Item - 2026.SB20.3

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Granted the requested variance to Subsection 3E(5) of Schedule C, Additional Special Sign District Regulations, to Chapter 694, Signs, General, required for the implementation of the Proposed Signage Master Plan on the premises municipally known as 335 Yonge Street, as detailed in Attachment 1 of the report (January 23, 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.

This report concerns an appeal of the decision of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building (“CBO”) respecting an application for a Signage Master Plan (the “Proposed SMP”) at the premises municipally known as 335 Yonge Street.

Architect Osama Abo Nassar (the "Applicant") stated they were authorized by 2160943 Ontario LTD (the "Owner") to apply for the Proposed SMP described in Attachment 1. The Proposed SMP pertains to one variance sought for the erection and display of 27 first party wall signs (the "Proposed Signs") intended to offer identification for the businesses on the Subject Premises. Variance is sought for 18 of the Proposed Signs contained in the Proposed SMP.

After conducting a review and public consultation in accordance with the requirements of the Sign By-law, the CBO made a decision to grant the requested variances on the basis that the Proposed SMP, in the opinion of the CBO, met all of the mandatory criteria in §694-30A. After the issuance of the CBO’s decision, one of the parties to the hearing, J Ken Rutherford (the “Appellant”) filed an appeal of the CBO’s decision.

As a result of the Appellant filing the appeal, the Sign Variance Committee (the “SVC”) is now conducting an appeal de novo, meaning that the SVC are required to conduct an evaluation to determine whether the Applicant has demonstrated that the Proposed SMP meets all eight criteria, on the basis of the information presented to the SVC. The SVC may make a decision to refuse, or grant the variances requested by the Applicant for the Proposed SMP, or to make a decision to grant different variances, or impose conditions which the Applicant did not include in the Proposed SMP.