Item - 2020.SB8.3

The Sign Variance Committee:

1.  Granted the requested variances to sections 694-24A (1), 694-25C (2)(g) and 694-25C(2)(f), each subject to four conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit for the erection and display of one third party electronic ground sign at 1548 The Queensway, as described in Attachment 1 to the report (August 6, 2020) 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.

Pattison Outdoor (the "Applicant") has been authorized by the owner of the property municipally known as 1548 The Queensway (the "Premises"), 2210288 Ontario Inc., to apply for three variances, each subject to four conditions, required to allow for a permit to be issued for one third party electronic ground sign with two sign faces, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") on the Premises.

The Proposed Sign will have a height of 7.65 metres, and will contain two sign faces, each with a sign face area of 18.60 square metres. The sign faces will be oriented perpendicular to The Queensway. The two sign faces on the Proposed Sign will be in a "back to back" configuration. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1.

Three variances to Chapter 694, each subject to four conditions, are required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit for the Proposed Sign. The requested variances are as bellow:

1.  Section 694-24A (1) - A third party sign shall not be erected or displayed, or caused to be erected or displayed, in whole or in part, within 400 metres of any limit of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway from Highway 427 to the Humber River, however the Proposed Sign will be located 300.00 metres from F.G. Gardiner Expressway.

 
2.  Section 694-25C (2)(g) - A third party electronic ground sign is permitted, provided the sign shall be located a minimum of 500 metres from any other third party electronic sign located on: [1] the same street; or [2] on a street which forms an intersection with the street on which the sign is located, however the Proposed Sign will be located within 280.00 metres from another third party electronic sign located on a street which forms an intersection with the street on which the Proposed Sign would be located.

3.  Section 694-25C(2)(f) – A third party electronic ground sign is permitted, provided where it is located within 250 metres of an R, RA, CR, I or OS Sign District, the sign cannot face any premises in the R, RA, CR, I or OS Sign District. The Proposed Sign will face a Commercial Residential (CR) sign district within 250.0 metres, of its location.
 

Each of the three requested variances, are sought to have the following four conditions:

a)   Any and all existing third party signs located at 1548 The Queensway shall be removed and all associated permits revoked prior to the construction the Proposed Sign;

b)   The sign face bottom shall be no less than 4.50 metres for all sign faces;

c)  The Proposed Sign shall contain "photo-cell technology" sufficient to ensure compliance with the maximum illumination mandated by the Sign By-law (300 nits) between sunset and sunrise shall occur automatically in accordance with the seasonal adjustments to daylight hours; and,

d)   The orientation of the two sign faces to be generally perpendicular to The Queensway.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions, and the results of extensive research and investigation by Sign By-law Unit staff, the CBO has determined that sufficient information exists to confirm that all of the nine established criteria in the Sign By-law have been met, with respect to the requested variances, subject to the three required conditions. Therefore, the CBO recommends that the Sign Variance Committee grant all of the requested variances, each subject to the three required conditions.