Item - 2018.PG25.2

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the application to amend the Sign By-law to add a site-specific amendment to Schedule 'B' of Chapter 694, Signage Master Plans and Area Specific Amendments, to establish regulations for the premises municipally known as 440 Front Street West, described in Attachment 1 to the report (December 28, 2017) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building (Interim); and,

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction in Council to implement the above recommendation, subject to such stylistic and technical changes to the draft by-law as may be required.

This report recommends approval of a Site-Specific Amendment to the Sign By-law for the property at 440 Front Street West, at the north-west corner of Front Street and Spadina Avenue (the former Globe and Mail site).

The property is the subject of a development application which consists of seven mixed-use buildings and associated underground parking. The consortium of developers who are involved in the project refer to the development as ‘The Well’.  

In December 2016, as a result of the re-development of the site, Toronto Building received an application to amend the Sign By-law to permit a combination of first party wall, ground, projecting and overhanging structure signs and third party electronic signs along Front Street and Spadina Avenue. Through consultations with City Planning and Transportation Services, Toronto Building established a number of objectives to review against the applicant's proposals. The recommended site-specific amendment is consistent with these objectives and the intent of the Sign By-law. 

This report also responds to a direction from the Planning and Growth Management Committee ("PGM") to review the sign regulations for the area surrounding the intersection of Front Street and Spadina Avenue, and identify any potential amendments to the Sign By-law to accommodate present and future developments, including the creation of a Special Sign District.

This report has been prepared in consultation with staff from City Planning and Transportation Services.