Variances from Chapter 297, Signs,
of the Former City of Toronto Municipal Code -
(Downtown, Midtown and North Toronto)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following reports from the Commissioner of
Urban Planning and Development Services:
(March 28, 1999)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a variance to maintain two non-illuminated ground
signs for identification purposes at 60 Shuter Street.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That City Council approve Application No. 999009 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the
former City of Toronto Municipal Code to maintain two non-illuminated ground signs for identification purposes at 60
Shuter Street.
(2)That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999009, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The subject property is located on the northeast corner of Shuter Street and Church Street in a mixed-use zoning district.
The property accommodates an existing parking lot. The applicant is requesting permission to maintain two
non-illuminated ground signs, one on the Shuter Street frontage and another on the Church Street frontage for identification
purpose. The existing ground sign on the Shuter Street frontage has a length of 1.48 metres and a height of 4.22 metres,
with an area of 6.25 mē. The existing sign on the Church Street frontage has a length of 1.22 metres and a height of 3.56
metres, with an area of 4.34 mē (see Figure 1).
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that ground signs are required to be set back 2.0
metres from the property line. The setback requirement for ground signs is aimed at ensuring that, where possible, an open,
uncluttered view corridor is maintained along commercial streets and that sight lines for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians
are improved.
As the two adjacent buildings are built to the lot line, these signs have been also placed close to the lot line to ensure
visibility to motorists. An increased setback would only marginally improve the view corridors and sight lines along Shuter
and Church Streets. In this instance, I am willing to accept the maintenance of these signs in the current locations.
I am recommending approval of this application, as I find the variance requested to be minor and within the general intent
and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code.
Contact Name:
Norm Girdhar
Telephone: (416) 392-7209
Fax: (416) 392-0580
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
60 Shuter Street
Insert Table/Map No. 2
60 Shuter Street
Insert Table/Map No. 3
60 Shuter Street
Insert Table/Map No. 4
60 Shuter Street
(April 5, 1999)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for a minor variance to maintain one illuminated fascia
sign for identification on the south elevation at 208 King Street East.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendation:
That City Council approve Application No. 999013 respecting a minor variance to maintain one illuminated fascia sign for
identification on the south elevation at 208 King Street East.
Comments:
The property is located on the north side of King Street East between Frederick Street and Sherbourne Street, in the King -
Parliament Reinvestment Area. The property accommodates a six-storey office building.
The applicant is requesting permission to maintain one illuminated fascia sign on the south elevation of the building for
identification purposes (see Figure 1). The sign has a length of 5.48 metres and a height of 0.51 metre, with an area of 2.79
mē.
The sign does not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that the sign is erected above the level of the second
storey and more than 10 metres above the grade of the building:
Signs are permitted to be located only within the first two storeys of a building. The intent of this provision is to restrict
signs to their traditional locations in order to minimize the impact of signage on the building to which they are attached, on
the streetscape and on the adjacent residential uses.
In this instance, the sign is installed slightly higher than the permitted height which extends above the second storey level of
the building.
The Alias/Wavefront is a software development company and a bulk of their development staff is located on second floor
of the building. The company was concerned that if the sign was to be located at that level, there might be some
interference into the software development electronic media through the power transmission of the sign. Also, the applicant
has advised that because of a steel beam behind the second floor level sign band, it was very difficult to anchor the sign at
the second floor level. The surrounding uses are commercial in nature and it is my opinion that the modest size sign located
sightly above the permitted level will not impact the building, streetscape or the surrounding uses.
I am recommending approval of this application, as I find the variance requested to be minor and within the general intent
and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code.
Contact Name:
Norm Girdhar
Telephone: (416) 392-7209
Fax: (416) 392-7536
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
208 King Street East
Insert Table/Map No. 2
208 King Street East
Insert Table/Map No. 3
208 King Street East
Insert Table/Map No. 4
208 King Street East
Insert Table/Map No. 5
208 King Street East
(March 10, 1999)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for minor variances to permit two illuminated pedestal
signs for identification purposes at 1643 Yonge Street & 1250 Bayview Avenue.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That City Council approve Application No. 999004 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former
City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit two illuminated pedestal signs for identification purposes at 1643 Yonge Street
& 1250 Bayview Avenue.
(2)That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999004, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The subject property, known as "Mount Pleasant Cemetery", extends eastward from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road
and continues eastward from Mount Pleasant Road to the west side of Bayview Avenue. The cemetery lands are located in
a "G" ( park) zoning district. The applicant is requesting permission to erect one illuminated pedestal sign on the east side
of the Mount Pleasant Road frontage and one illuminated pedestal sign on the west side of the Bayview Avenue frontage
for identification purposes (see Key Map).
The sign on the Mount Pleasant Road frontage will be erected in front of the central pillar of the entrance gateway to the
cemetery (see Figure 1). The sign will be directed towards the motorist and pedestrians travelling north and south along
Mount Pleasant Avenue. The sign will have a length of 3.38 metres and a height of 1.93 metres, with an area of 6.52 mē.
The sign on the Bayview Avenue frontage will be erected near the walkway entrance between Moore Avenue and Merton
Street on the west side of Bayview Avenue (see Figure 3). The sign will be directed towards motorists and pedestrians
travelling north and south along Bayview Avenue . The sign has a length of 2.23 metres and a height of 2.19 metres, with
an area of 4.88 mē.
