Pylon Sign - 3338 Dufferin Street -

North York Spadina

 The North York Community Council recommends that:

 (a)the following report (May 19, 1998) from the Chief Building Official/Building Commissioner be received; and

 (b)the application to erect a ground sign at 3338 Dufferin Street, as submitted, be approved as a minor variance from the sign by-law.

 Purpose:

 Evaluate and make recommendations concerning a request by Mr. R.E. Christie for a variance from the sign by-law to permit a double sided ground sign to overhang onto City owned property.

 Recommendation:

 It is recommended that:

 (1)The request be denied as a minor variance from the sign by-law.

 Council Reference/Background/History:

 In a letter dated April 9, 1998, R.E. Christie is requesting permission to erect a double sided ground sign having a sign area of 96 square feet near the south east corner of the building at 3338 Dufferin Street (Across the road from Yorkdale Mall). Although the base of the sign will be located on private property the sign face itself will cantilever over Public Property thereby contravening section 3.7.1. of Sign By-law No. 30788.

 Section 5.2.2.2. of Sign By-law 30788 permits one ground sign on private property on an inside lot in a commercial zone provided that the sign does not exceed a sign area of 1 square foot for every 1 foot of frontage. Since the east elevation of the site has a length of approximately 109 feet the sign area would comply with the provisions of the sign by-law if it were wholly placed on private property.

 The applicant contends that due to the zero lot line condition on the east elevation fronting on Dufferin Street, facia signage is not visible to southbound traffic and a pylon sign, which would solve the dilemma, cannot be built wholly on private property.

 Conclusions:

 As the sign encroaches approximately 7 feet onto public property and will be oriented to overhang a pedestrian sidewalk, the variance, in our opinion, is not minor and the sign would have a negative impact on the surrounding area. The intent of the sign by-law would not be served by the erection of this sign and therefore we recommend that this request be denied as a minor variance from the sign by-law.

 ----------

 The North York Community Council reports having also had before it a communication (May 11, 1998) from Ms. Stacey Scribner, Director, Store Development, The Great Canadian Bagel, in support of this application, a copy of which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk.