Item - 2019.SB5.3

The Sign Variance Committee:

1.  Refused to grant the four requested variances to sections 694-22E, 694-25C(2)(e), 694-25C(2)(f), and 694-25C(2)(k) each subject to the specified condition, required to allow the Applicant to obtain a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 400 Eastern Avenue, as described in Attachment 1 of the report (November 14, 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 reviews a proposal by Outfront Media, on behalf of the property owner (the "Applicant"), to seek four variances, each subject to specified condition(s), required to allow for one third party electronic ground sign displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign"), as described in further detail in Attachment 1.

The Proposed Sign would be located along the south frontage of the property municipally known as 400 Eastern Avenue (the "Subject Premises"), which contains a two storey building intended for office and retail use. The Proposed Sign would have a height of 7.33 metres from grade, and contain two sign faces in a v-shape configuration, with a sign face area of 19.99 square metres on each side.

Only the west-facing sign face would display electronic static copy; the east-facing sign face would display static copy. The Proposed Sign is intended to capture the attention of traffic travelling along Eastern Avenue. The Proposed Sign would be erected and displayed in approximately the same location as an existing third party sign ("Existing Mechanical Sign"), the removal of which along with the revocation of all associated permits concerning this existing third party sign is a condition for the four requested variances.

The Subject Premises is designated as an E-Employment Sign District, which allows third party electronic ground signs, and the proposed height and sign face area are in-line with the Sign By-law requirements for third party electronic ground signs in an E Sign District. However, the Proposed Sign is located in close proximity to sensitive land uses and oriented in a v-shape configuration.

The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building (the "CBO"), has determined that the Applicant has not provided sufficient information to establish that the Proposed Sign meets all nine of the criteria set out in §694-30A of the Sign By-law, which are required for a variance approval to be granted.

Specifically, the Applicant has not provided sufficient information to allow 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 premises and surrounding area, does not alter the character of the premises or surrounding area, and is not contrary to the public interest.