Item - 2016.PG13.5
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on July 12, 2016 without amendments.
- This item was considered by Planning and Growth Management Committee on June 15, 2016 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on July 12, 2016.
- See also By-law 767-2016
PG13.5 - Amendments to the Sign By-law
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on July 12, 13, 14 and 15, 2016, adopted the following:
1. City Council amend Chapter 694-30A(6), Signs, General to add "including traffic and pedestrian safety".
2. City Council adopt the proposed amendments to Chapter 694, Signs, General as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report (May 18, 2016) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, as amended by Part 1 above, including: establishing certain premises as an OS-Open Space Sign District; and adding a Schedule C, Special Sign District Regulations, to Chapter 694, containing modified regulations for the Dundas Square Special Sign District, City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square Special Sign District, and University Avenue Special Sign District; as well as new regulations for the Entertainment District Special Sign District; amending the regulations concerning signs in visibility zones; amending Sign District Map Ward 27: Toronto Centre-Rosedale, Ward 28: Toronto Centre Rosedale, and Sign District Map Ward 20 Trinity–Spadina of Schedule A, Maps, with maps substantially similar to the maps attached as Appendix 1 to the report (May 18, 2016) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.
3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction in Council to implement Council's decision, subject to such stylistic and technical changes to the draft By-laws as may be required.
4. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, when negotiating Site Plan or other development agreements for properties within the Entertainment District Special Sign District, to integrate requirements for signs in those agreements that are consistent with the objectives of the sign regulations in the Entertainment District Special Sign District.
5. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to identify any signs that may have historical or cultural significance when reviewing site plan applications and to work with the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building on possible options to re-locate those signs throughout the City.
6. City Council direct the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to continue to work with the businesses in the North Yonge Street Areas on developing Signage Master Plans for their properties as well as identifying other options available to businesses to improve compliance with the Sign Bylaw in the North Yonge Street Area.
Public Notice Given
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-93877.pdf
Appendix 1 - Summary of Proposed Amendments to Chapter 694, Signs, General
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-93981.pdf
(June 7, 2016) Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-93993.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/comm/communicationfile-61457.pdf
Motions (City Council)
PG13.5 - Amendments to the Sign By-law
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Public Notice Given
Committee Recommendations
The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:
1. City Council amend Chapter 694-30A(6), Signs, General to add "including traffic and pedestrian safety";
2. City Council adopt the proposed amendments to Chapter 694, Signs, General as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report (May 18, 2016) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, as amended by Recommendation 1 above, including: establishing certain premises as an OS-Open Space Sign District; and adding a Schedule C, Special Sign District Regulations, to Chapter 694, containing modified regulations for the Dundas Square Special Sign District, City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square Special Sign District, and University Avenue Special Sign District; as well as new regulations for the Entertainment District Special Sign District; amending the regulations concerning signs in visibility zones; amending Sign District Map Ward 27: Toronto Centre-Rosedale, Ward 28: Toronto Centre Rosedale, and Sign District Map Ward 20 Trinity–Spadina of Schedule A, Maps, with maps substantially similar to the maps attached as Appendix 1 to the report (May 18, 2016) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building;
3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction in Council to implement Council's decision, subject to such stylistic and technical changes to the draft By-laws as may be required;
4. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, when negotiating Site Plan or other development agreements for properties within the Entertainment District Special Sign District, to integrate requirements for signs in those agreements that are consistent with the objectives of the sign regulations in the Entertainment District Special Sign District;
5. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to identify any signs that may have historical or cultural significance when reviewing site plan applications and to work with the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building on possible options to re-locate those signs throughout the city; and
6. City Council direct the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to continue to work with the businesses in the North Yonge Street Areas on developing Signage Master Plans for their properties as well as identifying other options available to businesses to improve compliance with the Sign Bylaw in the North Yonge Street Area.
Origin
Summary
This report recommends amendments to the Sign By-law to update the provisions that apply to Special Sign Districts to replace references to provisions of various By-laws from former municipalities with those in the Sign By-law. The report also responds to requests from the Planning and Growth Management Committee to explore the creation of two new sign districts, in the Entertainment District and on Yonge Street between Finch Avenue and Steeles Avenue.
When the Sign By-law was introduced in 2010, three of the Special Sign Districts continued to rely on the former City of Toronto Sign and Zoning By-laws. That reliance on regulations contained in three separate By-laws, has complicated sign applications for the public and made the review of signs in these areas very time-consuming for staff. The report proposes to consolidate and update all of the applicable regulations for the University Avenue, Dundas Square, and City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square Special Sign Districts, into the Sign By-law.
This report also recommends amendments to the By-law as it applies to the location of signs within visibility zones. A visibility zone is a three-metre setback from the intersection of a driveway and a public roadway. There are circumstances where it is appropriate to allow a sign to be placed within a visibility zone. This report recommends that decisions to allow a sign within a visibility zone be made as variances to the Sign By-law and determined by staff or the Sign Variance Committee, as opposed to the current provision which requires an owner to obtain a site-specific amendment through City Council.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-93877.pdf
Appendix 1 - Summary of Proposed Amendments to Chapter 694, Signs, General
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-93981.pdf
(June 7, 2016) Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-93993.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/comm/communicationfile-61457.pdf
Speakers
Motions
That:
1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, when negotiating Site Plan or other development agreements for properties within the Entertainment District Special Sign District, to integrate requirements for signs in those agreements that are consistent with the objectives of the sign regulations in the Entertainment District Special Sign District;
2. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to identify any signs that may have historical or cultural significance when reviewing site plan applications and to work with the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building on possible options to re-locate those signs throughout the city; and
3. City Council direct the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to continue to work with the businesses in the North Yonge Street Areas on developing Signage Master Plans for their properties as well as identifying other options available to businesses to improve compliance with the Sign By-law in the North Yonge Street Area.
That City Council amend Chapter 694-30A(6) to add "including traffic and pedestrian safety".