Item - 2021.SB12.2

The Sign Variance Committee:

1.  Refused to grant the requested variances to sections 694-25C(2)(e), 694-25C(2)(f) and 694-25C(2)(k), each subject to the four specified 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 2568 St. Clair Avenue West, as described in Attachment 1 to this report (July 28, 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.

Outfront Media has stated that they have been authorized by the owner, 1369182 Ontario Inc. (the "Applicant") of the property municipally known as 2568 St. Clair Avenue West (the "Premises"), to represent them in applying for three variances (each to be subject to four conditions) required to allow for a permit to be issued for one third party electronic ground sign with two sign faces (the "Proposed Sign") on the Premises.

The Proposed Sign will have a height of 7.98 meters, and would contain two sign faces, displaying electronic static copy, in a v-shape configuration, each sign face measuring 2.30 meters vertically by 8.69 meters horizontally. The Proposed Sign would be located along the southerly property frontage of the Premises, would have a setback of 0.5 meters from the St. Clair Avenue Street line and will be oriented in a south-easterly and south-westerly direction along St. Clair Avenue West. The Proposed Sign is further described in Attachment 1.

Three variances to Chapter 694 are required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue the sign permit for the Proposed Sign. The requested variances are as below:

1.  § 694-25C(2)(e) - The Proposed Sign is located approximately 27.8 meters from a Residential (R) Sign District, whereas third party electronic ground signs are not permitted to be erected within 60 meters of Residential Sign District.

2.  § 694-25C(2)(f) - The Proposed Sign faces both a Residential and a Commercial Residential Sign District to the west of the Premises and faces a Residential, Commercial Residential and Open Space Sign District to the east of the Premises, whereas a third party electronic sign cannot face any premise with an R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district within 250 metres of the sign.

3.  § 694-25C(2)(k) – The Proposed Sign faces have a V-shape configuration, whereas third party electronic signs are required to have a back to back configuration.

Each of the three requested variances would be subject to the following four conditions:

 
1.  In addition to the requirements of 694-18.E(5), the illumination of the Proposed Sign shall not exceed 150 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise.

 
2.  The Proposed Sign shall contain sufficient physical barriers on the sign face to minimize, to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official acting reasonably, the visibility of the sign copy from the R Sign Districts to the north and north-west of the Proposed Sign located on Palestine Street, Batavia Avenue, and Mariposa Avenue.

 
3.  The Proposed Sign's sign faces shall have an interior angle of not less than 45 degrees.

 
4.  The Proposed Sign's sign faces shall be orientated in a south-westerly and south-easterly direction, so that the sign faces face approximately the direction of the travelled portion of St. Clair Avenue West.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions, the results of research and investigation by the staff of the Sign By-law Unit and feedback received from the local community, the CBO has determined that insufficient information has been established to determine that the proposal meets all nine of the criteria established in §694-30A of the Sign By-law. Specifically, there is insufficient information to establish that the Proposed Sign: is compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area; will not alter the character of the premises and surrounding area and, is not contrary to the public interest.

Therefore, the CBO does not support the Sign Variance Committee granting the three requested variances (each subject to four conditions) for the Proposed Sign.

This report is to provide copies of communications from members of the public that were received by the City of Toronto Sign Bylaw Unit with respect to the Sign Variance application for a third party electronic ground sign at 2568 St. Clair Avenue West.