Variances from Chapter 297, Signs,
of the Former City of Toronto Municipal Code -
(Downtown, Davenport and North Toronto)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following reports from the Commissioner of
Urban Planning and Development Services:
(June 2, 1999)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to maintain one illuminated awning sign for
identification purposes at 595 Bay Street (20 Dundas Street West).
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That City Council approve Application No. 999039 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one illuminated awning sign at 595 Bay Street (20 Dundas Street
West).
(2)That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999039, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property known as "Atrium on Bay" is located on a city block bounded by Bay Street, Edward Street, Yonge Street and
Dundas Street West, in a mixed-use zoning district. The property accommodates a multi-storey office building with retail
uses at grade and concourse levels. The applicant is requesting permission to maintain one illuminated awning sign for
identification purposes, at the first floor level on the south elevation of the building, for a LCBO Store which is located on
the concourse level. The sign is 8.26 metres long and 1.15 metres high, with an area of 9.50 mē.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that the sign is not located on a wall that is part of
the commercial unit of the tenant.
In this case no opportunity exists for the concourse level tenant to display a sign for identification on the wall of his unit. I
consider the variance to be technical in nature and therefore 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 Name:
Norm Girdhar
Telephone: (416) 392-7209
Fax: (416) 392-7536
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
20 Dundas Street West
Insert Table/Map No. 2
20 Dundas Street West
Insert Table/Map No. 3
20 Dundas Street West
Insert Table/Map No. 4
20 Dundas Street West
Insert Table/Map No. 5
20 Dundas Street West
(May 28, 1999)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit one illuminated ground sign for
identification purposes at 590 Keele Street.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That City Council approve Application No. 999037 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one illuminated ground sign for identification purposes at 590 Keele Street.
(2)That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999037, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located south of St. Clair Avenue West, on the west side of Keele Street in an Industrial-Commercial (IC)
zoning district. The property accommodates a newly constructed Commercial / Retail Plaza. The applicant is requesting
permission to erect one illuminated ground sign for identification purpose. The lower portion of the sign is 3.40 metres
long and 2.70 metres high and the upper portion of the sign is 2.44 metres long and 6.21 metres high, with a total area of
24.33 mē (see Figure 2). The total height of the sign from grade is 11.00 metres.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
1.ground signs are required to be set back 2.0 metres from the property line; and
2.the height of the proposed ground sign (11.00 metres) exceeds by 1.0 metre the permitted height of 10.00 metres.
The setback requirement for ground signs is aimed at ensuring that, where possible, an open, uncluttered view corridor is
maintained along commercial streets and that sight lines for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are improved.
As the adjacent building "B" on the north end of the property is built to the lot line, this sign is also proposed to be placed
0.5 metre from to the lot line to ensure visibility to motorists. An increased setback would only marginally improve the
view corridors and sight lines along Keele Street. In this instance, I am willing to accept the location of the sign because
the sign is set back 6.5 metres from the curb line and 4.4 metres from the new sidewalk.
The second variance requesting a higher sign than permitted is acceptable. By permitting the sign to be at 11.0 metres
above grade, the applicant intends to ensure that the sign can be seen to the north and south bound motorists travelling
along Keele Street.
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 Name:
Norm Girdhar
Telephone: (416) 392-7209
Fax: (416) 392-0580
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
590 Keele Street
Insert Table/Map No. 2
590 Keele Street
Insert Table/Map No. 3
590 Keele Street
Insert Table/Map No. 4
590 Keele Street
Insert Table/Map No. 5
590 Keele Street
(June 7, 1999)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for minor variances to permit a total of five signs for
identification purposes. Two illuminated fascia signs in the form of logo and corporate name are proposed to be erected on
the uppermost storey of the building and two illuminated fascia signs and one awning sign will be erected on the first floor
of the building at 477 Mount Pleasant Road.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That City Council approve Application No. 999035 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit two illuminated fascia signs in the form of a logo and corporate name on the
uppermost storey of the building, two illuminated fascia signs and one illuminated awning sign on the first floor level of
the building for identification on condition that the two illuminated fascia (logo and corporate name) signs on the
uppermost storey be illuminated only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and that this be achieved by means of
an automated device.
(2)That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999035, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on the north-east corner of Mount Pleasant Road and Davisville Avenue in a mixed-use zoning
district. The property accommodates a five storey office building. The applicant is seeking permission to erect two
illuminated fascia signs in the form of a logo and corporate name on the uppermost storey of the building. Each of the signs
is 4.88 metres long and 0.91 metre high with an area of 4.44 mē. The applicant also proposes to erect two illuminated fascia
signs and one illuminated awning sign on the first floor level of the south and west frontage. Each of these proposed fascia
signs on the first floor is 9.75 metres long and 0.46 metre high with an area of 4.46 mē. The awning sign is 2.34 metres
long and 1.07 metres high with an area of 2.50 mē (see Figure 2 and 3).
