Item - 2023.SB4.1

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Granted the requested variances to sections 694-25C(2)(g)(i), 694-25C(2)(d), 694-25C(2)(e) and 694-25C(2)(f) each subject to three conditions, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Appendix 1 to the report (August 23, 2023) from the Manager, Citywide Priorities, 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 (the "Applicant") have stated that they are authorized to make an application for four variances required to allow the erection and display of a single-sided third party electronic ground sign displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") to be located in an Employment ("E") Sign District, which is, immediately to the north of Finch Avenue West, and immediately east of Weston Road at the premises municipally known as 2300 Finch Avenue West (the "Subject Premises").

The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 10.00 metres, and would contain one rectangular sign face, facing east, with a maximum horizontal dimensions (centre line) of 6.10 metres; maximum vertical dimension (bisecting line) of 3.05 metres; and a maximum sign face area of 18.60 square metres. The Proposed Sign is further described in Attachment 1 to this report. The Proposed Sign would require four variances to Chapter 694, to allow the Chief Building Official (“CBO”) to issue the sign permit.

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

Existing Requirement 1: § 694-25C(2)(g)(i)- An E – Employment Sign District may contain a third-party electronic ground sign, provided the sign be located a minimum of 500.0 metres from any other third-party electronic sign located on the same street

Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be erected no closer than 480.0 metres from an existing third-party electronic ground sign located at the property east of Arrow Road to the east.

Existing Requirement 2: § 694-25C(2)(d)- An E – Employment Sign District may contain a third-party 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.

Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be as regulated by the City's applicable Zoning By-law, which requires a setback of 9.0 metres, but would have a minimum setback of 3.0 metres from a street.

Existing Requirement 3: § 694-25C(2)(e)- An E – Employment 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 would be located no closer than 40.0 metres north of a premises in a CR Sign District to the south.

Existing Requirement 4: § 694-25C(2)(f)- An E – Employment Sign District may contain a third-party electronic ground sign, provided where a sign is located within 250.0 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.

Proposed New Requirement: The Proposed Sign would be located within and face CR Sign Districts located no closer than 40.0 metres to the Proposed Sign.

The Applicant has made an application seeking that each of the required variances would be subject to the following three conditions:

1) That the Proposed Sign be operated at a maximum brightness level of 150 nits between sunrise and sunset;

2) That a physical barrier be installed and maintained along the southern edge of the sign face, which shall sufficiently block illumination from the sign to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official; and,

3) The Proposed Sign shall face in an easterly direction and be located within the area noted in the diagram titled ‘Diagram 1: Location of Proposed Sign’ in Attachment 1 to this report.

After reviewing the Applicant's submissions and the additional information provided by City staff, the CBO determined that there are sufficient reasons to conclude that the nine required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the four variances, each subject to three conditions, as described in Attachment 1 to this report.