June 7, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:477 Mount Pleasant Road, Application No. 999035: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Tom Hopkin / Fine Lines Sign Co., 766 Burlington Street East, Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 4K3 on behalf of Emerald Properties, 335 Bay Street, Suite 900, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 2R3. (Ward 22 - North Toronto)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting an application for minor variances to permit a total of five signs for identification purposes. Two illuminated fascia signs in the form of logo and corporate name are proposed to be erected on the uppermost storey of the building and two illuminated fascia signs and one awning sign will be erected on the first floor of the building at 477 Mount Pleasant Road.

Source of Funds:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1. That City Council approve Application No. 999035 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit two illuminated fascia signs in the form of a logo and corporate name on the uppermost storey of the building, two illuminated fascia signs and one illuminated awning sign on the first floor level of the building for identification on condition that the two illuminated fascia (logo and corporate name) signs on the uppermost storey be illuminated only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and that this be achieved by means of an automated device.
2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999035, 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-east corner of Mount Pleasant Road and Davisville Avenue in a mixed-use zoning district. The property accommodates a five storey office building. The applicant is seeking permission to erect two illuminated fascia signs in the form of a logo and corporate name on the uppermost storey of the building. Each of the signs is 4.88 metres long and 0.91 metre high with an area of 4.44 mē. The applicant also proposes to erect two illuminated fascia signs and one illuminated awning sign on the first floor level of the south and west frontage. Each of these proposed fascia signs on the first floor is 9.75 metres long and 0.46 metre high with an area of 4.46 mē. The awning sign is 2.34 metres long and 1.07 metres high with an area of 2.50 mē (see Figure 2 and 3).

The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:

1. the awning sign will not be attached to a wall of a building;

2. the clearance of the awning sign from the sidewalk to the lowest point of the sign (2.4 metres) will be 0.1 m less than the 2.5 metres minimum required by the Municipal Code;

1. the illuminated fascia signs in the form of a logo and corporate name will not be erected above the required height of 34 metres; and
2. the fascia signs located within the first storey of the building will not be mounted wholly against a wall of a building.

The first variance occurs because the awning sign will not be attached to a wall of a building. In this case, no opportunity exists to mount the awning sign against the wall of the building. The sign will be mounted against a 0.20 metre thick overhang concrete slab. I consider the variance to be technical in nature and therefore acceptable.

The second variance relates to the clearance from the sidewalk to the lowest point of the awning sign (2.4 metres) which is 0.1 metre less than the permitted clearance of 2.5 metres. I do not feel that a slightly less clearance would cause an adverse impact on pedestrian safety or the visibility of the uses of the building.

Regarding the third variance, although the proposed signs do not meet the 34 metres height requirement, they would be erected on the uppermost storey of the building. In this instance, the modest size signs are positioned to complement the rectangular facade of the building. The closest residential unit would be more than 30 metres away across on the south side of Davisville Avenue. Due to this separating distance, there should not be any adverse impact on the surrounding residential uses. To ensure this, however, I have required that the hours of illumination be restricted to between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The owner is in agreement with this recommendation.

The fourth variance is also technical in nature and therefore acceptable, The signs will be mounted against a 0.20 metre thick overhang concrete slab, because no opportunity exists to mount the fascia signs against the wall on the first floor level of the building.

A further variance was originally requested for the fascia signs. The applicant has now submitted a drawing to confirm that the fascia signs in the form of a logo and corporate name will be wholly mounted against the top portion of the south and west wall of the building, which is acceptable and the variance is not required.

I am recommending approval of this application, with a condition respecting the restriction of hours of illumination, 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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