Variance from Chapter 297, Signs,

of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code -

291 Jane Street (High Park)

The Toronto Community Council recommends that Council refuse Application No. 998015 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one illuminated roof sign at 291 Jane Street.

Purpose:

To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to maintain one illuminated roof sign at 291 Jane Street.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not applicable.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that:

City Council refuse Application No. 998015 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain one illuminated roof sign.

Comments:

The property is located on the east side of Jane Street, between Ardagh Street and Annette Street, in a mixed-use (commercial/residential) district. The property accommodates a one storey commercial building . The applicant is requesting permission to maintain one illuminated roof sign (see Figure 2). The sign has a length of 4.9 metres and a height of 2.4 metres, with an area of 11.7 m².

The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that a roof sign is not permitted in a mixed-use (commercial/residential) district. The former City of Toronto Council adopted this prohibition on April 24, 1995 based on a study of roof signs along main streets in CR and MCR districts. Roof signs detract from the streetscape and negatively impact the skyline views along our commercial streets and views from adjacent residential districts. Signs which were legally erected prior to the passing of the by-law and which do not conform to the current sign provisions of the Municipal Code are permitted to remain as legal non-conforming.

A roof sign previously existed at this location. The original sign panels were removed but not the support structure. New sign panels have recently been erected on the existing support structure. At its meeting of April 1 and 2, 1996, the former City of Toronto Council adopted By-law 1996-0168 which further amended the sign regulations of Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code by deleting the as-of-right replacement provisions for legal non-conforming signs. City Council adopted this recommendation because it was felt that the continued replacement of non-conforming signs would serve to prolong the lifespan of signs in areas where Council had decided that they are no longer desired and by permitting the erection of new non-conforming signs, the goal of attrition would take much longer to achieve. While the signs' faces and attributes can be changed, no changes are permitted to the sign structure, location or height of legal non-conforming signs.

In this instance, while no change has occurred to the location of the sign or its support elements, new sign panels have been erected which contradicts the intent of these provisions. The applicant has been advised of other options available to display appropriate signage.

Given the prohibition of roof signs in this district and the deletion of the replacement provisions for legal non-conforming signs, I consider the requested variance to be significant and not within the general intent and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code. I am, therefore, recommending that this application be refused.

Contact Name:

Lora Mazzocca

Telephone: (416) 392-0421

Fax: (416) 392-7536

E-Mail: lmazzocc@city.toronto.on.ca

(Copies of the three maps appended hereto, are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)