Item - 2026.SB21.3

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Refused to grant the requested variances to sections 694-25.C(2)(e), 694-25.C(2(f),694-25.C(2)(g)[2],694-25.(C)(2)(h) and  694-25.C(2)(k), each subject to three conditions, as further described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 2, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign at the property municipally known as 2200 Markham Road.

2. Refused to grant the differing requested variances, which were advanced to the Sign Variance Committee by the Applicant for the first time at the hearing of March 13, 2026, these requested variances to sections 694-25.C(2)(e), 694-25.C(2(f),694-25.C(2)(g)[2],694-25.(C)(2)(h) and  694-25.C(2)(k), are each as described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 2, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, and are in respect to the Proposed Sign as further described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 2, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, but with the following modification, that each variance is subject to two conditions only, which are as Conditions 1 and 2 are both as described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 2, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, and that Condition 3 is not applied to the Proposed Sign

3. Granted the differing requested variances, which were advanced to the Sign Variance Committee by the Applicant for the first time, as an alternative “compromise” position, at the hearing of March 13, 2026, these requested variances to sections 694-25.C(2)(e), 694-25.C(2(f),694-25.C(2)(g)[2],694-25.(C)(2)(h) and  694-25.C(2)(k), are each as described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 2, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, and are in respect to the Proposed Sign as further described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 2, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, but with the following modification, that each variance is subject to three conditions, described as follows, Conditions 1 and 2 are both as described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 2, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, and Condition 3 is not as described in Attachment 1 to the report (March 2, 2026) from the Project Director, Business Transformation, Toronto Building on behalf of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, but rather is as follows:

• Condition 3: Between sunset and sunrise the Proposed Sign shall:
  • Operate at a correlated colour temperature (CCT) of 3000 K or lower; or
  • Include light-mitigation technology that upward light trespass and minimized glare, by way of light-blocking louvres above each LED, and a reduction of up to 50 percent manufacturer specified maximum blue-wave output, to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official.

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.

Pattison Outdoor Advertising (the "Applicant") has applied for five 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 2200 Markham Road, in Ward 23 – Scarborough North (the "Subject Premises").

The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 10.0 metres and would contain two rectangular sign faces displayed in a "V-shaped" configuration, each measuring 5.91 metres by 3.03 metres, with sign face area of 17.91 square metres. The Proposed Sign is described further in Attachment 1.

The Subject Premises is designated as Employment ("E") sign district, which allows for third party electronic ground signs. However, variances are necessary due to the Proposed Sign's location in relation to sensitive sign districts, to existing first and third party signs and the sign faces' configuration.

The Sign By-law contains criteria to be used in evaluating variance applications for Proposed Signs. Specifically, §694-30A states that an application for variance may only be granted where it is established that the Proposed Sign meet each of the eight established criteria. The Sign Variance Committee is required to conduct an evaluation and determine whether the party seeking the proposed variances meets all eight of the mandatory criteria, on the basis of the information presented by the parties before the SVC.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional City staff research, the CBO has determined that, in the opinion of the CBO, there is sufficient basis to conclude that the eight required criteria in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been established with respect to the five variances, each subject to three conditions, as described further in Attachment 1 to this report.