Item - 2019.SB4.7

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Granted the requested variance to subsection 694-21(I)(5)(A) with respect to the Proposed Sign at the premises municipally known as 3601 Victoria Park Avenue, as described in Attachment 1 of the report (June 24, 2019) 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 addresses an appeal concerning one variance sought respecting one illuminated first party wall sign displaying static copy (the Proposed Sign), which is to be located along the west elevation of the upper-most storey of an existing five-storey building at 3601 Victoria Park Avenue (the Subject Premises).

The Proposed Sign has one sign face which is rectangular in shape, with a bisecting line of 11.38 metres and centre line of 1.07 metres. The Proposed Sign is currently intended to display sign copy along identifying the "Lowell Academy" private high school, located within the building at the Subject Premises, directed towards traffic on Victoria Park Avenue.

Shiupong Management Ltd., through their agent Graphix Signs Inc. (the Applicant), filed a variance application for a first party wall sign above the first storey in an Employment (E) Sign District. After conducting a review of this variance application, a decision was made by the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building (the CBO) to refuse the requested variance for erecting one first party wall sign above the first storey in an Employment (E) Sign District. Following this decision, Shiupong Management Ltd., through their agent Forward Signs (the Appellant), filed an appeal of the CBO's decision.

The CBO has determined that the Appellant has not provided sufficient information to determine that the Proposed Sign meets all nine of the criteria established in §694-30A of the Sign By-law, which are required for a variance approval to be granted.

Specifically, the Appellant has not provided any compelling information for the CBO to determine that the Proposed Sign is compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area, supports the Official Plan objectives for the property and surrounding area, is not contrary to the public interest, and does not alter the character of the premises or surrounding area.