Report to/Rapport au :
Planning and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de
l'environnement
and Council / et au Conseil
22 June 2005 / le 22 juin 2005
Submitted by/Soumis par : Ned Lathrop, Deputy City Manager/Directeur
municipal adjoint,
Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Sandra Garnett, Manager, Legal Service Integration
Building Services and Chief Building
Official/Direction des services du bâtiment et Chef du service du bâtiment
(613) 580-2424 x41544,
sandra.garnett@ottawa.ca
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SUBJECT: |
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OBJET : |
DÉROGATION
MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES – 1015, RUE BANK |
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council REFUSE the application to relocate the video billboard sign from the east to the west end of the stadium.
RECOMMANDATION DU
RAPPORT
Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de
l’environnement recommande au Conseil de REFUSER la demande de déplacement du
panneau d’affichage vidéo de l’extrémité est à l’extrémité ouest du stade.
BACKGROUND
On February 13, 2005, City Council approved a motion
to permit a video scoreboard billboard sign to be located at the east end of
the football field. The stated purpose
for the billboard was a requirement by the team to display related activities
and for the upcoming Grey Cup festival.
The motion stated that the sign would be installed in the location
of the old scoreboard (east end of the stadium), with the ability for the sign
to rotate toward the parking lot (facing Queen Elizabeth Drive) for pre-game
activities and third party advertising and/or community notices when there are
no games or activities held in the stadium.
The sign was approved under By-law 2002-109. (Ref. Doc. 3)
The applicant is requesting to relocate the existing video billboard
to the west end of the stadium, to bring the board 27.5 metres closer to the
game for better visibility by the fans and to rotate the board
counter-clockwise northward to face southbound traffic on Bank Street thus take
advantage of revenue generating third party advertising opportunities.
DISCUSSION
Signs By-law 36-2000 of the former City of Ottawa restricts the use of billboard signs to the higher intensity commercial and industrial zones, identified within the by-law as District 4 use zones. The subject property is zoned institutional, thereby a District 3 Use zone which does not permit billboard signs. The proposed new Signs By-law will also restrict billboard signs to commercial and industrial District 4 zones.
Given the nature of Lansdowne Park, as a facility offering multi-function uses associated with large public events, the policy is to allow more permissive signage as in the case of the Council approved identification/advertising ground sign located adjacent to the principal entrance on Bank Street. The original purpose for the billboard sign was to provide information related to activities within the stadium and associated notices/advertisements targetting the audience in the stadium, with notices regarding upcoming events at Lansdowne Park provided on the existing electronic sign at the entrance.
The introduction of a second sign offering similar messages and third party advertising as a backdrop to the existing sign is considered redundant and excessive signage. In terms of impact on adjacent/area land use, there is an existing senior citizen residence and a condominium project under construction directly across from the location of the proposed sign. The Signs By-law views billboard signage at this location as incompatible with this mixed use environment and the intent of the streetscape design guidelines of the Official Plan. Further, video billboard signs are currently prohibited in all District zones. Even standard billboard signs are prohibited within 30 metres of a property occupied by residential land use. Thus, the video billboard in it's original location as approved by Council, oriented inward toward the target audience and toward the east side parking area prior to scheduled activities, is considered appropriate.
The Department is, therefore, recommending the application to relocate the sign be REFUSED.
CONSULTATION
In response to the standard notification to those
directly affected within 60 metres of the site, to the Glebe Community
Association and to the Ward Councillor, overwhelming opposition to the
application was received. Of the 32
submissions, expressed concerns included:
- safety with potential distraction for passing motorists,
- general proliferation of signage,
- a conflict with the existing residential land use in the immediate area,
- light/glare/illuminated motion imposed at night, in particular toward residents in the Glebe Centre residents and on the south side of Queen Elizabeth Drive
- the general negative impact on the character of the neighborhood,
- a negative impact on property values, and
- given the sign would affected the public at large, that the notification should have been expanded.
The Glebe Centre, located directly opposite the site, indicated that the sign in the approved location was bad enough but the residents were able to deal with it only being visible during events. At the proposed location, the concern is the sign will not only be closer but would shine directly into the windows of some residents.
The owner of the EcoCité 25 unit housing and commercial space
project, also located directly across from the site, expressed concern that the
sign would negatively impact the community and go against the 20/20 Master plan
document for Bank Street. The street is
to be developed as a pedestrian friendly mixed use development. A sign at 46 feet tall is vastly out of
scale and will seriously impact the urban fabric. This is a clear attempt to circumvent outdoor advertising by-laws
under the guise of the Frank Clair stadium.
The Glebe Community Association expressed vigorous opposition to the
application and requested the item be deferred for the opportunity to conduct a
full review of the issue.
Councillor Doucet is aware of the application.
Departmental Comment
Standard notification was provided to the affected residents/businesses listed on the City's database within 60 metres of the site, 5 local organizations and the Ward Councillor. In recognition of the expressed concerns from the community and the intent of the by-law, the Department is recommending to refuse the application as the proposed sign does not satisfying the general purpose and intent of the by-law.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no financial implication to the City.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 2 - Sign Elevation Drawings
Document 3 - Original Council Motion and By-law
DISPOSITION
Corporate Services Department, Secretariat Services Branch to notify the applicant, Ray Neon Signs Inc., 2870 Sheffield Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9 and the sign owner, Ottawa Renegades Football Club, 1015 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 3W7 and Ward Councillor Clive Doucet of City Council's decision.
LOCATION PLAN Document 1
ELEVATION DRAWINGS Document 2
COUNCIL APPROVED MOTION AND BY-LAW Document 3
