16. SIGN BY-LAW AMENDMENT-ILLUMINATION FOR LOGO SIGNS IN A DISTRICT 3 AREA

Modification du Règlement sur les enseignes - ILLUMINATION DES ENSEIGNES DE SYMBOLE SOCIAL DANS UN SECTEUR DU DISTRICT 3

Committee recommendation

That Council approve an amendment to Sign By-law 2005-439 to allow illuminated logo signs for commercial or light industrial uses in a District 3 zone provided an illuminated logo sign is not within 60 metres of a residential use in a residential zone, and is not visible from the residential use in a residential zone.

Recommandation DU Comité

Que le Conseil approuve une modification au Règlement sur les enseignes 2005-439 afin de permettre l’utilisation à usage commercial ou pour l’industrie légère d’enseignes de symbole social lumineuses dans un secteur du district 3, pourvu que le symbole social lumineux soit situé à plus de 60 m d’une utilisation résidentielle dans une zone résidentielle, et qu’il ne soit pas visible de l’utilisation résidentielle dans une zone résidentielle.

Documentation

1. Coordinator, Planning and Environment Committee report dated 21 August 2009 (ACS2009-CCS-PEC-0017).
Report to/Rapport au :

Council / Conseil

28 August 2009 / 28 août 2009

Submitted by/Soumis par : Robert Tremblay, Coordinator of the Planning and Environment Committee / Coordonnateur du Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Sandra Garnett, Manager/Gestionnaire, Business Integration Services/Services d'intégration des activités, Building Code Services /Services du code du bâtiment, Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance

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

City Wide

Ref N°: ACS2009-CCS-PEC-0017

SUBJECT:	SIGN BY-LAW AMENDMENT – ILLUMINATION FOR LOGO SIGNS IN A DISTRICT 3 AREA

OBJET :	Modification du Règlement sur les enseignes - ILLUMINATION DES ENSEIGNES DE SYMBOLE SOCIAL DANS UN SECTEUR DU DISTRICT 3

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

BACKGROUND

Councillor Qadri, on behalf of Councillor Wilkinson, moved the addition of this item at the Planning and Environment Committee of 25 August 2009. The motion was added and approved.

WHEREAS the company CSC has requested approval to install an illuminated logo sign, on the top storey of the building located at 555 Legget Drive, former Kanata;

AND WHEREAS the restrictions set out in Sign By-law 2005-439 mirror the zoning designation assigned to the property such that signage is consistent with approved land use and the community values embedded in the City’s zoning by-law;

AND WHEREAS the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law modified the zone designation for 555 Legget Drive in former Kanata and as a result new logo signs on this building can no longer be illuminated;

AND WHEREAS the proposed sign would have satisfied the sign by-law illumination restrictions permitted under the previous zoning designation;

AND WHEREAS the current more restrictive sign provisions are for the protection of area residential land use;

AND WHEREAS the Department has identified that this type of situation exists elsewhere in the City in commercial or light industrial areas where there is no residential land in close proximity to a building where an illuminated logo sign has been requested;

AND WHEREAS the Department considers it appropriate to amend this provision to the by-law to be able to address this issue City-wide and thereby permit illuminated logo signs for commercial or light industrial uses, where there is no residential land use in close proximity;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT an amendment to By-law 2005-439 be approved to allow illuminated logo signs for commercial or light industrial uses in a District 3 zone, provided the proposed sign is not within 60 m of a residential use in a residential zone, and is not visible from the residential use in a residential zone.

DISCUSSION

The company CSC in the Kanata Business Park requested permit approval to install an illuminated logo sign, on the top storey of the building located at 555 Legget Drive. There have been three previous variances granted at Committee for the same request in this particular business park (two by report and one by motion). By-law 2005-439 was amended in 2008 to permit a logo sign in District 3 zones, provided it is non-illuminated with a maximum sign face area of 10% of the wall face. With the approval of the new Comprehensive Zoning By-law, the zoning designation for this business park in former Kanata was modified, and as a result, new logo signs could no longer be illuminated.

The inconsistency of sign regulations for this type of land use, resulting from the change in zoning, has been recognized. This amendment is recommended in advance of an upcoming general technical amendment to the by-law. One of the proposed changes was to allow business park commercial land uses to have illuminated signs in District 3 zones, where the setback from residential land use is sufficient to provide the desired protection for adjacent residential land use.

Approval of this motion would permit illuminated logo signs to be located on the top storey of commercial and light industrial uses on a City wide basis. The Department has recognized that this provision should be altered throughout the City based on review of similar requests and potential permit applications for other areas. Impact to nearby uses would be minimal, as the logo signs would have a 60-metre setback to residential uses, if the signs were visible from a residential use in a residential zone. In many cases, these logo signs face towards mainly commercial uses, thus would not impose a negative visual impact on residential land use.

CONSULTATION

As the illumination and size limitations for District 3 zones are for the protection of area residential land use and with no residential land uses in the area, consultation was not necessary. The motion was prepared with input from the Building Code Services Branch. Ward Councillor Wilkinson is aware of the issue and has requested the subject motion.

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

N/A

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

N/A

DISPOSITION

Following approval of this motion and amendment of the by-law, staff will process sign applications in accordance with the By-law amendment.

1. Coordinator, Planning and Environment Committee report dated 21 August 2009 (ACS2009-CCS-PEC-0017). Report to/Rapport au :

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