September 26, 1999
To: Toronto Community Council
From: Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development
Subject: 21 Davisville Avenue, Application No. 999048: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of
the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Simon A. Simonsen / Smith Signs, 45 Riviera Dr., Suite
5, Markham, Ontario, L3R 5 J6, on behalf of Chen & Sons Ltd., 501 Yonge St. Suite # 230, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1E4.
(Ward 22 - North Toronto)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations for an application for a variance to permit the owner to maintain, for identification
purposes, one illuminated fascia sign on the west building elevation, one illuminated fascia sign on the north building
elevation and one illuminated ground sign on the north-west corner of the property at 21 Davisville Avenue.
Recommendations:
1. That City Council approve Application No. 999048 for a variance to permit the owner to maintain, for identification
purposes, one illuminated fascia sign on the west building elevation, one illuminated fascia sign on the north building
elevation and one illuminated ground sign on the north-west corner of the property at 21 Davisville Avenue.
2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999048, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on the south side of Davisville Avenue, in a mixed-use zone district. The property accommodates a
single-storey building consisting of a laundromat and a vacant retail store.
The applicant is requesting permission to maintain an illuminated fascia sign "Laundry Express" on the west building
elevation, an illuminated fascia sign "Laundromat" on the north building elevation and one illuminated ground sign on the
north-west corner of the property. The fascia sign "Laundromat" is 5.47 metres long and 0.91 metre high with an area of
4.98 mē, the fascia sign "Laundry Express " is 2.07 metres long and 0.83 metre high, with an area of 1.72 mē and the
ground sign is 2.44 metres long and 2.47 metres high with an area of 6.03 mē (see Figure 1).
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that they are located less than 20 metres from a lot in
a residential (R) zone district.
The Sign By-law requires illuminated signs to be erected a minimum distance of 20 metres from a lot line of any lot zoned
for residential uses only. This provision is intended to reduce the impact of illumination on residential uses. In this instance
the ground sign is located on the west side of the building and the fascia signs are oriented toward north and west
respectively.
I am recommending approval of this application, as these signs will not be visible from the units in the apartment building
located east of this property within the residential zone. The signs will be visible from east facing units in the adjacent
condominium (converted office building) at the southeast corner of Davisville Avenue and Yonge Street, however,
exposure to illuminated signage in mixed use zones is anticipated by the by-law and does not provide a reason for refusal
of this application.
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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