5. SIGN BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE - 1194 CARP ROAD

DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES - 1194, CHEMIN CARP

Committee recommendation

That Council approve the application to vary Sign By-law 2005-439, to permit a non-illuminated ground sign within a residential zone with a height of 2.6 metres, an area of 2.1 square metres located no closer than 0.3 metres from the front lot line, for the commercial use at 1194 Carp Road.

Recommandation du Comité

Que le Conseil approuve une dérogation au Règlement 2005-439 sur les enseignes visant à permettre l’installation dans une zone résidentielle et à au moins 0,3 mètre de la ligne de lot avant d’une enseigne non éclairée fixée au sol ayant une hauteur de 2,6 mètres et une superficie de 2,1 mètres carrés, pour la propriété commerciale située au 1194, chemin Carp.

Documentation

1. Deputy City Manager's report, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, dated 19 January 2009 (ACS2009-ICS-BLD-0008).

Report to/Rapport au :

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

and Council / et au Conseil

19 January 2009 / le 19 janvier 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

Stittsville-Kanata West/Ouest (6)

Ref N°: ACS2009-ICS-BLD-0008

SUBJECT:	SIGN BY-LAW MINOR VARIANCE - 1194 CARP ROAD

OBJET :	DÉROGATION MINEURE AU RÈGLEMENT SUR LES ENSEIGNES - 1194, CHEMIN CARP

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council approve the application to vary Sign By-law 2005-439, to permit a non-illuminated ground sign within a residential zone with a height of 2.6 metres, an area of 2.1 square metres located no closer than 0.3 metres from the front lot line, for the commercial use at 1194 Carp Road.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement recommande au Conseil d’approuver une dérogation au Règlement 2005-439 sur les enseignes visant à permettre l’installation dans une zone résidentielle et à au moins 0,3 mètre de la ligne de lot avant d’une enseigne non éclairée fixée au sol ayant une hauteur de 2,6 mètres et une superficie de 2,1 mètres carrés, pour la propriété commerciale située au 1194, chemin Carp.

BACKGROUND

The subject property was a residential use and has been converted to an art studio and a retail store limited to the sale of art, crafts and home décor items. This property is located on Carp Road across from the intersection of Carp Road and Neil Avenue (see Document 1). This building has a listed heritage status and is known as the Delahunt's log house. Detached residential dwellings are located to the south and east of the property, a vacant residential lot is located to the west, and a mix of commercial and residential properties are located north of the subject site.

The owner has partially installed a ground sign to support the business opening in late November 2008 (see photo on Document 2). A temporary banner was also placed on the building, which the applicant has agreed to remove. The originally requested sign, shown on Document 3, is slightly different than the existing ground sign on site.

The By-law does not allow a ground sign in this signage district, other than a small ground sign for a bed and breakfast use or a home-based business. For those subordinate uses, the Sign By‑law would allow a sign with a height of 1.5 metres. If approved, the variance would permit a non-illuminated ground sign for this new commercial use, with a height of 2.6 metres and with an area of 2.1 square metres installed near the front lot line. The requested sign would be installed in front of the building so as to be visible to on-coming local traffic.

DISCUSSION

The applicant has requested this variance to make potential clients aware that the log house has changed to a commercial establishment and to attract business with an identification ground sign. In addition, the storeowner believes that an advertising sign would be compatible with the existing commercial signage and uses located across the roadway on the north side of Carp Road.

Under the Sign By-law, a sign must comply with the general intent and purpose of the urban design policies and guidelines of the Official Plan as they relate to the size, scale, design and appearance of the building, the architectural features of the building and the character of the neighbourhood in which it is located. Given the heritage status, age and style of the existing building, consideration was given to the impact of a commercial sign on the building.

While the By-law allows a sign with the limited area of 0.5 square metres, and with a height of 1.5 metres for an accessory residential/business use, this scale of signage would not meet the needs of the new retail business, as it would not be clearly visible. It is noted that the current sign has remained on site with no objections from the community. The existing temporary sign, which can be easily adjusted, has a height of 3 metres, an area of 2.6 metres and is located at or near the front property line.

After consultation, the applicant has agreed to modify the existing sign to a permanent sign that would:

Reduce underside clearance of the sign thereby reducing the overall height of the sign;
Remove the web site detail portion of the sign;
Add the municipal address on to the main part of the sign, in accordance with the By-law improving wayfinding and reducing overall signage area; and
Reposition the ground sign to be at least 0.3 metres from the front lot line.

The Department recommends approval of an altered ground sign as stated in this report.

CONSULTATION

In response to the standard circulation to property owners, business and community groups and the Ward Councillor, there was no opposition generated to this variance application. Comments received from the Department's Heritage Division noted a concern with the scale of the ground sign based on the style of this heritage log house building. However, the Department has no objection to the ground sign provided the agreed to adjustments are completed on this new sign and the additional temporary signage on this site is either removed or approved by By-law and Regulatory Services.

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

N/A

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

N/A

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 - Location Plan

Document 2 - Photos of existing sign

Document 3 - Originally requested sign elevation

DISPOSITION

City Clerk and Legal Services Branch, to notify the applicant, St. Elmo's Fire, Attention: Christina Lovisa, 1194 Carp Road, Stittsville, ON, K2S 1B9 and the local 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 PLAN DOCUMENT 1