Item - 2025.TE19.20

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Deferred consideration of the Item until the February 20, 2025 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council.

This staff report is about a matter that Community Council has delegated authority from City Council to make a final decision.

The purpose of this report is for Toronto East York Community Council to consider an appeal from the property owner of 495-517 Wellington Street West, a multi-tenant commercial building regarding their proposed encroachment application. The proposed encroachment consists of an illuminated electrified ground sign ("the sign") to identify multiple tenants in this commercial building. The proposed sign consists of aluminum and acrylic construction, measuring 4.05 metres high, 1.43 metres wide and 0.62 metres thick, with a foundation depth of 1.37 metres within the public right of way, which is in contravention of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use Of.

The property owner is seeking authority from Toronto and East York Community Council to permit an electrified ground sign to be installed within the public right-of-way fronting 495-517 Wellington Street West and enter into an encroachment agreement with the City.

The proposed ground sign encroachment does not meet the requirements of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use Of, for delegated approval as an encroachment by the General Manager, Transportation Services. The owner will be given an opportunity to make a deputation before Community Council.

At its meeting on December 4, 2024, the Toronto and East York Community Council deferred Item TE18.18 "Encroachment Appeal - 495-517 Wellington Street West - Proposed Ground Sign" to its next meeting on January 14, 2025. The Ward Councillor requested Transportation Services to consult with City Planning staff regarding the proposed sign and to work with the applicant to explore alternative locations for it, such as placing it on or closer to the building wall. The King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District Plan contains guidelines which provide direction on the erection of signs on properties so that they will not negatively impact the cultural heritage value and heritage attributes of the District.

This report is provided for information purposes to update Toronto and East York Community Council on feedback received from Heritage Planning staff and provide an update on the feasibility of an alternative sign location.