December 21, 1999
To: Toronto Community Council
From: Acting Commissioner of Urban Development Services
Subject: 819 Yonge Street, Application No. 999074: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Thomas Smith / Mediacom Inc., 377 Horner Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario, M8W 1Z6 on behalf of John Mobilos and Pat Mobilos, 32 Argonne Cr., Willowdale, Ontario, M2K 2K1
(Midtown)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations for an application for minor variances to maintain, for third party advertising, an
illuminated fascia sign on the north wall of the building at 819 Yonge Street.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of the report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
City Council refuse Application No. 999074 for minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto
Municipal Code to maintain, for third party advertising, an illuminated fascia sign on the north wall of the building at 819
Yonge Street.
Comments:
The property is located north of Bloor Street, on the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Church Street in a (CR)
mixed-use zone district. The property contains a three storey commercial building. The applicant is requesting permission
to maintain an illuminated fascia sign, for third party advertising purposes on the north wall of the building. The sign is
5.92 metres long and 9.17 metres high with an area of 54.29 mē (see Figure 1, 2 & 4).
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
1. a fascia sign which faces a street and does not identify a business within the building is not permitted;
2. a fascia sign which faces a street and is located above the second storey of the building and more than 10 metres above
grade is not permitted;
3. the area of the sign (54.29 mē) exceeds by 29.29 mē the maximum 25.00 mē sign area permitted; and
4. the required 60 metres separation distance from other third party signs will not be provided.
This proposal involves a request to maintain a large third party illuminated fascia sign. The sign in question is one of three
signs (two non-conforming third party roof signs and the large illuminated fascia sign in question) erected on this building.
There are three additional third party signs located on the surrounding properties and the sign in question does not meet the
required 60 metres separation distance from those signs. Overall, these signs create a tawdry visual appearance for the
southeast corner of Yonge and Church Street and detract from the up-scale image being promoted in the Yonge-Bloor area.
I do not support this application. A large third party illuminated fascia sign at this location is not acceptable. It would be
completely contrary to the Municipal Code's intent to provide for well-spaced signage, if any more third party signs were to
be permitted on a property which already contains two non-conforming third party roof signs, none of which meets the 60
metres minimum separation distance requirement.
I am recommending refusal of this application on the basis that the variances requested are not minor and are not in
keeping with 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
List of Attachments:
Sign Key Map
Site Plan
Elevation
Details (2)
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