December 1, 1999

To: Toronto Community Council

From: Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject: 2400 Yonge Street, Application No. 999093: Request for approval of a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Philip Pue / Steel Art Sign Corp., 37 Esna Park Drive, Markham, Ontario, L3R 1C9, on behalf of Parkwood Yonge Holdings Ltd., Box 1223, Station K, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 3E4

(North Toronto)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations for an application for a minor variance to permit an illuminated fascia sign, for identification purposes, on the front elevation of the building at 2400 Yonge Street.

Financial Implications:

There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of the report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) City Council approve Application No. 999093 for a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit an illuminated fascia sign, for identification purposes, on the front elevation of the building at 2400 Yonge Street, on condition that the fascia sign be illuminated only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. and this be achieved by an automated timing device.

(2) The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999093, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.

Comments:

The property is located north of Eglinton Avenue West on the west side of Yonge Street in a (MCR) mixed-use zone district. The property contains a two-storey building, which is occupied by a retail book store (Chapters). The applicant is requesting permission to erect an illuminated fascia sign on the front parapet wall of the building. The sign is 5.18 metres long and 1.83 metres high with an area of 9.48 mē (see Figure 1 & 2).

The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that proposed illuminated fascia sign will be erected more than 10 metres above grade.

The variance relates to the height of the sign. The height of signs above grade is regulated in order to reduce the visual impact of signs on the buildings to which they are attached, on the streetscape and on upper floor residential units in the immediate vicinity. In this instance, the sign has been sized and positioned to complement the proportions of the rectangular facade of the building. The nearest residential unit from which the sign would be visible would be more than 30 metres away - at 2401 Yonge Street.

To mitigate concerns about visibility of the illuminated sign on the front elevation from units in 2401 Yonge Street, the owner has agreed to limit the hours of illumination so that the sign is turned off from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. by an automated timing device. With this condition, I find the sign acceptable.

I am therefore recommending refusal of this application, as I consider the requested variance to be minor and within 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:

Key Map

Site Plan

Sign Details

Elevation

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