Item - 2011.PG8.1

This report reviews and makes recommendations on a request by Blair Murdoch of Allvision Canada, on behalf of the Canadian National Railway Company (CN Rail), to obtain amendments to Chapter 694, Signs, General, of the City of Toronto Municipal Code.  The request is to amend Chapter 694 to: a) permit the replacement of, at select locations along the premises consisting of "utility corridors" which are owned by CN Rail ("CN Rail Corridors"), existing third party ground signs displaying static copy with new third party ground signs displaying electronic static copy; b) further remove additional third party ground signs displaying static copy, and c) prevent the erection and display of any future third party signs in and around the CN Rail Corridors at the portions of the premises where the existing third party ground signs are proposed to be removed.  

This report recommends approval of the requested amendments to Chapter 694, Signs, General, of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, as the application reflects the higher order Council objectives established in the City's recently approved sign regulation and revenue strategy by aspiring to manage the impact and contribution of signage to the visual character of the City’s public realm, appropriate to the goals expressed in the Official Plan.