Item - 2026.SB20.1

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Refused to grant the requested variances to sections 694-24.A(5), 694-25.D(3(b), 694-25.D(3(e) and  694-25.D(3)(f), each subject to one condition, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit for the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to the report (January 15, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation and 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.

Permit World (the "Applicant") has applied for four variances 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 premises municipally known as 1601 Eglinton Avenue East, in Ward 16 - Don Valley East (the "Subject Premises").

The Subject Premises is designated as Utility ("U") sign district, which generally allows for third party electronic ground signs. However, is it also situated within an area subject to a site-specific area restriction under which City Council specifically determined that no third party sign shall be erected or displayed.

The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 19.49 metres and would contain two rectangular sign faces displayed in a back-to-back configuration, each measuring 7.62 metres by 2.62 metres, with sign face area of 19.96 square metres. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional City staff research, 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 four variances, each subject to one condition, as described further in Attachment 1 to this report.