April 16, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:250 Front Street East, Application No. 999007: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Duncan Macrae / Jones Neon Display Ltd., 1140 Blair Road, Burlington, Ontario L7M 1K9, on behalf of Terraces of Stanley Park Inc., 20 Queen Street West, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2V2. (Ward 25 - Don River)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to install two non-illuminated trellis wall signs for identification purposes at 250 Front Street East.

Source of Funds:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1. That City Council approve Application No. 999007 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to install two non-illuminated trellis wall signs for identification purposes at 250 Front Street East.
2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999007, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.

Comments:

The property is located on the northeast corner of Front Street East and Berkeley Street, in the King-Parliament Reinvestment Area. The property accommodates a one storey retail commercial building. The proposal is to install two non- illuminated trellis wall signs for identification purposes. Each sign is 0.91 metre long and 0.73 metre high, with an area of 0.66 mē. The signs will be erected on two decorative masonry walls located at southwest corner and at northwest corner of the property (see Figure 1). These 1.79 metres long and 2.79 metres high decorative walls are to be built as a part of the proposed landscape design for the site.

The proposed signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that fascia signs are required to be mounted wholly against the wall of a building. The signs will be mounted against decorative masonry walls which are not a part of the building, therefore the signs do not meet the definition of a fascia sign. Approval of a sign variance application is required because the signs do not conform to any of the sign types defined in the Municipal Code.

The signs most closely resemble fascia signs, excepting that they will not be, in their entirety, placed against the wall of the building. I consider the variance to be technical in nature and therefore acceptable.

I am, therefore, recommending approval of this application, as I find the variance 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