15. SIGN BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE - 1490 YOUVILLE DRIVE

DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES – 1490, PROMENADE YOUVILLE

Committee recommendation

That Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council approve the application to vary Sign By-law 2005-439, to permit an illuminated identification ground sign at 1490 Youville Drive, with a message centre area of 3.3 square metres, to be installed with a total area of 12 square metres and with a sign height of 5.1 metres.

Recommandation du Comité

Que le Conseil approuve une demande de dérogation au Règlement 2005-439 sur les enseignes visant à permettre l’installation, au 1490, promenade Youville, d’un panneau d’identification au sol éclairé ayant une superficie totale de 12 mètres carrés, avec une zone réservée au message de 3,3 mètres carrés, et une hauteur de 5,1 mètres.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager, Planning, Transit and the Environment report dated 14 July 2008 (ACS2008-PTE-BLD-0023).

Report to/Rapport au :

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

and Council / et au Conseil

14 July 2008 / le 14 juillet 2008

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

Directrice municipale adjointe,

Planning, Transit and the Environment/

Urbanisme, Transport en commun et Environnement

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Sandra Garnett, Manager/Gestionnaire, Business Integration Services/Services d'integration des activities

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

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

Orléans (1)

Ref N°: ACS2008-PTE-BLD-0023

SUBJECT:	SIGN BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE - 1490 YOUVILLE DRIVE

OBJET :	DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES – 1490, PROMENADE YOUVILLE

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement recommande au Conseil d’approuver une demande de dérogation au Règlement 2005-439 sur les enseignes visant à permettre l’installation, au 1490, promenade Youville, d’un panneau d’identification au sol éclairé ayant une superficie totale de 12 mètres carrés, avec une zone réservée au message de 3,3 mètres carrés, et une hauteur de 5,1 mètres.

BACKGROUND

The City of Ottawa, Parks and Recreation Branch, has submitted an application to vary Sign By‑law 2005-439, to permit a new ground sign for a major recreation complex that would exceed the by-law height and area limits (reference Documents 1, 2 and 3). This ground sign is intended to replace the existing sign identifying the Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orléans and would be installed close to the existing sign near the corner of Jeanne d'Arc and Youville. The applicant indicates the new sign is intended to update the signage, improve visibility for the centre and continue to provide public notices of coming events. In response to public concerns, the sign proposal has been revised to a smaller sign closer in height and area to the existing sign (see elevation on Document 5).

The former Gloucester sign by-law permitted the existing sign having an area of 10 square metres, a height of 4.5 metres and with an internally illuminated message centre (see photo on Document 4). Sign By-law 2005-439 permits a ground sign with a maximum height of 3 metres and an area of 7 square metres. In addition, a message centre is permitted up to 25% of the sign face area (1.75 square metres) provided it is non-illuminated. If approved, the revised ground sign would have a height of 5.1 metres, an area of 12 square metres and would include an illuminated message centre of 3.3 square metres.

DISCUSSION

The property is designated under the by-law as a District 3 zone. Where signs that identify institutional uses are located in close proximity to residential development, the by-law limits the scale and illumination to minimize the possible negative impact of on adjacent uses. This proposal would be approximately 20% larger in area and 13% higher in height than the existing ground sign.

The Bob MacQuarrie Recreation Complex-Orléans, a major recreation complex, is located near both industrial/commercial uses and is situated on an arterial roadway. A sign larger than the existing ground sign is considered appropriate in this case based on the following. The existing sign is installed on a small mound with an elevation of approximately 1.2 metres above the average grade of the lot. As a result, the sign stands 5.7 metres above the nearby roadway. Further to discussions, the applicant has agreed to lower the proposed height of the sign from 6.1 metres to 5.1 metres and to rearrange the addressing component which will reduce the overall requested area of the sign. As such, the recommended sign at 5.1 metres in height would be lower than the existing sign and the increase in signage area would be minor.

The proposed sign scale is similar to other ground signs at other City owned recreation complexes. For example, the Jim Durell Centre on Walkley Road, which is a smaller complex, has a sign height of 5.5 square metres with a sign face area of 8 square metres. The Nepean Sportsplex, a larger facility, has a main ground sign height of 7 metres with an area of 14.8 square metres. It also has a second ground sign on the same frontage that has a height of 4.5 metres with an area of 8.4 square metres.

Although the sign uses internal illumination, most of the sign face would have reversed illumination, i.e. the light projects through the graphics on an opaque background. Illumination of the new message centre would be significantly less than the illumination of the existing message centre. The proposed message centre will project amber lighting with a dark background and the current message centre is a back-lit sign with a white background.

The sign location is separated from residential units by a busy arterial roadway, a fencing buffer and mature landscaping located in the rear yards of the residential properties. Situated perpendicular to Jeanne d'Arc Boulevard, the proposed sign would face the Queensway to the north, commercial uses to the south and would have limited impact on adjacent residents situated 45 metres away on Harvest Crescent. Finally, the applicant has reduced the area of the sign by 10% and the height of the sign by 15% to address community concerns.

The Department is satisfied the scale of the proposed sign is in keeping with the intent of the Sign By-law, as it would fulfill the needs of the complex while limiting the impact to the adjacent community and approval of this variance request is recommended.

CONSULTATION

In response to the standard circulation to property owners, occupants, business and community groups and the Ward Councillor, three respondents were in favour and seven respondents were in opposition to the application. Those opposed to the application commented as follows:

The height of the sign is excessive. The electronic board will be very visible from our property. We would have no objections to a sign with the same dimensions as the original sign, even with the electronic message centre.

I think that the 6.1 metres sign is pretty high especially if illuminated. Let's try to get something a little more subtle that would be a more attractive addition to the neighbourhood.

The sign does not seem appropriate for a spot that is so close to a residential area. It would be imposing and out of character with the natural stand of pine trees and surrounding landscape. I object to the proposed height and illumination of the sign.

I am not opposed to the size of the sign. But I'm against the illumination impact of the sign as it will be too bright at night. I am also concerned with the illuminated message centre.

Response to Comments

The Department has reviewed the comments, the site conditions and compared this proposal with other large recreation complexes. There is a substantial setback to adjacent uses given the arterial roadway of Jeanne d'Arc and the impact of the sign would be lessened by existing mature landscaping near the roadway. In addition, the complex has modified the scale of the sign in response to the expressed concerns while retaining sufficient signage to be appropriate for this recreational facility.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

N/A

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 Location Map

Document 2 Site Plan

Document 3 Elevation Plan of Original Proposal

Document 4 Site Photo

Document 5 Elevation Plan of Revised Proposal

DISPOSITION

City Manager's Office, City Clerk's Branch to notify the applicant, City of Ottawa, Attention: Richard Fouchard, 100 Constellation Crescent, Nepean, ON K2G 6J8 and the Ward Councillor of Council's decision. Building Code Services will process the sign permit resulting from the Council direction in accordance with Sign By-law 2005-439.

LOCATION MAP DOCUMENT 1