STAFF REPORT
January 25, 2000
To: Toronto Community Council
From: Acting Commissioner of Urban Development Services
Subject: 595 Bay Street, Application No. 999104: Request for approval of variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code, upon application by Kim Kovar/ Aird & Berlis, BCE Place, Suite 1800, Box 754,
181 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2T9 on behalf of The Atrium on Bay Inc., P.O. Box 15, Suite 3000, South Tower,
Royal Bank Plaza, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2J1
(Downtown)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations for an application for minor variances to permit an illuminated fascia sign, for
identification purposes, on the south elevation of the building at 595 Bay 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. 999104 for minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of
Toronto Municipal Code to permit, for identification purposes, an illuminated fascia sign, on the south elevation of the
building at 595 Bay Street.
(2) The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999104, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits
from the Commissioner of Urban Development Services.
Comments:
The property known as AAtrium on Bay@ is located on a city block bounded by Bay Street, Edward Street, Yonge Street
and Dundas Street West, in a mixed-use zone district. The property contains a multi-storey office building with retail uses
at grade and in concourse levels. The applicant is requesting permission to erect an illuminated fascia sign, for
identification purposes, at the second floor level on the south elevation of the building. The proposed fascia sign is 13.72
metres long and 4.34 metres high with an area of 59.54 m5 (see Figure 2).
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
1. the proposed sign will be located on a wall of the building that is not part of the commercial unit frontage;
2. a portion of the proposed sign structure will be located above the second storey of the building;
3. the area of the proposed fascia sign (59.54 m5) exceeds by 34.54 m5 the maximum 25.00 m5 sign area permitted; and
4. the proposed fascia sign will obstruct and interfere with windows of the building.
This proposal is to mount a fascia sign over the reflecting glass window on the second floor of the building facing Dundas
Street West. The proposed sign is a part of an overall signage proposal which will be submitted shortly as part of a broader
revitalization scheme for the Atrium on Bay facade. A similar sign variance application for a new L.C.B.O. sign was
approved by the Toronto Community Council on January 18, 2000 which is to be erected adjacent to and west of the
proposed Black's sign. It is my opinion that this fascia sign, together with similar sized fascia signs on the Dundas Street
West frontage, will provide an attractive and consistent signage program.
I am recommending approval of this application as I consider the requested variances 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
Elevation and Sign Details
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