Item - 2025.SB17.3

The Sign Variance Committee: 

1. Refused to grant the requested variance to section 694-15.A, 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 Attachment 1 to this report (May 30, 2025).

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.

JOLT Charge Inc (the "Applicant") has submitted a sign variance application requesting one variance required to allow the Chief Building Official ("CBO") to issue a sign permit to erect and display a double-faced third party electronic ground sign, displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign"), on the property municipally known as 2901 Lawrence Avenue East (the "Subject Premises").

The Subject Premises is designated Commercial Residential ("CR") Sign District, which allows third party signs, however, does not expressly permit electronic ground signs. Variance is required to permit the erection and display of a sign type that is not permitted in the CR Sign District.

The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 2.65 meters from grade and would contain two rectangular sign faces in a back-to-back configuration, oriented east and west, perpendicular to Lawrence Avenue East. Each sign face would measure 0.93 metres by 1.65 metres, resulting in a sign face area of 1.54 square metres. Further details of the Proposed Sign are provided in Attachment 1.

The Applicant's Submissions indicate that the Proposed Sign would be affixed to a structure that also features an electric vehicle charging station (the "EV charging station"). As Chapter 694 exclusively regulates signs, this report focuses solely on the components of the Proposed Sign. All aspects related to the EV charging station, including relevant laws and regulations, are excluded from the scope of this report.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information provided by staff, the CBO has determined that there is not a sufficient basis to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the one variance, subject to three conditions, as described further in Attachment 1 of this report.