Item - 2025.SB14.2

The Sign Variance Committee: 

1. Granted the requested variances to section 694-15.A and 694-22.D as further described in Attachment 1 to the February 3, 2025 Revised Report from the Project Director, Business Transformation and Citywide Priorities, Toronto Building on Multiple Applications Respecting One Third Party Electronic Wall Sign requiring Two Variances and another One Third Party Electronic Wall Sign requiring Two Variances - 2300 Yonge Street, (the “Report”) each subject to the six conditions, listed below, and otherwise consistent with the conditions as listed in Attachment 1 of the Report, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign 1, as further described in Attachment 1 to the Report;

a. Condition 1) A minimum of 50% of the hourly sign copy displayed within the hourly operating period on each of the sign faces shall be first party copy, or a combination of 50% of the displayed sign copy of goods available at the premises, and 50% of first party copy;

b. Condition 2) A maximum of 50% of the sign copy displayed within the hourly operation period on each of the sign faces shall be third party copy;

c. Condition 3) The sign is designed and operates so that direct light projection would not exceed an angle of 15 degrees above the horizontal plane drawn from the highest point of each sign face;

d. Condition 4) The sign shall operate with a reduced brightness of 150 NITS between sunset and sunrise;

e. Condition 5) Any and all existing third party signs located on the Subject Premises shall be removed and all associated permits revoked, prior to the erection or display of the Proposed Sign 1; and,

f. Condition 6) The sign shall be located and oriented substantially in accordance with the diagrams labeled "Drawings of the Proposed Sign 1"; as well as to,

2. Granted the requested variances to section 694-15.A and 694-22.D, as further described in Attachment 2 to the Revised Report each subject to the six conditions, listed below, and otherwise consistent with the conditions as listed in Attachment 2 of the Report, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign 2, as further described in Attachment 3 to the Report;

a. Condition 1) A minimum of 50% of the hourly sign copy displayed within the hourly operating period on each of the sign faces shall be first party copy, or a combination of 50% of the displayed sign copy of goods available at the premises, and 50% of first party copy;

b. Condition 2) A maximum of 50% of the sign copy displayed within the hourly operation period on each of the sign faces shall be third party copy;

c. Condition 3) The sign is designed and operates so that direct light projection would not exceed an angle of 15 degrees above the horizontal plane drawn from the highest point of each sign face;

d. Condition 4) The sign shall operate with a reduced brightness of 150 NITS between sunset and sunrise;

e. Condition 5) Any and all existing third party signs located on the Subject Premises shall be removed and all associated permits revoked, prior to the erection or display of the Proposed Sign 2; and,

f. Condition 6) The sign shall be located and oriented substantially in accordance with the diagrams labeled "Drawings of the Proposed Sign 2".

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.

Sussex PDG Permitting & Development Group (the "Applicant") has applied for two variances required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue sign permits for the erection and display of two third party electronic wall signs, displaying electronic static copy ("Proposed Sign 1" and "Proposed Sign 2"), on the premises municipally known as 2300 Yonge Street (the "Subject Premises").

Proposed Sign 1 and Proposed Sign 2 (collectively the “Proposed Signs”) would be double-faced third party electronic wall signs displaying electronic static copy. Proposed Sign 1 and Proposed Sign 2 are described further in Attachments 1 and 2, respectively. The Proposed Signs would be replacing two existing electronic wall signs at approximately the same locations.

The Subject Premises is designated as a Commercial Residential ("CR") Sign District, which allows third party wall signs, however does not permit the electronic wall sign type. Variances to Chapter 694 are necessary to allow the Proposed Signs, displaying electronic static copy, to be erected in a CR Sign District. Additionally, the Applicant seeks to position these signs in closer proximity to other electronic third party signs than what would be permitted by the Sign By-law.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information provided by staff, the CBO has determined that there was not sufficient information to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the requested variances for Proposed Sign 1, subject to all of the noted conditions, as described further in Attachment 1 of this report. The CBO has also determined that there not was sufficient information to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the requested variances for Proposed Sign 2, subject to all of the noted conditions, as described further in Attachment 2 of this report.