Application TP - 39 John Street WO Jane Street - City of Toronto

STAFF REPORT ACTION REQUIRED Application by Pattison Outdoor for Two Variances Respecting an Existing Third-Party Sign at 39 John Street (CP Rail R.O.W. – N/O Weston Road, W/O Jane Street) Date:

June 20, 2013

Ward:

Ward 11 – York South-Weston

File No.:

TP-13-00004

IBMS File No.:

13-161258

PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION Request by the Applicant, Pattison Outdoor, to replace the method of copy display on a previously approved third party ground sign. The original application for variance(s) was before the Sign Variance Committee at its October 23, 2012 meeting. The Committee adopted the recommendations of staff and provided the necessary approval for the Applicant to obtain a permit to erect and display one illuminated third party ground sign, containing two sign faces, each displaying static copy, each 6.10 metres wide by 3.05 metres long, and at an overall height of 13.75 metres. The third party ground sign approved by the Sign Variance Committee at its October 2012 meeting was supported by the local Ward Councillor. This current application before the Sign Variance Committee is to obtain two separate variances to Chapter 694, Signs, General, required to allow Pattison Outdoor to be granted a sign permit to allow for the erection and display of one illuminated third party ground sign which is: Illuminated; Erected within 100 metres of two other third party signs; Not erected within 30 metres of the intersection of a major street with another street; Not erected within 30 metres of an R, RA or OS sign district; and At an overall height of 13.75 metres and containing two sign faces, said sign faces being 6.10 metres wide by 3.05 metres long, each with a total sign face area of 18.60 square metres, and displaying mechanical (tri-vision) copy.

Pattison Outdoor – Two Third Party Sign Variances – 39 John Street (N/O Weston Road, W/O Jane Street)

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Figure 1: Sign District Map Excerpt – CP Rail R.O.W. (N/O Weston Road, W/O Jane Street)

REQUESTED VARIANCES Table 1 – Summary of Requested Variances SECTION

694-22D

694-25C(1)(b)

REQUIREMENT

PROPOSAL

A third party sign shall not be erected within 100 metres of any other third party sign, whether erected or not.

The proposed third party sign is 77.43 metres to another third party ground sign within the CP Rail Corridor, on the east side of Jane Street, north of Weston Road. The proposed third party ground sign is 84.21 metres to another third party ground sign immediately north.

A third party sign is permitted provided the height shall not exceed 10.0 metres.

The height of the proposed third party ground sign is 13.75 metres.

RECOMMENDATIONS The Manager, Sign By-law Unit, Toronto Building, recommends that:

1. The Sign Variance Committee approve the variance requested from the requirement of §694-22D, to allow the third party ground sign less than the minimum distance to two existing third party signs (100 metres); and 2. The Sign Variance Committee approve the variance requested from the requirement of §694-25C(1)(b), to allow the sign to exceed the maximum height of 10 metres.


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SITE CONTEXT AND SIGN ATTRIBUTES: Table 2 – Summary of Area Surrounding CP Rail R.O.W. (N/O Weston Road, W/O Jane Street) Sign District Designation of Property:

U-Utility

Sign District Designations of Surrounding Properties: North

East

South

West

E-Employment

U-Utility

E-Employment

E-Employment

Land Uses and Attributes of Surrounding Properties: North

East

South

West

Industrial / Commercial Retail

Utility (Rail Corridor) & Residential

Industrial

Utility (Rail Corridor)

Table 3 – Summary of Proposed Sign Attributes: Sign Type:

Ground Sign

Sign Copy Type:

Mechanical (Tri-vision)

Sign Orientation:

Northerly & Southerly

Sign Dimensions (width x length):

6.10 x 3.05

Sign Copy Type Permitted?

Yes

COMMENTS: Criteria Established by §694-30A: In order to review, consider and make recommendations on sign variance applications, criteria to evaluate an application for a variance is provided in Chapter 694. §694-30A states that an application for a variance from the provisions of Chapter 694 may only be granted where it is established that the proposed sign meets each of these criteria. Table 4 below reviews this signage proposal against the criteria listed in §694-30A.


