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4. sIGN BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE - 585 TERMINAL AVENUe DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT RÉGISSANT LES ENSEIGNES - |
Committee recommendations
That Council:
1. Refuse the Minor Variance
application to the Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law 2005-439 for 585
Terminal Avenue to allow for the installation of an illuminated off premise
identification ground sign, with an area of 34 square metres and an overall
height of 12 metres.
2. Approve a Minor Variance
to the By-law for 585 Terminal Avenue to allow for the installation of a
directional information ground sign, with an area of 24 square metres and
height of 9 metres.
Recommandations du Comité
Que le Conseil :
1. refuse la demande de dérogation mineure au
Règlement 2005-439 régissant les enseignes permanentes sur les propriétés
privées pour le 585, avenue Terminal en vue de l'installation, à l'extérieur de
la propriété, d'une enseigne lumineuse fixée au sol possédant une aire de 34
mètres carrés et une hauteur total de 12 mètres;
2. approuve une dérogation mineure au Règlement
pour le 585, avenue Terminal de manière à permettre l'installation d'un panneau
fixé au sol comportant des indications directionnelles et ayant une surface de
24 mètres carrés et une hauteur de 9 mètres.
Documentation
1. A/Deputy City Manager's report
(Planning and Growth Management) dated
19 September 2006 (ACS2006-PGM-BLD-0021).
Report
to/Rapport au :
Planning and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de
l'environnement
and Council / et au Conseil
19 September 2006 / le 19 septembre 2006
Submitted by/Soumis par : John Moser Acting Deputy City Manager/
Directeur municipal adjoint par intérim,
Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et
Gestion de la croissance
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Sandra Garnett, Manager, Legal & Service
Integration
Building Services/Direction des services du
bâtiment
(613) 580-2424 x 41544,
Sandra.Garnett@Ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: |
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OBJET : |
DÉROGATION
MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT RÉGISSANT LES ENSEIGNES - 585, AVENUE TERMINAL |
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Planning and Environment
Committee recommend Council:
1.
Refuse the Minor
Variance application to the Permanent Signs on Private Property By-law 2005-439
for 585 Terminal Avenue to allow for the installation of an illuminated off
premise identification ground sign, with an area of 34 square metres and an
overall height of 12 metres.
2.
Approve a Minor
Variance to the By-law for 585 Terminal Avenue to allow for the installation of
a directional information ground sign, with an area of 24 square metres and
height of 9 metres.
RECOMMANDATION DU
RAPPORT
Que Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement
recommande au Conseil :
1. de refuser la demande de dérogation mineure au Règlement 2005-439 régissant les enseignes permanentes sur les propriétés privées pour le 585, avenue Terminal en vue de l'installation, à l'extérieur de la propriété, d'une enseigne lumineuse fixée au sol possédant une aire de 34 mètres carrés et une hauteur total de 12 mètres;
2. d'approuver une dérogation mineure au Règlement pour le 585, avenue Terminal de manière à permettre l'installation d'un panneau fixé au sol comportant des indications directionnelles et ayant une surface de 24 mètres carrés et une hauteur de 9 mètres.
BACKGROUND
The applicant is requesting relief from the By-law to install a large pylon ground sign at the northeast gateway entrance (Belfast and Trainyards) to the new Trainyards Development project. The sign is to identify/advertise the project and businesses located therein (see Documents 1 and 2). Land use will be a mix of commercial and industrial businesses accessed from Industrial Avenue and Belfast Road via Trainyard Drive, Sandford Fleming Avenue and Terminal Avenue. The east end of the project, in which the uses to be identified are located, will be a combination of large format commercial businesses and retail plazas. The land has a general industrial (exception 3) zoning designations, thus is classified in the Sign By-law as a District 4.
As in the case of Wal-Mart on Terminal Avenue, it is anticipated each business will want to install a ground sign in front of their respective operation. The submitted proposal is to install an additional consolidated identification pylon sign at the gateway entrance referenced above (see Document 3).
The land on which the sign is to be located is physically separated from the land on which the uses identified on the sign are located and separated by a public street. As such, the proposed sign is classifying in the Sign By-law as an off-premises sign.
Adjacent uses are commercial and industrial in nature. The nearest residential property is located in excess of 190 metres from the proposed sign location.
