Item - 2021.SB10.2

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Refused to grant any of the four requested variances to sections 694-24.A(1), 694-25.C(2)(b), 694-25.C(2)(d), 694- 25.C(2)(k), each subject to the specified conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign at the property municipally known as 200 Evans Avenue, as described in Attachment 1 to this report (March 24, 2021) 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 submitted an application for four variances, subject to conditions, to allow for one third party electronic ground sign with two sign faces containing electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") at the property municipally known as 200 Evans Avenue (the "Subject Premises").

The Proposed Sign will be located on the Subject Premises, with the two sign faces facing the F.G. Gardiner Expressway, in a north-westerly and north-easterly direction. The Proposed Sign is intended to be constructed in the same location as an existing third party ground sign, which displays mechanical copy and has a similar sign face area to the Proposed Sign. The current sign has been in place at the Subject Premises since 2009, and is directed towards traffic along the F.G. Gardiner Expressway.

The Subject Premises is designated as an Employment ("E") Sign District, which allows third party electronic ground signs. The Proposed Sign will have a height of 12.5 metres, containing two rectangular sign faces, each possessing a  6.1 metres centre line (horizontal measurement) and a 3.05 metres bisecting line (vertical measurement), resulting in a sign face area of 18.61 square metres. The sign faces on the Proposed Sign will be in a “v-shaped” configuration. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1.

The Proposed Sign will require four variances to Chapter 694, each subject to one condition, to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit. The requirements in Chapter 694 which have been requested to be varied, are as follows:

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, whereas the Proposed Sign is located in an area where third party sign shall not be erected or displayed (specifically approximately 0.3 meters southwest of the limit of the portion of F.G. Gardiner Expressway between Highway 427 and the Humber River).

2.  § 694-25.C(2)(b)- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the height shall not exceed 10.0 meters whereas the Proposed Sign has a height of 12.5 meters which is approximately twenty percent more than the permitted height.

 
3.  § 694-25.C(2)(d)- An Employment Sign District may contain an electronic ground sign provided the sign shall not be erected within any required setback of a building from a street as regulated by the City's applicable Zoning By-Law, which for the Subject Premises would be a minimum setback of 7.5 metres, whereas the setback of the Proposed Sign from the North-East frontage of the Subject Premises is 0.3 metres.

 
4.  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, whereas the Proposed Sign would have a “v-shaped” configuration.

If granted, each of the four requested variances, would be subject to the following condition that all existing third party signs located at the property municipally known as 200 Evans Avenue shall be removed and all associated permits revoked, prior to the erection or display of the Proposed Sign.

In addition, the variance to 694-25C(2)(k), required to allow for a permit to be issued for the Proposed Sign which would have two sign faces in a “v-shaped” configuration, rather than the required back-to-back configuration would be subject to a second condition, that the Proposed Sign would have an internal angle of no more than 45 degrees as between the two sign faces.

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 the Proposed Sign 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; supports Official Plan objectives for the Subject Premises and surrounding area; does not alter the character of the premises and surrounding area, will not adversely affect adjacent premises, and is not contrary to the public interest.

Therefore, the CBO does not support the Sign Variance Committee granting the four requested variances for the Proposed Sign.