Item - 2026.SB26.3

The Sign Variance Committee:

1. Granted the two variances requested by the Appellant to section 694-21.D(5)(a), each subject to one condition set out below, as required to allow for the issuance of permits respecting the erection and display of both of the Proposed Signs, as advanced by the Applicant in the submissions (October 15, 2026) made to the Sign Variance Committee which may be described as follows:
 

Proposed Sign #1: A first party wall sign to be located on the north elevation of the building erected on the premises municipally known as 207 Queens Quay West on the date of this decision, in a location substantially in accordance with the location labelled Wall Sign 1 in the diagram contained on page 17 of the October 15, 2026, Submission from the Appellant, and further being in accordance with the following requirements:

a) The sign shall contain no more than one rectangular sign face;

b) The sign face shall comply with all of the following:

i) Have a maximum bisecting line no greater than 11.51 metres;

ii) Have a maximum centre line no greater than 1.88 metres;

iii) Have a maximum sign face area no greater than 21.64 square metres;

iv) Be oriented approximately in a northerly direction;

c) The sign shall display static copy;

d) The height of the sign shall not exceed 26.07 metres;

e) The sign shall not extend beyond either end of the wall upon which it is erected;

f) The sign shall not extend above the wall or parapet wall of a building; and

g) The sign may be illuminated.

Proposed Sign #2: A first party wall sign to be located on the north elevation of the building erected on the premises municipally known as 207 Queens Quay West on the date of this decision, in a location substantially in accordance with the location labelled Wall Sign 2 in the diagram contained on page 17 of the October 15, 2026, Submission from the Appellant, and further being in accordance with the following requirements:

a) The sign shall contain no more than one rectangular sign face;

b) The sign face shall comply with all of the following:

i) Have a maximum bisecting line no greater than 11.51 metres;

ii) Have a maximum centre line no greater than 1.88 metres;

iii) Have a maximum sign face area no greater than 21.64 square metres;

iv) Be oriented approximately in a northerly direction;

c) The sign shall display static copy;

d) The height of the sign shall not exceed 26.07 metres;

e) The sign shall not extend beyond either end of the wall upon which it is erected;

f) The sign shall not extend above the wall or parapet wall of a building; and

g) The sign may be illuminated.

Required Variances:

The requirement of § 694-21.D(5)(a) that: A CR-Commercial Residential sign district may contain a wall sign, other than a sign displaying a logo or corporate symbol, provided the sign shall not be erected above the second storey; be varied to allow the erection and display of the Proposed Sign #1 above the second storey, subject to Condition 1 below; and,
 

The requirement of § 694-21.D(5)(a) that: A CR-Commercial Residential sign district may contain a wall sign, other than a sign displaying a logo or corporate symbol, provided the sign shall not be erected above the second storey; be varied to allow the erection and display of the Proposed Sign #2 above the second storey, subject to subject to Condition 2 below.
 

Conditions:

Condition 1. The sign is erected, displayed and maintained in substantial accordance with the description of Proposed Sign #1 above, including referenced diagrams.

Condition 2. The sign is erected, displayed and maintained in substantial accordance with the description of Proposed Sign #2 above, including referenced diagrams.

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 (the “CBO”) respecting an application for two variances required to allow the CBO to issue sign permits for two first party wall signs (the "Proposed Signs") located on property commonly known as the Queen's Quay Terminal, at 207 Queens Quay West (the “207 Queens Quay”). The variances and Proposed Signs are further described in Attachment 1 to this report.

Aird & Berlis LLP representing Northam (QQT) Holdings Limited and 10954594 Canada Inc (collectively the "Appellant") have filed an appeal of the CBO’s decision to refuse the requested variances for the sign variance application (the "Sign Variance") originally submitted by Kramer Design Associated Limited (the "Applicant").

After conducting a review and public consultation in accordance with the requirements of the Sign By-law, the CBO made a decision to refuse to grant the requested variances, on the basis that the application did not meet all of the mandatory criteria for the two Proposed Signs. Specifically, the CBO determined that the Applicant failed to establish that either of the two Proposed Signs would be compatible with the development of the premises and surrounding area, would support the Official Plan objectives for the premises and surrounding area, would not alter the character of the premises or surrounding area and would not be contrary to the public interest, as it will be further described in this report. The Decision Notice can be found in Attachment 5.

As a result of the Appellant filing the appeal, the Sign Variance Committee (“SVC”) is now required to conduct an appeal de novo, meaning that the SVC shall determine whether it has been demonstrated that the Sign Variance 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 variance requested for the Sign Variance, or to make a decision to grant different variances, or impose conditions which were not included in the Sign Variance.

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