October 7, 1999

To: Toronto Community Council

From: Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development

Subject: 89 St. George Street, Application No. 999068: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Philip Paisons / Newman Centre, 89 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2E8.

(Ward 24 - Downtown)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations for an application for a minor variance to permit the owner to maintain, for identification purposes, one illuminated fascia sign on the west building elevation at 89 St. George Street.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

1. That City Council approve Application No. 999068 for a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit the owner to maintain, for identification purposes, one illuminated fascia sign on the west building elevation at 89 St. George Street.

2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999068, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.

Comments:

The property is located on the east side of St. George Street, south of Bloor Street West, in a (Q) general institutional zone district. The property contains a three-storey listed historical building, known as the "Newman Centre", with a restaurant, "Grabbajabba", at the basement level.

The applicant is requesting permission to maintain an illuminated fascia sign, "Grabbajabba", on the west building elevation. The sign is 3.78 metres long and 0.71 metre high, with an area of 2.68 mē (see Figure 1).

The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that the sign is not among the signs defined and permitted in a "General Institutional" (Q) zone district.

The individual letters which comprise the sign are mounted against a carrier box, which is mounted on two steel poles, which are, in turn, mounted against the wall of the building. The sign most closely resembles a fascia sign, except that it is not placed against the wall of the building. I consider this variance to be technical in nature and therefore acceptable.

It is my opinion that given its overall design and modest size, the sign does not impact the building, surrounding uses or the streetscape. Staff of the Toronto Historical Board have reviewed the plans and have advised that they are acceptable.

I am 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:

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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