact the building to
which it is attached. The thickness of the sign is a result of its oval shape which I consider acceptable. Respecting the sign's
projection, the sign would project 1.28 metres more than permitted by the Municipal Code. The variance is acceptable
because the sign would be installed at a height of 3.6 metres above grade and would not interfere with pedestrians and
would not extend beyond the canopy to the north.
Heritage Toronto staff have advised that the signs are acceptable and the applicant has adequately addressed their concerns.
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:Lora Mazzocca
Telephone: (416) 392-0421
Fax: (416) 392-0580
E-Mail: lmazzocc@toronto.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Community Planning, South District
(p:\1999\ug\uds\pln\to991875.pln)-tt
