STAFF REPORT

January 11, 2000

To: Toronto Community Council

From: Acting Commissioner of Urban Development Services

Subject: 267 College Street, Application No. 999098: 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 Martin Zimmerman, 267 College Street Ltd., c/o Fairland, 241 Augusta Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L8

(Downtown)

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations for an application for minor variances to permit, for third party advertising, an illuminated two face roof sign to be located on top of a two-storey commercial building at 267 College Street.

Financial Implications:

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

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

City Council refuse Application No. 999098 for minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit, for third party advertising, an illuminated two face roof sign to be located on top of a two-storey commercial building at 267 College Street.

Comments:

The property is located on the south-east corner of College Street and Spadiana Avenue in a (MCR) mixed-use zone district. The property contains a two-storey commercial building with a fast food (Burger King) restaurant use at grade level. The applicant is requesting permission to erect an illuminated two face roof sign, for third party advertising purposes. The sign face which is oriented west is 14.63 metres long and 4.27 metres high with an area of 62.47 mē and the sign face which is oriented east is 6.10 metres long and 3.05 metres high with an area of 18.61 mē (see Figure 1 & 2).

The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:

1. an illuminated roof sign is not permitted in a (MCR) mixed-use zone district; and

2. the required 60 metres separation distance from other third party signs would not be provided.

At its meeting of April 24, 1995, City Council passed By-law 1995-0229 to amend Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code to prohibit roof signs in all CR and MCR zone districts in the former City of Toronto. The prohibition resulted from a study of signage along the City's "Main Streets" which detailed the unattractive appearance of roof signs within the mixed-use zone districts and from adjacent residential districts as well as the negative effect on skyline views.

This application clearly contradicts the City's prohibition on new roof signs. In fact, the City's objective is to not allow any improvements to existing roof signs which would extend their lifespan. Allowing new roof signs, by way of minor variance application, will undercut the clear intent of City policy.

For the above noted reasons, I consider the requested variances to be significant and not within the general intent and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code. I am therefore recommending refusal of this application.

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

Elevations

Sign Details

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