Item - 2021.SB13.2

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Granted the requested variances to sections 694-25(C)(2)(e), 694-25(C)(2)(f) and 694-25C(2)(k), each subject to seven 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 to 3998 Chesswood Drive, as described in Attachment 1 to this report (September 20, 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 been authorized by the owner of the property municipally known as 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive, to apply for three variances, each subject to several conditions, required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit 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 would be located along the southern frontage of 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive, facing Sheppard Avenue West and directed south east and south west. The Applicant seeks the variances in relation to a Proposed Sign which would have a height of 9.14 metres, and two rectangular sign faces, each measuring 6.1 metres horizontally by 3.05 metres vertically in a “v-shaped” configuration with a maximum interior angle of 30 degrees. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1.

The requested variances to Chapter 694 requirements can be summarized as follows:

1.  The requirement of 694-25(C)(2)(e) that – "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", be varied to allow for the Proposed Sign's proposed location approximately 37 metres from an I Institutional Sign District to the south;

 
2.  The requirement of 694-25(C)(2)(f) that – "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" –  be varied to allow for the Proposed Sign to face into an I Institutional Sign District within 250 metres, and;

3.  The requirement of 694-25C(2)(k) that – "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" –  be varied to allow for the proposed “v-shaped” configuration, with a maximum interior angle of 30 degrees, of the Proposed Sign's two sign faces.

If granted, each of the three requested variances, would be subject to all of the following conditions:

 
1.  Any and all existing third party signs located at the premises 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 premises 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 maximum interior angle of the v-shaped configuration shall not be more than 30 degrees.

 
4.  The sign face bottom shall be no less than 6.0 metres for all sign faces;

 
5.  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;

 
6.  The orientation of the two sign faces to be in a generally south-westerly and south-easterly direction; and,

 
7.  The Sign to be located within the specific location within the premises municipally known as 3848-3998 Chesswood Drive illustrated with heavy lines as indicated on Schedules A and B to Attachment 1 to this report.

The Proposed Sign, is similar to a previous application heard by the Sign Variance Committee ("SVC") at its November 27, 2020, meeting (the "Refused Variance Application").  A number of concerns with the Refused Variance Application failing to meet the nine required criteria were raised by the CBO, and other interested parties. At the conclusion of the meeting, the SVC refused to grant the variances sought.  The Proposed Sign would be taller and have larger sign faces than the sign proposed in the Refused Variance Application, but would be subject to additional and differing conditions.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information provided by the Sign By-law Unit staff, the CBO has determined that there is a sufficient basis to conclude that the nine required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the three variances, subject to the noted conditions as described further in Appendix 1 to this report.