9. SIGNS BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE – 255 KANATA AVENUE

DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT MUNICIPAL SUR LES ENSEIGNES – 255, AVENUE KANATA

Committee Recommendations as amended

1. That Council approve a Minor Variance to Signs By-Law 66-98, of the former City of Kanata, to allow the installation of four additional wall signs on the north elevation, whereas the By-Law allows for no more than one wall sign installed per exterior elevation, subject to an agreement with the proponent that the signs will be restricted to pictures (no text).

2. That Council approve the installation of one additional wall sign on the south elevation and one additional wall sign on the east elevation, whereas the by-law allows for no more than one wall sign installed per exterior elevation.

Recommandations modifiées du Comité

1. Que le Conseil approuve une dérogation mineure au Règlement municipal 66‑98 sur les enseignes de l’ancienne Ville de Kanata visant à permettre l’installation de quatre enseignes murales additionnelles sur le mur nord, alors que le règlement permet au plus une enseigne murale par mur extérieur, sous réserve de la conclusion d’une entente avec le requérant prévoyant que les enseignes ne comporteront que des images (et pas de texte).

2. Que le Conseil municipal approuve l’installation d’une enseigne murale additionnelle sur le mur sud et une enseigne murale additionnelle sur le mur est, alors que le règlement permet au plus une enseigne murale par mur extérieur.

Documentation

1. Development Services Department General Manager’s report dated 8 January 2003 (ACS2003-DEV-BLD-0010).

2. An Extract of Draft Minutes, 13 February 2003.

Report to / Rapport au:

Planning and Development Committee /

Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement

and Council / et au Conseil

8 January 2003 / le 8 janvier 2003

Submitted by / Soumis par: Ned Lathrop, General Manager / Directeur général

Development Services Department / Services d’aménagement

Contact / Personne-ressource: Sandra Garnett, Manager, Legal and Service Integration

Gestionnaire, Insertion juridique et des services

580-2424, ext.41544, Sandra.Garnett@ottawa.ca

Ref N°: ACS2003-DEV-BLD-0010

SUBJECT: SIGNS BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE – 255 KANATA AVENUE

OBJET: DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT MUNICIPAL SUR LES ENSEIGNES – 255, AVENUE KANATA

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That the Planning and Development Committee recommend Council refuse a Minor Variance to Signs By-law 66-98, of the former City of Kanata, to allow the installation of seven additional wall signs on the north elevation, whereas the by-law allows for no more than one wall sign installed per exterior elevation.

2. That the Planning and Development Committee recommend Council approve the installation of one additional wall sign on the south elevation and one additional wall sign on the east elevation, whereas the by-law allows for no more than one wall sign installed per exterior elevation.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

1. Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement recommande au Conseil municipal de refuser une dérogation mineure au Règlement municipal 66-98 sur les enseignes de l’ancienne Ville de Kanata visant l’installation de sept enseignes murales additionnelles sur le mur nord, alors que le règlement permet au plus une enseigne murale par mur extérieur.

2. Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement recommande au Conseil municipal d’approuver l’installation d’une enseigne murale additionnelle sur le mur sud et une enseigne murale additionnelle sur le mur est, alors que le règlement permet au plus une enseigne murale par mur extérieur.

BACKGROUND

The property is located on the east side of Earl Grey Drive, south of Castlefrank Road in the Kanata Centrum shopping area. A variance is requested to allow the applicant relief from the numeric limitation outlined in the by-law for additional wall signage on the north, south and east elevations.

The governing by-law allows for no more than one wall sign per elevation and stipulates that wall signs must be limited the lesser of a) maximum of 15% of wall area or b) maximum of 20 square metres.

DISCUSSION

The Department has reviewed the request and is of the opinion that the variance to allow seven additional illuminated wall signs on the north elevation for this Future Shop store would not be acceptable. The installation of these seven individual sign boxes, each of a different picture, would surpass the 15% maximum sign area outlined in the by-law and would also exceed the 20 square metre sign area maximum allowed per elevation.

The variance to allow one additional wall sign on the north elevation, one additional wall sign on the south elevation and one additional wall sign on the east elevation would be acceptable. Although the north elevation’s 20 square metre maximum sign area has been surpassed with the issuance of previous wall signs, the additional 1.80 square metre wall mounted directional sign is deemed necessary to safely navigate patrons to the car audio installation centre.

The Home Outfitters Store, at the same location, was awarded only one additional wall sign on the north elevation and refused installation of additional wall signs on the west and south elevations. In this instance, the installation of the additional signs was less than the 15% per elevation, but exceeded the 20 square metres per elevation allowed per elevation.

North Elevation:

Although the seven additional 4’6”x 4’6” illuminated wall signs, together with the previously approved sign for the north elevation do not exceed the 15% of total sign area per elevation allowed in the by-law, it would exceed the maximum total sign area of 20 square metres. The Future Shop sign alone is 20 square metres. However, the variance to allow one additional 1.80 square metre wall sign seems necessary to safely direct customers to the car audio installation centre.

The north elevation includes the main entrance to the retail outlet. The installation of one additional wall sign can be incorporated into the main entrance elevation without greatly compromising the maximum signage requirement.

South and East Elevations:

The applicant is requesting approval for one additional 1.80 square metre wall sign per elevation to be installed. One additional wall sign per elevation, directing clients to the car audio installation centre is necessary to safely direct traffic throughout the site. The Department suggests that the variance to allow one additional wall sign on the south and east elevation would be acceptable.

The circulation did not generate any opposition to this application. The Ward Councillor is aware of the application.