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Table 4 - Review of Sign Proposal Against Established Criteria in §694-30A Meets Criteria? (yes/no)

Comments

Yes

This sign is located along the CP railway corridor on the west side of the Jane Street railway overpass. In order for the sign to be visible to vehicular traffic travelling along Jane Street, the height of the sign must be greater than the ten metre maximum set out in Chapter 694. The proposed change in method of copy display from static copy to mechanical copy does not impact the physical circumstances at the premises.

Yes

Chapter 694 allows for the erection and display of third party ground signs within a U-Utility sign district. It is common to see third party signs along sections of the railway corridors throughout the City. The proposed change in method of copy display from static copy to mechanical copy is consistent on third party signs and is consistent with the development of the property.

694-30 A(3)

Is consistent with buildings and other features of properties or premises within 120 metres of the location of the proposed sign

Yes

The proposed ground sign is compliant with most of the standards that would apply to third party ground signs erected on surrounding properties, which are Employment or U-Utility sign districts. While there are residential properties within 120 metres of the proposed sign, the expected impacts on those properties are minimal due to the orientation of the proposed sign. The proposed change in method of copy display from static copy to mechanical copy is consistent on third party signs.

694-30 A(4)

Will not alter the essential character of the area

Yes

The proposed third party ground sign should have a minimal impact on the essential character of the area.

Chapter 694 Reference

Established Criteria

694-30 A(1)

Is warranted based on physical circumstances applicable to the property or premises

694-30 A(2)

Is consistent with the architecture of the building or development of the property

694-30 A(5)

Will not adversely affect adjacent properties

Yes

The properties immediately adjacent to the location of the proposed third party ground sign are industrial buildings located in an E-Employment sign district or other sections of the railway corridor, in a U-Utility sign district. As well, the sign will be subject to the illumination provisions in Chapter 694 further reducing any impacts on the adjacent properties. The proposed change in method of copy display from static copy to mechanical copy is consistent on third party signs and would likely not impact adjacent properties.

694-30 A(6)

Will not adversely affect public safety

Yes

A third party sign has existed at this location for about 12 years with no reports of impacts on safety. It does not obstruct or interfere with access and egress to and from the site; nor does it interfere with or obstruct vehicular traffic.

694-30 A(7)

Is, in the opinion of the decision maker, not contrary to the public interest

Yes

Notice of the application was posted on the property for 30 days prior to the Hearing. A written notice of the proposal was mailed out to the local Ward Councillor and to the mailing addresses of residential and business tenancies within a 120 metre radius of the property. To date, no comments or concerns have been received from the public or the Ward Councillor.

694-30 A(8)

Is of a sign class or a sign type that is permitted in the sign district where the premises is located

Yes

Staff have confirmed the subject property is located within an U-Utility sign district where third party ground signs are permitted.

694-30 A(9)

Is not expressly prohibited by §694-15B

Yes

The proposed sign is not prohibited by §694-15B of Chapter 694 Pattison Outdoor – Two Third Party Sign Variances – 39 John Street (N/O Weston Road, W/O Jane Street)

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CONCLUSION In consideration of the variances requested to Chapter 694, Signs, General, to erect and display one illuminated third party ground sign containing two sign faces, each with mechanical (tri-vision) copy, it is recommended that the Sign Variance Committee approve the variances requested from §694-22D and §694-25C(1)(b) to allow for a third party ground sign at a height of 13.75 metres, along the railway corridor north of Weston Road, on the west side of the Jane Street railway overpass, and less than 100 metres from two existing third party signs.

CONTACT Robert Bader Supervisor, Sign By-law Unit Tel: (416) 392-4113; E-mail: [email protected]

SIGNATURE

_______________________________ Ted Van Vliet Manager, Sign By-law Unit

ATTACHMENTS 1. Applicant’s Submission Package


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APPLICANT'S SUBMISSION PACKAGE


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