Item - 2020.SB9.2

The Sign Variance Committee: 

1. Refused to grant any of the seven requested variances to sections 694-24.A(1), 694-25.C(2)(a), 694-25.C(2)(b), 694-25.C(2)(e), § 694-25.C(2)(f), § 694-25.C(2)(g)[1] and § 694-25.C(2)(k) required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign at the property municipally known as 270 Evans Ave as described in Attachment 1, to this report (November 13, 2020) from the Manager, Sign By-Law Unit, Toronto Building.
 

2. Refused to grant any of the six requested variances to sections 694-24.A(1), 694-25.C(2)(a), 694-25.C(2)(b), 694-25.C(2)(e), 694-25.C(2)(f), and 694-25.C(2)(g)[1] required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of Proposed Sign #2 at the property municipally known as 270 Evans Ave as described in Attachment 1, to this report (November 13, 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.

Norm Girdhar on behalf of Branded Cities (the "Applicant") has been authorized by the owner of the property municipally known as 270 Evans Ave, to apply for seven variances, each subject to three 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") at 270 Evans Ave.

The Proposed Sign will be located along the north-west frontage of 270 Evans Ave, facing the Gardiner Expressway, in a westerly and north-easterly direction. It will have a height of 19.2 metres, and will contain two sign faces, each measuring 14.63 metres horizontally by 4.27 metres vertically, with a sign face area of 62.47 square metres with a “v-shaped” configuration. The interior angle of two sign faces will be less than 25 degrees. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1.

Seven variances to Chapter 694, each subject to three conditions, are required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit for the Proposed Sign. The requirements in Chapter 694 which have been requested to vary, are as below:

1.  § 694-24.A(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, transferred from the Province by Order in Council 534/97- The Proposed Sign is located in an area where third party sign shall not be erected or displayed (specifically approximately 55 meters south of the southern limit of the portion of F.G. Gardiner Expressway between Highway 427 and the Humber River).

 
2.  § 694-25.C(2)(a)- An Employment "E"  Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the sign face area shall not exceed 20.0 square metres- The Proposed Sign has a sign face area of 62.47 square meters on each which is approximately three times the permitted sign face area on each sign face.

 
3.  § 694-25.C(2)(b)- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the height shall not exceed 10.0 meters- The Proposed Sign has a height of 19.2 meters which is approximately twice the permitted height.

 
4.  § 694-25.C(2)(e)- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the sign shall not be erected within 60.0 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 within 27 meters of OS - Open Space Sign district which is less than the maximum permitted clearance.

 
5.  § 694-25.C(2)(f)- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided where a sign is located within 250 metres of an R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district, the sign cannot face any premise in the R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district- The Proposed Sign is facing CR sign district located in 180 meters of the North West side of the Premises.

 
6.  § 694-5.C(2)(g)[1]- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the sign be located a minimum of 500 metres from any other third party electronic sign located on the same street- The Proposed Sign is located within approximately 360 meters of an existing third party electronic ground sign at 16 Arnold St.

 
7.  694-25C(2)(k) – An (E) Employment 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.
 

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

1.  Any and all existing third party signs located at the property municipally known as 270 Evans Ave shall be removed and all associated permits revoked, prior to the erection or display of the Proposed Sign;

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

3.  The orientation of the two sign faces to be in a generally North 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 no greater than 4.27 meters;
ii.  Have a maximum center line of no greater than 14.63 meters;
iii. Have a maximum sign face area of no greater than 62.47 square meters;
iv. May display static, or electronic static copy, but not both;
 

The Applicant has also included in its application an alternative proposal (Proposed Sign#2) identical to the Proposed Sign, but for the orientation of the sign faces being back-to-back rather than v-shaped configuration; and therefore, requiring only six of the above noted variances to allow for a permit to be issued for a third party electronic ground sign with two sign faces, displaying electronic static copy in a back-to-back configuration at 270 Evans Ave.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and the results of research and investigation by Sign By-law Unit staff, the CBO has determined that the Applicant has not provided sufficient information to determine that either the Proposed Sign or the alternative proposal, Proposed Sign #2, meet 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 or Proposed Sign #2: are compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area; support Official Plan objectives for the subject premises and surrounding area; do not adversely affect adjacent premises; do not adversely affect public safety, including traffic and pedestrian safety; and, are not contrary to the public interest.

Therefore, the CBO does not support the Sign Variance Committee granting either the seven requested variances for the Proposed Sign nor the alternative application, for six variances with respect to Proposed Sign #2.