August 6, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:172 John Street, Application No. 999043: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Mary Jane Finlayson/ Sterling Finlayson Architects, 1491 Dupont Street Toronto, Ontario, M6P 3S2 on behalf of Kleinman Investments Ltd., c/o Conway Kleinman Korn Houser Gotlieb, 390 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 3S2. (Downtown)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to install one illuminated projecting sign on John Street frontage for identification purposes at 172 John Street.

Financial Implications:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1. That City Council approve Application No. 999043 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to install one illuminated projecting sign on John Street frontage for identification purposes at 172 John Street.
2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999043, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.

Comments:

The property is located north of Queen Street West on the west side of John Street, in a light industrial zone district. The property accommodates a four storey brick building. The applicant is requesting permission to erect one projecting sign on the front elevation of the building to identify the building tenant. The sign is 0.5 metre long and 5.5 metres high, with an area of 2.75 mē (see Figure 1).

The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:

1. the proposed sign is not a defined sign type; and

2. the proposed sign is not permitted.

The first variance occurs because the proposed sign is not a sign defined by the Municipal Code. The second variance occurs because the Municipal Code prohibits the erection of signs which are not specifically permitted by the Code.

The projecting structure has been designed by an architect to add prominence to the building entrance. The proposed projecting structure projects out a distance of 1.25 metres from the face of the building. However, the sign copy is 0.5 metre long and 5.5 metres high, with an area of 2.75 mē. The sign most closely resembles a projecting sign. Although the projecting structure extends above the second floor and more than 10 metres above grade, all sign copy is located below the second storey level and below a height of 10 metres from grade. It is my opinion that the proposed variances are technical in nature and therefore acceptable.

I am recommending approval of this application, as I find the requested variances 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) 392-7536

E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca

Beate Bowron

Director, Community Planning, South District

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