Item - 2025.PH20.4

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the application to amend Subsection 4G of Schedule C, Additional Special Sign District Regulations, to Chapter 694, Signs, General, to replace references to the previous name of the square with respect to regulations concerning the sign copy allowed to be displayed, and replace these references with the current name of the square; as well as replacing the modified permitting regime contained within Subsection 4G, with the standard permitting regime otherwise applicable for signs; substantially in accordance with the draft by-law set out in Attachment 1 to the report (March 26, 2025) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

2. City Council amend Chapter 694, Signs, General, to replace all incidents of the phrase “Dundas Square Special Sign District” with the phrase “Sankofa Square Special Sign District” and incidents of the phrase “DS-SSD” with the phrase “SK-SSD”, substantially in accordance with the draft by-law set out in Attachment 2 to the report (March 26, 2025) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

In 2017, City Council adopted amendments to the Sign By-law (the “2017 Amendment”) to facilitate the installation of signage at 1 Dundas Street East (now Sankofa Square), previously known as Yonge-Dundas Square (“The Square”). The signage proposal included five electronic ground signs and two electronic roof signs featuring a mix of third-party advertising, event displays, information about upcoming events, art installations, and event sponsorships. Additionally, two of the seven signs were required to display sign copy consisting of either the phrase "Yonge-Dundas Square" or logos identifying Yonge-Dundas Square.

In December 2023, City Council officially renamed Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square. However, the provisions of the 2017 Amendment specifically referred to the former name of the square and do not accommodate the name change adopted in 2023. Also, as part of the 2017 Amendment, the seven electronic signs were permitted on the condition that the sign permits would expire after a ten-year term, specifically on July 31, 2027, and would not be subject to renewal.

Since their installation, the seven signs permitted in the 2017 Amendment have become an integral part of The Square, contributing to its sense of place and suitability as a dynamic event space in downtown Toronto.

The Sankofa Square Board of Management (the “Applicant”) has submitted a Sign By-law amendment application (the “Proposed Amendment”) for 1 Dundas Street East where The Square is located. The Proposed Amendment seeks revisions to the 2017 Amendment which will modify the clauses in the area-specific By-law requiring the display of “Yonge-Dundas Square” and the provisions concerning the permit expiry of the seven electronic signs.

Toronto Building conducted a thorough review of the application and supporting materials. The Chief Building Official (the “CBO”) is of the opinion that since their installation, the seven signs allowed and regulated by Subsection 4G have become an integral part of the Square, contributing to its sense of place and suitability as a dynamic event space in downtown Toronto. The Chief Building Official believes that the requested amendment aligns with the broader goals of the City, the objectives of the Sign By-law, and the specific regulations for the premises and surrounding area. Therefore, the Chief Building Official supports Council approval of the Proposed Amendment.

In addition, the Chief Building Official is proposing that similar changes to reflect the 2023 name change be adopted within the Sign By-law as a whole, specifically that all references to the Dundas Square Special Sign District or (DS-SSD) in the Sign By-law be changed to the Sankofa Square Special Sign District or (SK-SSD).