Item - 2020.SB9.1

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Refused the requested variances to sections 694-25(C)(2)E, 694-25(C)(2)(f) and 694-25C(2)(k), 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 the property municipally known as 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive, as described in Attachment 1 to this report (November 12, 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 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive, to apply for three variances, each subject to four conditions, required for a permit to be issued for one third party electronic ground sign with two sign faces, each displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") at 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive.

The Proposed Sign will be located along the south frontage of 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive, facing Sheppard Ave West and directed south east and south west. It will have a height of 7.65 metres, and will contain two sign faces, each measuring 5.80 metres horizontally by 2.90 metres vertically, with a sign face area of 16.82 square metres in a “v-shaped” configuration. The interior angle of two sign faces will be less than 90 degrees. 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 requirements in Chapter 694 that are requested to be varied, are:

1.  694-25(C)(2)E – An Employment "E" Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided the sign shall not be erected within 60 metres of any premises located, in whole or in part, in an R, RA, CR, I, or OS Sign District – The Proposed Sign is located approximately 45 metres from an I Institutional Sign District to the south;

 
2.  694-25(C)(2)(f) – An E Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided where the sign is located within 250 metres of an R, RA, CR, I, or OS Sign District, the sign cannot face any premises in that district – The Proposed Sign faces into an I Institutional Sign District within 250 metres, and;

 
3.  694-25C(2)(k) – An E Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided where there are two sign faces, the sign faces shall be back-to-back - the Proposed Sign has a “v-shaped” configuration.

If granted, each of the three requested variances, would have the following four conditions:

 
1.  Any and all existing third party signs located at the property municipally known as 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive shall be removed and all associated permits revoked, prior to the erection or display of the Proposed Sign;

 
2.  Any and all existing first party ground signs located at the south frontage of the property municipally known as 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive shall be removed and all associated permits revoked, prior to the erection or display of the Proposed Sign;

 
3.  The sign face bottom shall be no less than 4.5 metres for all sign faces; and,

 
4.  The orientation of the two sign faces to be in a generally south-westerly and south-easterly direction as follows, with an internal angle of the two sign faces no more than 90 degrees.

i.   have a maximum bisecting line of no greater than 2.90
ii.  have a maximum centre line of no greater than 5.80
iii. have a maximum sign face area of no greater than 16.82 square metres;
iv. may display static, or electronic static sign copy, but not both;
 

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and the results of research and investigation by the staff of the Sign By-law Unit, the CBO has determined that the Applicant has not provided sufficient information to determine that the proposal meets all nine of the criteria established in §694-30A of the Sign By-law. Specifically, the information provided has not established that the Proposed Sign is compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area, and that the Proposed Sign is not contrary to the public interest.