Variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the Former City of Toronto
Municipal Code - 276 King Street West (Downtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that:
(1)City Council approve, in part, Application No. 998048 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of
the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one illuminated mural sign at 276 King Street West;
(2)City Council refuse, in part, Application No. 998048 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one illuminated awning sign at 276 King Street West; and
(3)The applicant be advised, upon partial approval of Application No. 998048, of the requirement to obtain the
necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (December 31, 1998) from the Commissioner of
Urban Planning and Development Services:
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to maintain one illuminated awning sign and
one illuminated mural sign at 276 King Street West.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)City Council approve, in part , Application No. 998048 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one illuminated mural sign;
(2)City Council refuse, in part, Application No. 998048 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one illuminated awning sign; and
(3)The applicant be advised, upon partial approval of Application No. 998048, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on a block bounded by Pearl Street, Duncan Street and King Street West, in the King-Spadina
reinvestment area (RA) district.. It contains a four storey building, occupied by a restaurant, The Peel Pub, on the first floor,
with the upper floors occupied by other retail, museum, service and storage uses. The building is listed under the City=s
Inventory of Heritage Properties.
The applicant is requesting permission to maintain one illuminated awning sign and one illuminated mural sign to identify
the first floor restaurant use, The Peel Pub (see Figure 1).
The awning sign has a length of 15.5 metres and a height of 2.1 metres, with an area of 32.5 m5 . The mural sign has a
length of 15.5 metres and a height of 5.8 metres, with an area of 90 m5. The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the
Municipal Code in the following ways:
(1)the area of the awning sign (32.5 m5) exceeds the maximum permitted area of 30 percent of the building face of the first
storey commercial unit by 1.7 m5;
(2)the Municipal Code requires that individual awning signs have a maximum area of 25 m5. The awning sign has an area
of 32.5 m5;
(3)the awning sign has a vertical clearance from the sidewalk to the bottom of the sign of 2.4 metres instead of 2.5 metres;
and
(4)the area of the illuminated mural sign (90 m5) exceeds the maximum permitted area of 25 m5 by 65 m5.
This application is problematic. These signs were installed without a permit. It was the responsibility of the applicant to
consult with Heritage Toronto prior to installation to ensure that both the signage and its mountings were appropriate for
the building. Staff of Heritage Toronto have advised that they would not have recommended approval of the existing signs
without extensive revisions.
I can accept retention of the mural sign, given the character of other such signage in the King-Spadina entertainment area.
A better treatment for the mural sign would to have painted the logos only within the window openings, and not across the
brick facade. Heritage Toronto staff have advised that removal of the mural sign would cause further damage to the
brickwork. For this reason only, Heritage Toronto staff accept retention of the mural sign.
However, I do not support retention of the awning sign. It has an inappropriate visual impact and overpowers the
well-articulated facade of this historic building. I consider that permitting both an oversized illuminated mural sign as well
as an oversized awning sign on this heritage building is excessive and seriously compromises the heritage value and
integrity of the property.
Heritage Toronto staff agree with my opinion. In a meeting prior to submission of this minor variance application Heritage
Toronto staff had requested that the applicant replace the portion of the awning sign over the entrance to the restaurant with
a glass canopy, and recover the awning, by January 2000, in a colour scheme which will blend, rather than contrast with the
historic building. At that time, the applicant was agreeable to this proposal.
In conclusion, I am recommending approval of the minor variances necessary for the illuminated mural sign. I am
recommending refusal of the minor variances necessary for retention of the awning sign.
Contact Name:
Lora Mazzocca
Telephone: (416) 392-0421
Fax: (416) 392-7536
E-Mail: lmazzocc@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
276 King Street West
Insert Table/Map No. 2
276 King Street West
