July 30, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:2300 Yonge Street, Application No. 999041: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Barry Alper / BBM Productions, 40 Pleasant Blvd., Suite 1005, Toronto, Ontario, M4J 1J9, on behalf of Greenwin Construction Company, 2300 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4P 1E4. (Ward 22 - North Toronto)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit three illuminated encroaching fascia signs for identification purposes on the east elevation of the building at 2300 Yonge Street.

Source of Funds:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1. That City Council approve Application No. 999041, respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit three illuminated encroaching fascia signs for identification purposes on the east elevation of the building at 2300 Yonge Street.
2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999041, 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-west corner of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue West, in a mixed-use zoning district. The property accommodates a multi-storey office building with retail uses at grade and concourse levels of the building.

The applicant is requesting permission to erect three illuminated encroaching fascia signs for identification purposes on the east elevation of the building at 2300 Yonge Street. The proposed "Yonge Eglinton Centre" fascia sign is 1.23 metres long and 0.72 metres high with an area of 0.89 mē. The proposed multi-tenant fascia sign is 4.99 metres long and 2.13 metres high with an area of 10.63 mē. The proposed "Dominion" fascia sign is 4.57 metres long and 1.07 metres high with an area of 4.89 mē (see Figure 1).

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

Proposed "Yonge Eglinton Centre" fascia sign:

1. the proposed fascia sign will not be mounted wholly against the wall of the building; and

2. the sign will obstruct and interfere with windows of the building.

The first variance occurs because the proposed fascia sign will not be mounted against the wall of the building. In this instance, the sign is mounted in the archway of the building wall. The sign most closely resembles a fascia sign, excepting that it will not be placed against the wall of the building. I consider this variance to be technical in nature and therefore acceptable.

Respecting the second variance, the sign would not impact adversely upon outward views or inward light transmission because the hallway behind the archway /windows is mainly used for the line ups by the movie goers to purchase theatre tickets.

Proposed multi-tenant fascia sign and Dominion fascia sign:

1. The proposed facia signs will not be mounted wholly against the wall of the building;

2. the proposed fascia signs will not be located on a wall that is part of the commercial unit; and

1. the proposed fascia signs will obstruct and interfere with windows of the building.

The first variance occurs because the proposed fascia signs are not mounted against the wall of the building. In this instance, the signs are mounted in the archway of the building wall. I consider this variance to be technical in nature and therefore acceptable.

Respecting the second variance, although the signs are not located on the wall of the tenant's commercial unit frontage, all the advertised tenants are located within the building. All of the retail tenants in the building do not have the opportunity to display signage on their unit frontage, which purpose is then provided by this sign.

For the third variance, the signs would not impact adversely upon outward views or inward light transmission because the hallway behind the archway /windows is mainly used for the line ups by the movie goers to purchase theatre tickets.

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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