Item - 2026.SB26.1

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Refused to grant the requested variances to section 694-26I(4)(a) and 694-26I(4)(d), each subject to one condition, as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in revised Attachment 1 to the report (October 8, 2026) from the Acting Manager, City-Wide Priorities, Toronto Building, with the following correction to address a typographical error in the description provided in revised Attachment 1: point c) in the Proposed Sign Description - is deleted and replaced with the following: "The sign face shall be oriented in an approximate southwesterly direction;".

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.

Landmark Digital Inc. (the "Applicant") has submitted a sign variance application requesting two variances under Chapter 694 of the Toronto Municipal Code (the "Sign By-law") to permit the Chief Building Official (the "CBO") to issue a sign permit for one third party electronic ground sign displaying electronic static copy (the "Proposed Sign") at the property municipally known as 24 Jefferson Avenue (the "Subject Premises"), located in Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York. The requested variances would each be subject to one condition.

The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 15.0 metres and would contain one sign face measuring approximately 14.11 metres by 3.58 metres, with a sign face area of approximately 50.6 square metres. Additional details regarding the Proposed Sign are provided in Attachment 1.

The Subject Premises is located within the Gardiner Gateway Special Sign District ("GG-SSD"), where electronic ground signs displaying electronic static copy may be permitted in limited circumstances. The application seeks one variance to permit a sign face area exceeding the maximum 50.0 square metres otherwise permitted and a second variance to permit the replacement of an existing third party roof sign with a third party electronic ground sign. The Proposed Sign would be subject to a condition requiring the removal of the existing roof sign and requiring the sign to be erected substantially in accordance with the approved plans and drawings.

The Sign By-law provides that a variance may only be granted where all eight criteria set out in §694-30A have been satisfied. The Sign Variance Committee ("SVC") is required to determine whether sufficient evidence has been provided to establish that each of the mandatory criteria has been met.

Staff note that the application materials did not clearly identify the relief being requested and additional review was required to determine the variances necessary to permit the Proposed Sign. Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information obtained through staff investigation, the CBO has determined that sufficient evidence has not been provided to establish that all eight criteria set out in §694-30A of the Sign By-law have been satisfied with respect to the requested variances and proposed condition, as discussed further in this report and Attachment 1.

There are no current or known future year financial impacts arising from the recommendations contained in this report.