Item - 2026.SB26.2

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Refused to grant the requested variances to section 694-22.D, 694-24.A(17), 694-24.A(19) and 694-25.B(1) as required to allow for the issuance of a permit respecting the erection and display of the Proposed Sign, as further described in Attachment 1 to the report (October 8, 2026) from the Acting Manager, City-Wide 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.

Sussex PDG/Permitting & Development Group (the "Applicant") has submitted a Sign Variance application requesting four variances to permit the Chief Building Official (the "CBO") to issue a sign permit for one third party electronic ground sign comprising four sign faces, including two sign faces displaying electronic static copy and two sign faces displaying static copy (the "Proposed Sign"). The Proposed Sign is proposed to be located on the property municipally known as 25 The West Mall ("25-West").

The Proposed Sign would have a maximum height of 20.80 metres and would include two third party electronic static copy sign faces, each measuring approximately 4.30 metres by 14.65 metres, for an approximate sign face area of 62.45 square metres. Above each electronic display would be a first party static copy sign face measuring approximately 1.22 metres by 14.65 metres, with an approximate sign face area of 17.85 square metres. Additional details regarding the Proposed Sign are provided in Attachment 1.

25-West is located within a Commercial Residential ("CR") Sign District, where third party electronic ground signs are not a permitted sign type. A variance is therefore required from the CR Sign District provisions of the Sign By-law. Additionally, the application seeks approval for a third party electronic ground sign that would exceed the height and sign face provisions that typically apply to this sign type in areas of the City where third party electronic ground signs are permitted.

The application also proposes a sign at a location where third party signs are prohibited under two site-specific area restrictions established by the Sign By-law. As a result, variances from §§694-24A(17) and 694-24A(19) are required. A fourth variance is required because the Proposed Sign would not satisfy the minimum separation distance from an existing lawful third party sign.

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.

Following a review of the Applicant's submissions and additional information obtained through staff investigation, the CBO has determined that sufficient information has not been provided to establish all of the criteria required under §694-30A of the Sign By-law with respect to the requested variances, 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.