3. SIGN BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE - 1665 HUNT CLUB ROAD

DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES - 1665, CHEMIN HUNT CLUB

Committee recommendation as amended

That Council approve the application to vary Sign By-law 2005-439, to permit an illuminated video screen information sign within 15 metres of a residential use in a residential zone at 1665 Hunt Club Road and that the sign be removed within 30 days of Council's decision.

Recommandation modifÉ DU Comité

Que le au Conseil approve la demande de dérogation au Règlement 2005-439 sur les enseignes, visant à faire autoriser un panneau indicateur à écran vidéo dans un rayon de 15 mètres d'une utilisation résidentielle, dans une zone désignée résidentielle (1665, chemin Hunt Club), et d'exiger que le panneau indicateur soit retiré dans les 30 jours suivant la décision du Conseil.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager’s report, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability dated 4 September 2009 (ACS2009-ICS-PGM-0125).

2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 22 September 2009.

Report to/Rapport au :

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

and Council / et au Conseil

4 September 2009 / le 4 septembre 2009

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager

Directrice municipale adjointe,

Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability

Services d’infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Sandra Garnett, Manager/Gestionnaire, Business Integration Services/Services d’intégration des activités

Building Code Services Branch/Direction des services du code du bâtiment

(613) 580-2424 x 41544, sandra.garnett@ottawa.ca

Gloucester-Southgate (10)

Ref N°: ACS2009-ICS-PGM-0125

SUBJECT:	SIGN BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE - 1665 HUNT CLUB ROAD

OBJET :	DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES - 1665, CHEMIN HUNT CLUB

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council refuse the application to vary Sign By-law 2005-439, to permit an illuminated video screen information sign within 15 metres of a residential use in a residential zone at 1665 Hunt Club Road and that the sign be removed within 30 days of Council's decision.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement recommande au Conseil de rejeter la demande de dérogation au Règlement 2005-439 sur les enseignes, visant à faire autoriser un panneau indicateur à écran vidéo dans un rayon de 15 mètres d'une utilisation résidentielle, dans une zone désignée résidentielle (1665, chemin Hunt Club), et d'exiger que le panneau indicateur soit retiré dans les 30 jours suivant la décision du Conseil.

BACKGROUND

The Sign By-law allows small video screen signs for pre-menu boards at fast food drive-thru restaurants. The purpose of the video screens is the promotion of products and services related to the use of the business located on the property.

Provisions for drive-thru signs limit the size of the video screen and menu board signs. All other restrictions regulating information signs apply, including that illuminated drive-thru information signs must be located a minimum of 30 metres from residential uses in a residential zone. The subject sign by the drive-thru is existing and illuminated.

DISCUSSION

The existing illuminated video screen sign faces directly towards several of the adjacent residential units (see Documents 1 and 2). It is located 15 metres from the nearest home, whereas the By-law requires a setback distance of 30 metres. In addition, the grade of the drive-thru is at least a metre higher than the grade of the adjacent properties. Existing fencing and landscaping buffers are less effective at this location to screen the signage from the residents, given there are several gaps in the landscaping that make it possible for adjacent residents to see the sign through their windows.

This sign is orientated at a 45 per cent angle, toward adjacent residential uses with limited screening provided to those affected dwellings by trees and a fence. Efforts have been made to encourage site changes on the property including moving the sign perpendicular to the drive-thru lane. However, to date, the applicant has made no effort to alter the site conditions to lessen or mitigate the impact of the drive-thru signage upon the adjacent residential uses.

The public circulation to this variance generated opposition from four local residents and the Ward Councillor. Further comments are noted below in the Public Consultation section of this submission.

Based on the above, the Department does not support approval of this variance request.

CONSULTATION

Standard early notification was provided to community and business groups and adjacent owners. Councillor Deans does not support the request for variance for 1665 Hunt Club Road, unless these are changes made to the site to limit light spill over to adjacent residents. Responses received from the specific sites are as follows:

1665 Hunt Club:

We are against anything that may bring more idling vehicles to the waiting line at the drive-thru or enhance it in any way.
The level of the approach to the drive-thru is significantly higher then the level of our house and backyard. Lights, from the drive-thru, frequently blind us in our own living room and privacy is compromised.
The illuminated video screen ground sign, that has been in place (illegally I understand) for some time now, directs unacceptable reflections through my living room window.
The constant changing of pictures causes a flashing distraction to my enjoyment of my entertainment system.
In my opinion, if the fencing was completed by Tim Horton’s, not only would it block the free-flow of Tim Horton's garbage from entering my yard, provide me with some privacy from the customers, but it would also block the direct reflection of the video screen.

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no legal/risk management implications associated with this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

N/A

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION (Immediately follows the report)

Document 1 - Site Plan

Document 2 - Site Photos

DISPOSITION

City Clerk and Legal Services Branch, Legislative Services, to notify the applicant and Ward Councillor Diane Deans of Council's decision. By-law Services to monitor the existence of the subject sign, and take appropriate action, thirty days after Council approval of this report.

SITE PLAN DOCUMENT 1

SITE PHOTOS DOCUMENT 2

Existing Sign

Sign facing residential

SIGN BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE-1665 HUNT CLUB ROAD

DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES – 1665, CHEMIN HUNT CLUB

ACS2009-ICS-PGM-0125 GLOUCESTER-SOUTHGATE (10)

Adam Thompson, Novatech, was present in support of the replacement motion, presented by Councillor Deans.

Councillor Deans indicated that she has worked with the property owner and staff to address concerns raised by residents. She advised that the conditions have been met and she can now propose approval.

Moved by Councillor D. Holmes:

WHEREAS Tim Horton’s has requested approval of a sign minor variance for an existing illuminated video screen ground sign within 15 metres of a residential use at 1665 Hunt Club Road;

WHEREAS the Department of Planning and Growth Management has recommended in report number ACS2009-ICS-PGM-0125, the refusal of the minor variance application for the video screen sign;

AND WHEREAS the applicant has, in consultation with staff and the Ward Councillor, agreed to address concerns regarding the impact of the illumination on adjacent residential uses,

AND WHEREAS the applicant has now completed the requested changes to the site to screen the lighting and reposition the subject sign perpendicular to the drive-thru laneway;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT a minor variance to permit the existing illuminated video screen information sign at 1665 Hunt Club for the Tim Horton’s use, be approved.

CARRIED

That Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council approve the application to vary Sign By-law 2005-439, to permit an illuminated video screen information sign within 15 metres of a residential use in a residential zone at 1665 Hunt Club Road and that the sign be removed within 30 days of Council's decision.