May 19, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:204-214 King Street East & 185 Frederick Street, Application No. 999010: Request
for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal
Code, upon application by Capital Ventures Group Inc., 489 College Street, Suite 401,
Toronto, Ontario, M6G 1A5. (Downtown-Ward 24)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to permit ten
illuminated banner signs at 204-214 King Street East & 185 Frederick Street.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
- City Council approve Application No.999010 respecting a minor variance from Chapter
297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit ten illuminated banner
signs on condition that they only be used to identify the tenants on the ground floor and
first floor levels of the building.
- The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999010, of the requirement to
obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development
Services.
Comments:
The property is bounded by King Street East, Frederick Street and Sherbourne Street, in a
reinvestment area (RA) district. The property accommodates a four and six storey commercial
building. The property is listed on the City's Inventory of Heritage Properties. The applicant is
requesting permission to install five illuminated projecting banner signs on the King Street
frontage and five illuminated projecting banner signs on the Frederick Street frontage to
identify the commercial tenants on the ground floor and first floor levels (see Figures 1 and 2).
The signs each have a length of 0.45 metres and a height of 2.7 metres, with an area of 1.2 mē.
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that the area of sign in
aggregate on King Street exceeds the permitted area by 0.3 mē and the area of sign in
aggregate on Frederick Street exceeds the permitted area by 2.3 mē and they will not identify a
business within the building.
The maximum area for a projecting signs is based on the amount of frontage the unit has on
the street. The banner signs will run lengthwise along the building's south and west facades.
In my opinion, the signs are appropriately sized for this block long corner property and will
not negatively impact the building or the streetscape. The applicant has confirmed that the
signs will only be used to identify the commercial tenants located on the ground floor and first
floor levels. Identification signage already exists for the main tenant who occupies the upper
five storeys of the building.
Heritage Toronto staff have advised that they have no objections to the proposed banner signs.
I am recommending approval of this application on condition that the signs only be used to
identify the commercial tenants on the ground floor and first floor levels.
Contact Name:Lora Mazzocca
Telephone: (416) 392-0421
Fax: (416) 392-0580
E-Mail: lmazzocc@toronto.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Community Planning, South District
