2. SIGN MINOR VARIANCE – 3045 BASELINE ROAD

DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES – 3045, CHEMIN BASELINE

Committee recommendation

That Council approve variances to Sign By-law 2005-439, to allow two proposed illuminated identification entrance ground signs larger than permitted, to legalize the existing signage of two oversized information signs and an illuminated logo sign, as detailed in Document 1, for the hospital at 3045 Baseline Road.

Recommandation du Comité

(Cette demande est assujettie au Règlement 51)

Que le Conseil approuve des dérogations mineures au Règlement sur les enseignes 2005-439 pour l’hôpital situé au 3045, chemin Baseline afin de permettre l’installation à l’entrée des deux panneaux au sol d’identification proposés, qui sont plus larges que permis, de légaliser les deux panneaux d’information actuels surdimensionnés et le logo illuminé, comme il est expliqué en détail dans le Document 1.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager's report, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, dated 12 February 2009 (ACS2009-ICS-BLD-0007).

2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 24 February 2009.

Report to/Rapport au :

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

and Council / et au Conseil

12 February 2009 / le 12 févier 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

College/Collège(8)

Ref N°: ACS2009-ICS-BLD-0007

SUBJECT:	SIGN BY-LAW VARIANCE - 3045 BASELINE ROAD

OBJET :	DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES - 3045, chemin baseline

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council approve variances to Sign By-law 2005-439, to allow two proposed illuminated identification entrance ground signs larger than permitted, to legalize the existing signage of two oversized information signs and an illuminated logo sign, as detailed in Document 1, for the hospital at 3045 Baseline Road.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement recommande au Conseil d’approuver des dérogations mineures au Règlement sur les enseignes 2005-439 pour l’hôpital situé au 3045, chemin Baseline afin de permettre l’installation à l’entrée des deux panneaux au sol d’identification proposés, qui sont plus larges que permis, de légaliser les deux panneaux d’information actuels surdimensionnés et le logo illuminé, comme il est expliqué en détail dans le Document 1.

BACKGROUND

The subject property is the Queensway Carleton Hospital located on Baseline Road (see Document 2). Adjacent uses are a funeral home, NCC lands and residential uses to the east and south. Relief is requested to allow two new identification signs for the hospital which will replace the existing signs on Baseline and Richmond.

If approved, the requested ground signs would each have a total area of 11 square metres, with an illuminated message centre component forming an area of 50 per cent of each sign (5.5 square metres). An elevation of the proposed signage is shown on Document 3.

Existing way finding information signage was installed on site during recent construction of the complex, which requires relief from the by-law regulations. These information signs, installed within the internal roadways of the site, have an area of 5.2 and 7.0 square metres instead of 0.5 square metres and have a height of 2.2 and 2.7 metres rather than 1.5 metres as noted in the By-law (see Document 4).

In addition, an illuminated logo sign was installed on the top storey of the east wall of the building. Relief is requested to allow an illuminated logo sign, whereas the By-law only allows a non-illuminated logo sign for an institutional use (see Document 4).

DISCUSSION

Entrance Signs

Signage at this health facility is a necessary way finding element for the public requiring hospital services. The applicant believes that the scale of the main identification signs is proportionate to the viewing distances from public roadways and will assist with locating the facility. Use of back-lit illumination is seen as essential for effective identification of essential services at this hospital. The existing ground signs, located near the main entranceways, are outdated and lack essential site information, that is required of a multi-service health care facility. Replacement of these signs will benefit the overall way finding elements of this hospital.

The proposed signage will be designed with mostly reversed illumination, with the illumination projecting through the letters and images on an opaque screen. The requested variance to allow signage of this scale is consistent with similar institutional uses and is in keeping with the intent of the Sign By-law. Impact to adjacent uses will be minimal as the signs are set back from adjacent uses and are buffered by landscaping. As such, the Department recommends approval of the proposed ground signs.

Information Signs

Larger information signage within hospital grounds is requested to assist clients with directions to the various facilities and to ensure public safety. There are a number of areas on site where drivers need to be clearly directed. Size area limitations within the By-law would make the proposed text so small that it will only be visible to pedestrians and not motorists. The two signs are located within the interior of the site and are not visible from outside the complex.

Logo Sign

Finally, the logo sign illuminated on the east wall of the site does not project a significant level of illumination, is setback well within the hospital complex and is barely visible from adjacent nearby lands given the existence of mature landscaping on site.

The Department recommends approval of the variances requested in Document 1 of this report. Given the importance of providing information during emergencies and health care matters, it is essential that appropriate signage be available to assist with way finding to the numerous facilities located at the Queensway Carleton Hospital.

CONSULTATION

In response to the standard circulation to property owners, business/community groups and the Ward Councillor, there were five in favour and one opposed to the minor variance application. The respondent who opposed the variances felt that larger signs would not assist people finding the hospital, since the hospital already has an illuminated sign on the top of the building.

Response to Comments

In response, the Department notes that the Logo sign is stylized and dimly lit. The entrance ground signs provide detailed information to assist with way finding on the property and the Department supports the variances due to the need for proper identification to the hospital operations. In addition, the signage proposed and the existing signage on site that is set back a substantial distance away from adjacent uses is buffered by mature on-site landscaping and has or would have a minimal impact upon the surrounding community.

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS:

There are no Legal/Risk Management Implications associated with this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

N/A

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 - Details of Variances Requested

Document 2 - Location Plan

Document 3 - Elevation of Main Ground Signage

Document 4 - Photos of Existing Signs

DISPOSITION

City Clerk and Legal Services Branch to notify the applicant, Queensway Carleton Hospital, Attention: R. Peter Thompson, 3045 Baseline Road, Nepean, ON, K2H 8P4 and the local Ward Councillor of Council's decision.

Building Code Services will process the sign permits resulting from the Council direction in accordance with Sign By-law 2005-439.

DETAILS OF VARIANCES REQUESTED DOCUMENT 1

Proposed Grounds Signs at Baseline and Richmond Entrances (see Document 3)

Relief is requested to permit two internally illuminated identification ground signs for the existing hospital complex, which would exceed the by-law provisions. The proposed ground signs would each have a total area of 11 square metres, with an illuminated message centre component forming an area of 50per cent of each sign (5.5 square metres). For this site, the by-law allows a ground sign per street frontage with an area of 7 square metres, provided that a changeable message centre forming part of the sign is non-illuminated and does not exceed an area of 25per cent of the permitted signage area (1.75 square metres) of an institutional ground sign.

Existing Logo Sign (as shown on Document 4)

Relief is requested to legalize an existing logo sign installed on the top floor east sidewall of the building adjacent to the emergency operations centre. Approval of this variance would allow a logo sign with an area of approximately 3.2 square metres to display internal illumination, whereas the by-law does not allow illumination for a logo sign in this applicable signage district for this property.

Existing north side information sign (as shown on Document 4)

Relief is requested to legalize an existing information sign installed near the entranceway to the emergency facility of the hospital, with an area of 5.2 square metres and with a height of 2.2 metres. The by-law limits information signs in this signage district to an area of 0.5 square metres and with a height of 1.5 metres.

Existing south side information sign (as shown on Document 4)

Relief is requested to legalize an existing information sign installed near the Baseline entranceway of the hospital, with an area of 7 square metres and with a height of 2.7 metres. The by-law limits information signs in this signage district to an area of 0.5 square metres and with a height of 1.5 metres.

LOCATION PLAN DOCUMENT 2