Request for a Variance from Sign by-law No. 64-87 of the former

Borough of East York submitted by Kwality Signs Inc. for the

Dominion Store Located at 3003 Danforth Avenue

The East York Community Council recommends that:

(1)the variance from the Sign By-law requirements to permit the installation of three (3) oversized facial signs and the installation of more than one facial sign on the same wall elevation, for the Dominion Store at 3003 Danforth Avenue, be approved;

(2)City Council adopt a Site Specific Sign By-law Amendment for the Dominion Store at 3003 Danforth Avenue; and

(3)the following report (November 30, 1998) from the Manager, Field Office, East York, be received:

Purpose:

The applicant proposes to install oversized facial signs, not in compliance with the Sign By-law of the Community of East York. The proposed signs are for the new Dominion Store at Shoppers World Plaza, 3003 Danforth Avenue at Victoria Park Avenue.

Financial Implications:

There are no financial implications.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)Council deny the variance from the Sign By-law requirements to permit the installation of three (3) oversized facial signs and the installation of more than one facial sign on the same wall elevation, for the Dominion Store at 3003 Danforth Avenue;

(2)if Council wishes to permit the proposed signs, to do so by way of adopting a Site Specific Sign By-law amendment for the Dominion Store at 3003 Danforth Avenue; and

(3)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

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-law where such variances, in the opinion of Council, would maintain the general intent of the by-law.

Comments:

The Sign By-law allows signs for buildings in accordance with the zoning designation of the area where the buildings are located and in accordance with the type of the occupancy of the buildings.

The Dominion Store is located in the Shoppers World Plaza in an area designated as Commercial zone. The Sign By-law for the Community of East York allows, for commercial plazas or shopping centres, the following signs:

1.One (1) facial or canopy sign for each occupant, except that where a unit has more than one facades exposed to and abutting a street or parking area in a front or side yard, one (1) facial or canopy sign for each wall thus exposed may be erected, to a maximum of two (2) signs per establishment, provided the height of each facial or canopy sign does not exceed 1.2 metres.

2.Notwithstanding the above requirement, in a plaza which is separated from the street by a parking area, the height of the facial or canopy signs may be a maximum of 1.5 metres.

The applicant is proposing to install the following signs, which are not in compliance with the requirements of the Sign By-law. The nature and extent of non-compliance is stated after each of the proposed signs.

1. Facial Sign # 1 on the North Elevation, facing Danforth Avenue:

This facial sign displays the Dominion Store Logo, has an overall height of 3.96 metres (13'-0" and an overall width of 3.65 metres (12'-0"). Below this sign there is another facial sign with a height of 0.81 metres (2'-8") and a length of 13.72 metres (45'-0") for other sub-tenants within the Dominion Store, such as Ultra Drug, Bank of Montreal, WesternUnion, Spotless Dry Cleaning. The combined height of the two facial signs above is more than 4.87 metres (16'-0"), which is greatly in excess of the height allowed by the SignBy-law.

1. Facial Sign # 2 on the North Elevation, facing Danforth Avenue:

This facial sign displays the name "Dominion" and the name "Ultra Mart", has a height of 2.13 metres (7'-0") and a length of 14.0 metres (46'-0"). This sign, Notwithstanding its size, increases the number of signs on the same wall elevation to more than one, not allowed by the Sign By-law.

1. Facial Sign # 3 on the East Elevation, facing Victoria Park Avenue:

This facial sign displays the name "Dominion" at the top of the sign and the names of other sub-tenants within the Dominion Store at the bottom of the sign. The overall height of the above facial signs is more than 3.71 metres (12'-2"), greatly in excess of the height allowed by the Sign By-law.

Conclusion:

Staff is of the opinion that the request for variance to install the signs described above for the Dominion Store at 3003 Danforth Avenue, be denied. The height and number of signs are over and above of what is permitted in the Sign By-law and are beyond the parameters for minor variances from the Sign By-law requirements. If Council wishes to allow these variances, it may do so by way of a Site Specific Sign By-law amendment.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Iraklis (Eric) Tsotsos

967-4482

The East York Community Council also submits the following communication (November24,1998) from Mr. Javeid Akhtar, Kwality Signs Inc., Mississauga:

"We submit an application on behalf of our client The Great A & P Company of Canada for the installation of various signs on the above premises. Our client is opening up a food store of 53,000sq.ft. This store will also include some other small businesses. This store will serve the community for 24 hours a day.

The other businesses are:

1.Western Union Money Transfer

2.Bank of Montreal

3. Ultra Drug

4.Spotless Dry Cleaners

The north elevation of the proposed freestanding building is facing Danforth Avenue and is set back about 1,500'. The North elevation signs to have a total area of 563sq. ft. which is only 113 sq. ft. per business. The allowable height is 1.2m and most of the signs are within these criteria with the exception of the Dominion Logo "D" and the sign for Ultra Drug.

The east elevation of building faces Victoria Park Avenue. The east elevation signs to have a total area of 329 sq. ft. which is only 66 sq. ft per business. The allowable height is 1.2m and most of the signs are within these criteria with the exception of the Dominion "D".

We request the council to approve the amendment to the by-law, so that our client can have the proposed signs."

Mr. Douglas G. Stephen, The Great Atlantic and Pacific of Canada Limited, Toronto, appeared before the East York Community Council in connection with the foregoing.