Variances from Chapter 297, Signs,
of the Former City of Toronto Municipal Code -
595 Bay Street (Downtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that Application No.
999087 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, be approved.
The Toronto Community Council submits the following report
(November 23, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner of Urban
Development Services:
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 and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of the
report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) City Council refuse Application No. 999087 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.
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 zone district. The property accommodates 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 8.15 metres long
and 4.34 metres high with an area of 35.37 m2 (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 (35.37 m) exceeds by 10.37 mthe
maximum 25.00 m sign area permitted; and
4. the proposed fascia sign will obstruct and interfere with windows of the building.
In 1999, City Council approved a sign variance application to permit one new logo "LCBO"
illuminated fascia sign at the first floor level on the south elevation of the building. This
proposal is to mount a second sign over the reflecting glass window on the second floor of the
building, directly above the LCBO store.
The LCBO store is well-identified from grade level by the new LCBO logo brushed metal
fascia sign. This fascia sign is of similar size as other fascia signs for retail uses on the Dundas
Street West frontage. Together these fascia signs provide an attractive and consistent signage
program.
The second floor projects out over the retail floor and is obviously for commercial office use.
The reflecting glass treatment is part of the overall architecture of the building. To disrupt
this feature by introducing signage would seriously detract from the appearance of the
building and would create an undesirable precedent.
I am therefore recommending refusal of this application as I consider the requested variances
to be significant and not 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
_________
Ms. Kim Kovar, Aird & Berlis, appeared before the Toronto Community Council in
connection with the foregoing matter.
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