Sign Variance Request

Shoppers Drug Mart, 629 Markham Road

Ward 16 - Scarborough Highland Creek

The Scarborough Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (March 8, 1999) from the Deputy Chief Building Official, East District:

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting a sign variance request to allow a Shoppers Drug Mart box-type wall sign where the Sign Bylaw requires individual letters, to conform to the established sign uniformity at 629 Markham Road.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Nil.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that City Council not grant a variance to permit the installed box-type wall sign.

Comments:

The subject building located at 629 Markham Road has an established wall sign uniformity of individual letters. The Scarborough Sign Bylaw requires that multiple occupancy buildings have identical sign types.

Shoppers Drug Mart has installed box-type wall signs on the south and east elevations. They subsequently applied for a sign permit under application No. 98700136 which was not approved, and Notice to Comply No. S00014 was issued to remove the signs.

Roberts Awnings who installed the signs have applied for a minor variance to the Sign By-law to permit these box-type signs. The owner of the property has no objection to these signs, as set out in a letter dated October 23, 1998, and Shoppers Drug Mart has provided a letter outlining their reasons for requesting the variance.

Shoppers Drug Mart indicates in their letter that exposure on the east elevation was "weak", however, staff recommend that individual letters would provide the same visibility and maintain the integrity of the Sign Bylaw by maintaining the uniformity that had existed on this building.

It is, therefore, recommended that a variance not be granted.

Contact Name:

Jack Barron, Manager Sign Section

(416) 396-7224

(416) 396-4266 Fax Number

barron_j@city.scarborough.on.ca

Mr. Dave Smallwood, representing Shoppers Drug Mart, appeared before the Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter.

A copy of the letters referred to in the aforementioned report were provided to all Members of the Scarborough Community Council and a copy thereof is on file in the Office of the City Clerk, Scarborough Civic Centre.