DISCUSSION
With the proposed sign located outside of the project, the sign is classified in the Sign By-law as an Off-premises sign, not permitted at the subject location. The Department is, therefore, recommending refusal of the sign as requested.
Recommendation 2
For larger projects with multiple buildings remote from the main vehicular entrance, the By-law under Section 111 permits, in addition to a ground sign in front of each property, an additional ground sign to be installed at the gateway entrance for directional information purposes. These signs are typically limited to a sign area of 5 square metres with a height of three metres and include a map showing the location of individual buildings.
Given the size of this project and the number of buildings/businesses that will not be visible from the arterial roads, for clarity and directional information purposes only, the Department supports a variance to increase the overall permitted sign area and height for an oversized information sign. In addition, to substitute the map with a consolidated list of major businesses or business plaza names including a directional arrow. This alternative will limit the proliferation/duplication of advertising ground signs on the same project and provide needed directional information for convenience and safety.
Unlike identification ground signs, the area of each directional sign panel is limited to one square metre per business/plaza identified. The maximum overall sign area and height is limited to five square metres at a height of three metres respectively. For larger shopping centres, identification signs are allowed additional sign face area to, in part, identify the name of the project. In this case, the Department is prepared to support a combined plaza identification and directional information sign to direct the public, delivery vehicles, as well as emergency services from the main arterial road (Belfast Road) into the development.
As illustrated in Document 4, the increased area to 24 square metres at a height of nine metres is considered justified to accommodate the Ottawa Train Yards logo, the names of the businesses or plaza names (multiple occupancy) and a directional arrow. Consistent with directional signage, each panel would be restricted to the business or plaza name only. All lettering on the panels would be the same size.
As detailed below, the public notification generated concerns relating to the scale of the original proposed sign, vehicular safety and pedestrian circulation. Recommendation 2 addresses these issues by reducing the sign's scale and height, and by converting the sign to directional information.
The Department is recommending approval of Recommendation 2, given that the smaller sign reduces the potential impact on adjacent land use, avoids duplication of advertising ground signs, provides the necessary directional information, is in keeping with the scale of neighbouring buildings and maintains the intent of the Sign By-law.
CONSULTATION
The standard early notification was provided to neighbouring community and businesses groups. At this location, there are no residential land uses within 60 metres of the site. Four responses were received as a result of this circulation. Concerns raised include that the requested variance in the original proposal was not minor in nature, the size of the sign would detract from the industrial nature of the area and that the sign would be a distraction to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow. Respondents felt the proposed sign, as submitted, was too large given its proximity to the roadway and would create a hazard for drivers wanting to read the top of the sign. One respondent felt there is a lack of traffic control lights. One respondent was concerned about the lack of French text on the sign and that given the sign's proximity to the train station, and the large size of both the development and the sign, the applicant should incorporate the French language on the sign.
The Ward Councillor is aware of the application.
Departmental Comments
In discussion with the respondents, most were satisfied with the alternative directional sign proposal, in that the sign is smaller and less distracting yet it is still informative. One respondent was not in agreement with the alternate proposal indicating they would prefer no signs installed along Belfast Road. Staff advised that traffic lights are planned for the intersection of Terminal Avenue and Belfast Road and are due to be installed before winter 2006. Regarding bilingualism, the respondent was advised that the Municipal Act does not enable a municipality to require within a Sign By-law that signs must be in one or more languages. A sign is defined in the By-law to mean any visual medium used to convey information by way of words, pictures, graphics, emblems or symbols to identify a business promotion or the promotion of a product, activity, service or idea.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 2 – Location Plan (Detailed Sign Location)
Document 3 – Elevation of Proposed Ground Sign
Document 4 – Illustration of Recommendation 2 Directional Information Sign
DISPOSITION
Corporate Services Department, Secretariat Services Branch to notify the applicant, Signs.ca, 866 Campbell Ave, Ottawa ON, K2A 2C5; the owner: Ottawa Train Yards Inc., 212‑223 Colonnade Rd S, Nepean ON, K2E 7K3; and Councillor Hume of City Council’s decision.
LOCATION PLAN DOCUMENT 1
LOCATION PLAN
(DETAILED SIGN LOCATION) DOCUMENT
2
ELEVATION OF PROPOSAL GROUND SIGN DOCUMENT 3
ILLUSTRATION OF
RECOMMENDATION 2 –
PROPOSED DIRECTIONAL INFORMATION SIGN DOCUMENT 4
