Item - 2019.SB1.2

The Sign Variance Committee:

1.   Granted the three requested variances to sections 694-25C(2)(f), 694-25C(2)(d), and 694-22E, subject to specific conditions, required to allow the Applicant to obtain a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 159 Dynamic Drive, as described in greater detail in Attachment 1 to the report dated December 20, 2018 from the Manager, Sign By-law Unit, Toronto Building.

A decision of the Sign Variance Committee, in the case of a decision to refuse to grant a variance, is final and binding on the date the decision was issued; and in the case of a decision to grant a variance with conditions, the decision is final and binding 21 days after the date the decision was issued unless an application to consider is filed by the ward councillor in accordance with §694-30S of Chapter 694 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code.

This report reviews an application for three variances, subject to a specific condition, made by Pattison Outdoor on behalf of the property owner (the "Applicant"), to allow for one third party electronic ground sign with electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") at the property municipally known as 159 Dynamic Drive (the "Subject Premises"), described in greater detail in Attachment 1.

The Proposed Sign would be located along the east frontage of the Subject Premises, which contains "CanLan Ice Sports" arena and an associated surface-level parking lot. The Proposed Sign is intended to be erected and displayed in the same location as an existing third party ground sign currently in place at the Subject Premises since 2002, and would seek to capture the attention of traffic travelling along Markham Road.

The Subject Premises is designated as an Employment ("E") Sign District, which allows third party electronic ground signs. The proposed height and sign face area would be in compliance with the Sign By-law requirements for this sign type in an E Sign District. The Proposed Sign would have a height of 7.5 metres, and contain two sign faces displayed in a "back-to-back" configuration, each with a sign face area of 18.6 square metres.

While most of the premises to the south, east and west are also designated as E Sign Districts, there is a large premises to the north of the Subject Premises designated as an Open Space ("OS") Sign District, which contains a public golf practice facility. The information provided by the Applicant helps to demonstrate that the Proposed Sign would likely have minimal impact on this OS Sign District, as the users would be facing away from the sign, and there does not appear to be any natural habitats present which would be disturbed by the light from the Proposed Sign.

This area of Markham Road, south of Steeles Avenue East, is largely industrial and employment in nature, and the Sign District designations largely reflect these uses. There are also existing third party ground signs located within the surrounding area, including one which has been in place at the Subject Premises for more than 15 years. Replacing the existing sign with the Proposed Sign would not add to sign clutter in the area, nor would the electronic copy have any adverse impacts on the surrounding premises.

In addition, while the Proposed Sign is located within the minimum setback from an existing third party ground sign to the south, there are deciduous trees in place between the two signs which limit the opportunity for both signs to be viewed at the same time.

Following a review of the Applicant's submission, the Chief Building Official ("CBO") has determined that enough information has been provided to confirm that all of the nine established criteria in the Sign By-law have been met. Therefore, the CBO is supportive of the Sign Variance Committee granting the requested variances.

The condition that would be imposed if the requested variances are granted would be the removal of the existing sign from the Subject Premises, and revocation of any sign permit associated with this existing ground sign.