In light of the above, the Department recommends approval of Recommendation 1, to refuse the installation of seven additional wall signs on the north elevation, and to approve Recommendation 2, to approve the installation of one additional wall sign on the south elevation and one additional wall sign on the east elevation.

CONSULTATION

In response to the standard early notification to community and business groups, the circulation did not generate any opposition to this request.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

N/A

ATTACHMENTS

Document 1 – Site Plan

Document 2 – Detailed Elevation Plan

Document 3 – Detailed Sign Plan

Document 4 – Detailed Sign Plan

DISPOSITION

Corporate Services Department, Secretariat Services Branch to notify the applicant, Pattison Sign Group, 2465 Stevenage Drive, Suite 101, Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3W2; and the Ward Councillor Alex Munter of City Council’s decision.

Site Plan – 255 Kanata Avenue Document 1

Detailed Elevation Plan – 255 Kanata Avenue Document 2

Detailed Sign Plan – 255 Kanata Avenue Document 3

Detailed Sign Plan – 255 Kanata Avenue Document 4

SIGNS BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE – 255 KANATA AVENUE

DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT MUNICIPAL SUR LES ENSEIGNES – 255, AVENUE KANATA

ACS2003-DEV-BLD-0010 Kanata (4)

Joanne McConnell provided a presentation with overheads and was available to respond to any questions related to the recommendations contained in the departmental report dated 8 January 2003.

Bob Nicholson referred to the architectural features of the building invariably dealt with at a signage level. They were in no way signs, but architectural features of the building. They were not pictures, but graphic representations of products and part of the building design to break up the mass of the building. Invariably box retailers receive comments on the size of the buildings and the starkness, etc. These were presented through Design Committee who wanted further animation to the building and supported these elements of the building. They also went through Site Plan Approval with these elements shown at all times. He did not want to belabour the point, but he asked that Committee look at these for what they were and if you take the name Future Shop from the front of the building, in no way do these elements signify a brand or even a product for that matter. They were very graphic in nature and had a very high tech feel. They were in the electronics business and it was part of the overall design of the building. Taken away, it looked very stark in their opinion.

Councillor Munter discussed this earlier with Mr. Nicholson whose preference was to have all seven and staff recommended none. Presumably Mr. Nicholson would be happy with anything more than zero, short of seven. Mr. Nicholson added that their goal was to have consistency across the country and it was rollout of a new prototypical building. There were approximately 50 in existence and all had the icon boxes. Given the choice of four vs. none, obviously four was better than none, but he had still wanted to address the Committee to ask for consideration because it was consistency and balance. From a corporate standpoint it was obviously better to get them all. Councillor Munter received confirmation from staff the reason for zero was the concern regarding proliferation of signage. Ms. McConnell referred to the recent Home Outfitters where staff recommended approval of the one additional wall sign and refused the additional two on other elevations. Staff tried to maintain the intent of the former City of Kanata’s By-Law. Councillor Munter indicated that part of the problem was that this building would be visible from Kanata Avenue, which will have the overpass and be a fairly busy road. There were quite a lot of stores and signage. Any one application in and of itself was probably not a big deal. When adding everything together, staff had not conceded to these kinds of requests before and said no to other merchants, although different kinds of signage for other merchants, to be fair. The redeeming feature of the application was that these were not text signage, but pictograms and there was some merit although not as much as the proponent might argue for breaking the façade. He was prepared to move four signs. Staff was concerned that once there was permission for a sign, one could start to change what was in it. And, if the intent was to have visual images that break up the monotony of the wall, he intended to make sure that two or five years from now, if corporate objectives change and there were four signs up, a future individual would decide that it was a good place to advertise specials.

Arlene Gregoire, Director, Building Services, added that the review of the Signs By-Laws and harmonization would occur this year and the City would be looking at these new standards introduced by the Chains in the various larger stores that were out of sync with the By-Laws. The issue may be addressed in final through the new By-Law that may permit all seven to be used or just maintain the four.

Chair Hunter inquired how the theatres were allowed to put up those large billboard all over their façades promoting movies, both upcoming and current? Ms. Gregoire refered to the movie theatre in the same general area in Kanata and he was correct there were a number of them and she could only assume the former municipality approved a minor variance.

Responding to a question by Councillor Cullen, Ms. Gregoire advised that staff was launching the review of the Signs By-Law this year and may be in a position to bring forward to the new Council the new By-Law. It will take some time simply because of the extensive consultation and staff wanted to attempt to recognize the individual areas in the former areas and what they were seeking.

Mr. Nicholson added that Future Shop went to Design Committee, who asked for certain elements on the building and they went forward with the changes. On the point made with respect to movie theatres, they were not promoting anything, or a product; it was an architectural feature to the building. Chair Hunter received clarification that the Kanata Design Committee approved all seven signs.

Moved by Councillor A. Munter:

That the Planning and Development Committee recommend Council approve a Minor Variance to Signs By-Law 66-98, of the former City of Kanata, to allow the installation of four additional wall signs on the north elevation, whereas the By-Law allows for no more than one wall sign installed per exterior elevation, subject to an agreement with the proponent that the signs will be restricted to pictures (no text).

CARRIED with Chair Hunter dissenting.

The departmental recommendation was approved as amended.

1. That the Planning and Development Committee recommend Council approve a Minor Variance to Signs By-Law 66-98, of the former City of Kanata, to allow the installation of four additional wall signs on the north elevation, whereas the By-Law allows for no more than one wall sign installed per exterior elevation, subject to an agreement with the proponent that the signs will be restricted to pictures (no text).

CARRIED as amended with Chair Hunter dissenting.