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
(1)the awning sign will not be attached to a wall of a building;
(2)the clearance of the awning sign from the sidewalk to the lowest point of the sign (2.4 metres) will be 0.1 m less than
the 2.5 metres minimum required by the Municipal Code;
(3)the illuminated fascia signs in the form of a logo and corporate name will not be erected above the required height of
34 metres; and
(4)the fascia signs located within the first storey of the building will not be mounted wholly against a wall of a building.
The first variance occurs because the awning sign will not be attached to a wall of a building. In this case, no opportunity
exists to mount the awning sign against the wall of the building. The sign will be mounted against a 0.20 metre thick
overhang concrete slab. I consider the variance to be technical in nature and therefore acceptable.
The second variance relates to the clearance from the sidewalk to the lowest point of the awning sign (2.4 metres) which is
0.1 metre less than the permitted clearance of 2.5 metres. I do not feel that a slightly less clearance would cause an adverse
impact on pedestrian safety or the visibility of the uses of the building.
Regarding the third variance, although the proposed signs do not meet the 34 metres height requirement, they would be
erected on the uppermost storey of the building. In this instance, the modest size signs are positioned to complement the
rectangular facade of the building. The closest residential unit would be more than 30 metres away across on the south side
of Davisville Avenue. Due to this separating distance, there should not be any adverse impact on the surrounding
residential uses. To ensure this, however, I have required that the hours of illumination be restricted to between 7:00 a.m.
and 10:00 p.m. The owner is in agreement with this recommendation.
The fourth variance is also technical in nature and therefore acceptable, The signs will be mounted against a 0.20 metre
thick overhang concrete slab, because no opportunity exists to mount the fascia signs against the wall on the first floor
level of the building.
A further variance was originally requested for the fascia signs. The applicant has now submitted a drawing to confirm that
the fascia signs in the form of a logo and corporate name will be wholly mounted against the top portion of the south and
west wall of the building, which is acceptable and the variance is not required.
I am recommending approval of this application, with a condition respecting the restriction of hours of illumination, as I
find the variances requested 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) 392-0580
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
477 Mount Pleasant Road
Insert Table/Map No. 2
477 Mount Pleasant Road
Insert Table/Map No. 3
477 Mount Pleasant Road
Insert Table/Map No. 4
477 Mount Pleasant Road
(June 8, 1999)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for minor variances to permit one illuminated canopy sign
which identifies the "Metro Toronto Convention Centre-South Building" and one illuminated ground sign to identify the
parking garage through the "P" symbol at 222 Bremner Blvd.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That City Council approve Application No. 999036 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one backlit illuminated canopy sign which identifies the "Metro Toronto
Convention Centre-South Building" and one illuminated ground sign to identify the parking garage through the "P" symbol
at 222 Bremner Blvd.
(2)That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999036, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property, known as "Metro Toronto Convention Centre-South Building ", is located south of the railway tracks at the
north-west corner of Bremner Blvd. and Simcoe Street, in a (G) park zoning district. On March 1, 1994, City Council
adopted By-law No. 1994-0181 respecting the Metro Toronto Convention Centre expansion, giving approval to the
construction of the south building with an additional floor space of 95,000 mē. The expansion included a three level
convention facility, located primarily beneath Central Park, that is linked by a tunnel under the main rail corridor to the
main Metro Toronto Convention Centre-North Building which fronts on to Front Street West.
The applicant is requesting permission to erect one illuminated canopy sign on the south elevation which identifies the
"Metro Toronto Convention Centre-South Building " and one illuminated ground sign to identify the parking garage
through the "P" symbol (see Figure 1). The proposed canopy sign is 8.38 metres long and 1.60 metres high, with an area of
13.41 mē and the proposed ground sign, "P" for the parking symbol, is 0.91 metre long and 0.95 metre high with an area of
0.86 mē.
The original application also involved a proposed third party advertising fascia sign but this additional request was later
withdrawn following discussion with my staff.
The proposed canopy and ground signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
1.the proposed canopy sign is not permitted in a (G) park zoning district;
2.the height of the proposed ground sign (3.69 metres) exceeds by 1.69 metres the permitted height of 2.0 metres.
The first variance occurs because an illuminated canopy sign for identification is not permitted in a (G) park zoning
district. In this instance, it is recognized that the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is a major public building which hosts a
variety of important public and business events and caters to thousands of visitors for those events every year. A recent
survey concluded that the majority of the visitors were not aware of the location and direction to the South Building. In my
opinion, the proposed canopy sign will help with identification for the South Building of the convention centre and it will
not adversely impact the street views of the building or surrounding uses.
The second variance relates to the height of the proposed ground sign "P", the parking symbol (3.69 metres) which exceeds
by 1.69 metres the permitted height of 2.0 metres. In this case, the height of the proposed ground sign is appropriate given
its location in front of the central column between the
entrance and exit doors of the parking garage. I do not feel that will have an adverse impact on the streetscape or the
surrounding uses.
I am recommending approval of this application as I find the variances requested 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) 392-0580
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
222 Bremner Blvd
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222 Bremner Blvd
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222 Bremner Blvd
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222 Bremner Blvd
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222 Bremner Blvd
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222 Bremner Blvd
Insert Table/Map No. 7
222 Bremner Blvd