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
(1)the horizontal dimension of the sign on the Mount Pleasant Road frontage (3.38 metres) exceeds by 1.08 metres the
maximum 2.30 metres permitted by the Municipal Code;
(2)the area of the sign on the Mount Pleasant Road frontage (6.52 mē ) exceeds by 6.27 mē the maximum 0.25 mē sign
area permitted by the Municipal Code. Also, the area of the sign on the Bayview Avenue frontage (4.88 mē ) exceeds by
4.63 mē the maximum 0.25 mē sign area permitted by the Municipal Code.
The first variance relates to the horizontal dimension of the proposed sign on the Mount Pleasant Road frontage.
The horizontal dimension of pedestal signs is regulated so as to minimize the visual intrusiveness and to protect sight-lines
for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The entrance gateway on the east the side of Mount Pleasant Road is set back 5.16
metres from the property line and 11.56 metres from the edge of the road. Since the sign is substantially set back from the
property line, it will not, in my opinion, be visually intrusive for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians travelling along Mount
Pleasant Road.
The second variance, which applies to both frontages, relates to the area of the signs. Signs permitted in "G" (park) zoning
districts are required to be small and low in order to limit any negative impact they may have on the users of the park, on
the streetscape and on the adjacent uses. In this instance both the east and west frontages of the cemetery are a city block
long. Although larger than the permitted size, these modest size pedestal signs will not, in my opinion, adversely impact the
cemetery, streetscape and the adjacent residential neighbourhoods.
I am recommending approval of this application as I find the variances requested to be minor and within the general intent
and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code.
Contact Name:
Norm Girdhar
Telephone: (416) 392-7209
Fax: (416) 392-0580
E-Mail: ngirdhar@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
1643 Yonge Street & 1250 Bayview Avenue
Insert Table/Map No. 2
1643 Yonge Street & 1250 Bayview Avenue
Insert Table/Map No. 3
1643 Yonge Street & 1250 Bayview Avenue
Insert Table/Map No. 4
1643 Yonge Street & 1250 Bayview Avenue
Insert Table/Map No. 5
1643 Yonge Street & 1250 Bayview Avenue
(April 13, 1999)
Purpose:
To review and make recommendations respecting an application for variances to permit one illuminated projecting sign and
one illuminated canopy sign at 126 John Street, also known as Festival Hall.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)City Council approve Application No.999019 respecting minor variances from Chapter 297, Signs, of the former City
of Toronto Municipal Code to permit one illuminated projecting sign and one illuminated canopy sign.
(2)The applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 999019, of the requirement to obtain the necessary
permits from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services.
Comments:
The property is located on John Street, Richmond Street West and Widmer Street, in a reinvestment area (RA) district. The
proposed development is known as Festival Hall, an entertainment complex consisting of approximately 13,000 square
metres of retail space on the first two floors, and a 14-theatre, 4,300 seat multiplex cinema on the uppermost floor.
At its meeting of March 2 and 3, 1999, City of Toronto Council gave approval to install signage related to the theatre and
retail uses. The purpose of this report is to give consideration to a variance application for signage by Playdium
Entertainment which occupy the two historically designated buildings fronting on John Street. The buildings are known as
the John Burns Carriage Manufacturers Building and the Turnbull Elevator Company Building and are good examples of
19th Century Renaissance Revival and 20th Century Commercial-Industrial style building types.
The canopy sign has a length of 4.5 metres and a height of 0.3 metres and the projecting sign has a length of 1.8 metres and
a height of 2.1 metres. In addition to the two signs that are part of this application, an additional three signs, which are
permitted, will be installed on the buildings (see Figures 2, 3, and 4).
The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in the following ways:
1. the area of the canopy sign (3.02 mē) exceeds the maximum permitted area of 1.81 mē by 1.21 mē;
2.the area of the projecting sign (3.81 mē) exceeds the maximum permitted area of 2.34 mē by 1.47 mē;
3.the thickness of the projecting sign (0.88 metres) exceeds the permitted thickness of 0.5 metres by 0.38 metres; and
4.the sign will project 2.28 metres instead of the maximum permitted projection of 1 metre.
A canopy will be installed on the north end of the building that will mark the point of entry to Playdium. The canopy will
be of a skeletal steel construction, clad in aluminum sheet, with a copper leaf finish. The name "Playdium" will appear on
both sides of the canopy as well as along the front and has been included in the area calculation. I consider the variance
acceptable in this instance because the names will not be visible from the same vantage point.
The remaining three variances have to do with the size of the projecting "orb" sign and its extent of projection from the
building face. The size of the projecting sign is based upon the amount of frontage the unit has on the street. In this
instance, the property is approximately 25 metres long, and its slightly larger size will not negatively impact the building to
which it is attached. The thickness of the sign is a result of its oval shape which I consider acceptable. Respecting the sign's
projection, the sign would project 1.28 metres more than permitted by the Municipal Code. The variance is acceptable
because the sign would be installed at a height of 3.6 metres above grade and would not interfere with pedestrians and
would not extend beyond the canopy to the north.
Heritage Toronto staff have advised that the signs are acceptable and the applicant has adequately addressed their concerns.
I am therefore recommending approval of this application, as I find the variances requested to be minor and within the
general intent and purpose of the sign provisions of the Municipal Code.
Contact Name:
Lora Mazzocca
Telephone: (416) 392-0421
Fax: (416) 392-0580
Mail: lmazzocc@toronto.ca
Insert Table/Map No. 1
126 John Street
Insert Table/Map No. 2
126 John Street
Insert Table/Map No. 3
126 John Street
Insert Table/Map No. 4
126 John Street
Insert Table/Map No. 5
126 John Street
