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Home My WebLink AboutPSD-108-09• arm n Leading the Way REPORT PLANNING SERVICES Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE j'~~ ~~ 1~~~~~,; ~ ~' ~ -~ f~-C~ q Date: Monday, November 16, 2009 l Report #: PSD-108-09 File #: SVA 2009-0003 By-law #: Subject: MINOR VARIANCE TO SIGN BY-LAW 97-157 APPLICANT: SULLIVAN & CO. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: THAT Report PSD-108-09 be received; 2. THAT the application for Minor Variance to the Municipality of Clarington Sign By-law 97-157, submitted by Sullivan & Co. Chartered Accountant, to permit a reduction in required setback from a road allowance from 1 metre to 0.45 metres, and to reduce the required sight triangle from 3 metres by 3 metres to 3 metres by 0.75 metres to accommodate a permanent ground sign, be APPROVED; and 3. THAT all interested parties listed in this report and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Submitted by: David rome, CIP, RPP Director of Planning Services Reviewed by: ~~'~-~ Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer MM/CP/df 6 November 2009 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0830 REPORT NO.: PSD-108-09 PAGE 2 1.0 APPLICATION DETAILS 1.1 Applicant: Sullivan & Co. Chartered Accountant 1.2 Owner: 1696822 Ontario Inc. 1.3 Proposal: To permit a reduction in required setback from a road allowance from 1 metre to 0.45 metres, and to reduce the required sight triangle from 3 metres by 3 metres to 3 metres by 0.75 metres to accommodate a permanent ground sign. 1.4 Location: Plan Grant, Block West, Part Lot 10, 118 King Street East, Bowmanville 2.0 BACKGROUND AND PROPOSED VARIANCE 2.1 The subject property is located at 118 King Street East in Bowmanville between George Street and Ontario Street. Sullivan & Co. Chartered Accountant operate from this property. On May 22, 2008, Darlene Sullivan applied for a Building Permit Fee Grant and a Heritage Building Facade Improvement Grant through the Bowmanville Community Improvement Plan Grant Program. These grants were awarded to the applicant and on August 28, 2008, Ms. Sullivan applied for a building permit for the demolition of the enclosed front porch (photograph 1) and construction of a new front porch (photograph 2). Prior to the demolition of the front porch (photograph 1), a wall sign had been mounted on the wall adjacent to the sidewalk, giving the business good exposure to passers by. When the porch was demolished and replaced, there was no longer a suitable location for a wall sign and it is therefore the hope of the applicant to erect a ground sign on a portion of the footprint where the old porch once stood. Photograph 1: Old front porch and wall sign REPORT NO.: PSD-108-09 PAGE 3 On August 20, 2009, Michael and Darlene Sullivan submitted an application for a minor variance to Sign By-law 97-157 to permit a reduction in the required setback from a road allowance from 1 metre to 0.45 metres and to reduce the required sight triangle from 3 metres by 3 metres to 3 metres by 0.75 metres to accommodate a permanent ground sign. The proposed sign would be located on a portion of the walkway area visible in photograph 2. This location on the walkway is 2.84 metres from the curb of King Street West and 0.71 metres from the sidewalk. 2.2 Sign By-law Provisions Single business sites are permitted one ground or pylon sign per site, one wall or window sign and one additional sign on each canopy to a maximum of three canopy signs. Any signs that may impede vision are not permitted within the sight visibility triangle and all signs are to maintain a 1 metre setback from the road allowance. The maximum size of a ground sign is 3.75 mZ. A wall/window sign may have a maximum size of 3.75 mZ or 10% of the walllwindow area, whichever is less. Photograph 2: New front porch, steps and walkway REPORT NO.: PSD-108-09 2.3 Applicant's Rationale PAGE 4 The applicant has stated that since the century building (circa 1900) was originally built very close to the street line, there is little room for signage in front of the business. A wall sign located on the front wall of the building would not give the business adequate exposure. Affixing a wall sign to the new front porch would detract from its appearance and cover up the craftsmanship which went into creating this heritage building facade restoration. It is believed that a ground sign in front of the building would provide the greatest exposure for the business in an aesthetically pleasing way. Since, the old front porch was removed, visibility for those entering or exiting the property using the driveway on the east side of the building has been improved substantially. The applicant believes that adequate visibility will be maintained even with the proposed sign erected. 3.0 STAFF COMMENTS 3.1 The existing building on the subject property is located within 2.6 metres of the front yard property line and the new porch has a 0 metre setback from the front property line, as did the old porch. The new porch and steps are 3.96 metres wide (see attachment 2) compared to the old porch which was 6.85 metres wide. When the old porch was in place, a 0 metre setback was maintained across the entire width of the building meaning that a wall sign was all that could be accommodated. The old porch blocked 100% of the sight triangle on the west side of the driveway because it projected out from the building to the sidewalk, immediately adjacent to the asphalt driveway. Since the old porch was demolished, there is now an opportunity to have a ground sign in front of the building, however it must be visible to vehicles passing by to be effective. If the proposed ground sign was placed in a location that meets all the provisions of the Sign By-law, the sign would not be visible to motorists travelling eastbound on King Street East because it would be hidden by the new porch and steps. The sign would also become an obstacle for customers using the steps. In order to be visible and not obstruct pedestrians using the steps, the sign must be located towards the east side of the building (away from the porch) and must be located close to the front property line. The proposed location of the ground sign (see Attachment 2), would appear to be the most practical location for a sign on the subject property in terms of being visible to the public and maintaining public safety. The sign would be located 0.71 metres from the edge of the sidewalk so that pedestrians and snow clearing equipment would not be obstructed. This location also leaves sufficient space on the walkway of the subject property for pedestrians using the steps to enter and exit the business. The proposed sign would be visible to drivers exiting the subject property as they approach the end of the driveway. Photograph 3 shows the present view west from the driveway, including a temporary sign. Photograph 4 shows the line of sight from the driver's seat as the front of the vehicle nears the sidewalk. A mock-up of the REPORT NO.: PSD-108-09 PAGE 5 proposed sign has been inserted into the photograph for comparative purposes. From this perspective, the main obstruction of the driver's sight to the west is the porch wall and columns. Were the proposed sign not present, the driver would still need to pull forward to the same point to see past the porch to check for pedestrians and traffic. Attachment 2 shows the line of sight past the sign and the porch as the dashed line closest to the sidewalk. This line of sight would be similar to the view in photograph 4. 4.0 CONCLUSIONS 4.1 This property has been improved substantially over the past two years. Visibility has been enhanced significantly since the old porch with a 0 metre setback and no visibility triangle was removed. The proposed ground identification sign, in its proposed location, will not detrimentally impede vision or become a safety hazard and the size of the sign will comply with the Sign By-law. The variance is considered by Staff to be minor in nature. 4.2 It is respectfully recommended that the minor variance to the municipal Sign By-law 97-157 to permit a reduction in required setback from a road allowance from 1 metre to 0.45 metres, and a reduction in the required sight triangle from 3 metres by 3 metres to 3 metres by 0.75 metres to accommodate a permanent ground sign be APPROVED. 4.3 On September 23, 2009 Council enacted a new Sign By-law 2009-123, scheduled to come into force January 1, 2010. At the end of the transition period, a comprehensive amendment to the new Sign By-law will be brought forward to incorporate all variances and amendments to the existing Sign By-law. Photograph 3: present situation, looking west Photograph 4: proposed new sign REPORT NO.: PSD-108-09 PAGE 6 Attachments: Attachment 1 -Key Map Attachment 2 -Visibility, Setbacks and Sign Details List of interested parties to be advised of Council's decision: Sullivan and Co. 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