April 14, 1998
To:East York Community Council
From:Rick Tomaszewicz
Commissioner of Development Services Department
Subject:Request for Variance from Sign By-law requirements, by Home Depot, at 7 Curity Avenue, East York, Ward 1.
Purpose:
To report to the May 6, 1998 East York Community Council regarding a request to allow the installation of an additional
facial sign on the north elevation of the building at the above address, for a Harvey=s and Second Cup restaurant at the
above address.
Financial Implications:
There are no financial implications.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that the request to install an additional facial sign on the north elevation of the building, at 7 Curity
Avenue, for a Harvey=s and Second Cup restaurant, be granted, subject to approval of the Zoning By-law amendment
application, currently in process, to allow restaurant use at this address.
Background:
The Municipal Act authorizes Council to pass By-laws for prohibiting or regulating signs and advertising devices. The Act
also authorizes Council to grant minor variances from the by-laws where such variances, in the opinion of Council, would
maintain the general intent of the by-law.
Discussion:
The request for variance arises because the present Sign By-law in the Community of East York, allows for free standing
commercial establishments:
One (1) facial or canopy sign for each face of wall exposed to and abutting a street, parking area or a permanent open space
in a front or side yard provided the height does not exceed 1.0 or 1.2 metres respectively.
The applicant proposes to install on the north building elevation an additional facial sign for Harvey=s and Second Cup
restaurant business, operating as a separate entity from within the main Home Depot store. This additional facial sign,
though, is not in compliance with the Sign By-law for the following reasons:
- It would be the third sign on the same wall elevation, while the Sign By-law, based on a Sign By-law exemption granted
by the previous Council of the Borough of East York on May 29, 1995, allows only two signs.
- It would have an overall height of 1.3 metres which exceeds the permitted height of 1.0 metre.
Staff is of the opinion that the proposed sign is not likely to be objectionable to the neighbours, or create an adverse effect
on the signage of the area for the following reasons:
- The wall on which this additional sign is proposed to be installed has a large area and it is set back from the street
(Curity Avenue) about 150 metres.
- The area of the existing and proposed signs on this wall elevation would be not more than 20% of the total area of the
wall.
- The neighbouring area in general is predominantly industrial and the buildings on the opposite side of Home Depot are
also industrial.
Conclusion:
The requested variance is minor and would maintain the general intent of the by-law. Staff has no objection for the
variance to be granted.
Contact Name:
Iraklis (Eric) Tsotsos, Manager of Plan Review, at (416) 778-2239.
RICK TOMASZEWICZ,
Commissioner, Development Services Department
