The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Acting Commissioner of Urban Development Services to report on design guidelines of gas stations and gas bars within the context of the urban environment.

Subject: 8 South Kingsway: Request for approval of a variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit 21 illuminated signs and 3 non-illuminated signs (Ward 1).

Origin: Commissioner, Urban Development Services, upon referral of an application by

Wesley Robbins, c/o Petro Canada, 3275 Rebecca Street, Oakville, Ontario, L6L 6N5. (p:\1997\ug\uds\pln\lu971406.pln) -jc

Recommendations:

1. That City Council approve Application No. 997073 respecting a minor variance from Chapter 297, Signs, of the City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit 21 illuminated signs and

3 non-illuminated signs.

2. That the applicant be advised, upon approval of Application No. 997073, of the requirement to obtain the necessary permits from the Commissioner of Urban Development Services.

Comments:

The property is located on the east side of South Kingsway and accommodates a Petro Canada gas station.

The applicant is requesting permission to erect 24 identification signs of varying types for a new gas bar, car wash and retail store that is proposed to replace the existing gas station on the site (see Figure 1). The dimensions and characteristics of each sign are described in Table 1 attached.

The signs do not comply with Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code in that they are not permitted in a AG@ parks district.

Chapter 297 of the Municipal Code has very restrictive sign provisions for Parks districts. Illuminated signs in parks districts are only allowed in conjunction with uses that are normally permitted in these districts (i.e. for the purposes of conveying community information or identifying a public park, playing field or garden). In this instance, the property was rezoned from AC (a now deleted designation that permitted an auto service station) during the Cityplan process. The owner has made application to the City to allow the replacement and limited expansion of the existing use, which is expected to be before City Council on October 6, 1997.

The proposed signs will replace existing signs currently on the property and would be used for safety and directional purposes as well as for building identification. In my opinion, the signs are appropriately sized and located for their intended function and will not adversely impact the adjoining public park or surrounding uses.

On this basis, I am recommending approval of this application.

CCCC

The Toronto Community Council reports having before it the communications from the following: and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk:

- (January 19, 1998) from G. V. Martinsons, Swansea Area Ratepayers= Association

- (January 20, 1998) from Ms. Victoria Masnyk, Vice-President, Ripley Area Residents Group Ltd.

- Petition with 50 signatures in opposition, submitted by Ms.Victoria A. Masnyk

(Copies of the foregoing communications are on file in the office of the City Clerk).

The following appeared before the Toronto Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter:

- Mr. Andrew Paton, Q.C., Barrister & Solicitor, on behalf of the Applicant

- Mr. Vladimir Braun, Toronto, Ontario

- Ms. Victoria Masnyk, on behalf of Ripley Area Ratepayers= Group Ltd

- Mr. John Woodburn, on behalf of Swansea Historical Society

- Mr. Don Jennison, on behalf of Swansea Area Ratepayers

- Mr. William Phillips, Toronto, Ontario

- Ms. Joan Miles, on behalf of Humber Heritage Committee