Item - 2022.SB18.2

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Granted the requested variances to sections 694-25.C(2)(b), 694-25.C(2)(e),694-25.C(2)(f) and 694-25.C(2)(h), subject to the two conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to the report (August 11, 2022) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, 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 Canada (the "Applicant") has been authorized by the owner of the property municipally known as 2290 Markham Road, in Scarborough (the "Subject Premises") to apply for four variances, subject to two conditions, required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit to erect and display a single-faced third party electronic ground sign, displaying electronic static copy on the premises (the "Proposed Sign").

The Subject Premises is designated as an Employment ("E") Sign District, which allows third party electronic ground signs. The Proposed Sign will have a maximum height of 12 metres from the grade, and will contain one rectangular sign face measuring 8.69 metres horizontally by 2.30 metres vertically, with a sign face area of 19.99 square metres. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1.

The requirements in Chapter 694 which have been requested to be varied, and the proposed varied requirements are summarized below:

1) § 694-25.C(2)(b) – An Employment "E" Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided the height shall not exceed 10.0 metres. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign height will be approximately 12.0 metres;

2) § 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 60.0 metres of any premises located, in whole or in part, in an R, RA, CR, I or OS sign district. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign will be erected within 60.0 metres of premises located in an Open Space (OS) sign district;

3) § 694-25.C(2)(f) – An Employment "E" Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided where it is located within 250 metres of an R, RA, CR, I or OS Sign District, the sign cannot face any premises in the R, RA, CR, I or OS Sign District. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign faces into Open Space (OS) Sign Districts located approximately 6 metres to the north and 20 metres to the east.

4) § 694-25.C(2)(h) -  An Employment "E" Sign District may contain a third party electronic ground sign, provided there shall be no more than one ground sign or electronic ground sign erected on the premises. Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign will be erected on a premises containing one first party ground sign.

If granted, the requested variances would be subject to the following conditions:

Condition 1:  The Proposed Sign shall operate the digital display at a reduced level of illumination of 150 NITS during the period between sunset and sunrise.

Condition 2: The existing third party sign shall be removed prior to the issuance of the sign permit for the Proposed Sign, and all associated permits shall be revoked.

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.