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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-05-20 - SG COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT FOR THE CITY OF KITCHENER MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD MAY 20, 2014 MEMBERS PRESENT: Messrs.A. Head and B. McColl and Ms. J. Meader. OFFICIALS PRESENT: Ms. J. von Westerholt, Senior Planner, Mr. B. Bateman, Senior Planner, Mr. D. Pimentel, Traffic Technologist, Ms. D. Saunderson, Secretary- Treasurer, and Ms. H. Dyson,Administrative Clerk. Mr.A. Head,Vice-Chair, called this meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. This meeting of the Committee of Adjustment sitting as a Standing Committee of City Council was called to consider an application regarding a variance to the City of Kitchener Sign By-law. The Committee will not make a decision on this application but rather will make a recommendation which will be forwarded to the Committee of the Whole and Council for final decision. The Chair explained that the Committee's decisions with respect to sign variances are recommendations to City Council and not a final decision. He advised that the Committee's recommendations will be forwarded to City Council on Monday, June 16, 2014 at 7:00 p.m., and the applicants may register with the City Clerk to appear at the meeting if desired. NEW BUSINESS 1. Submission No.: SG 2014-003 Applicants: Jaspal Virk and Manpreet Kaur Property Location: 107 Victoria Street South Legal Description: Part Lot 21, Plan 418 Appearances: In Support: J.Virk Contra: None Written Submissions: None The Committee was advised that the applicants are requesting permission to install a ground supported sign on a lot having a frontage of 10.4m (34.120') rather than the required 15m (49.212'). The Committee considered the report of the Planning Division, dated May 8, 2014, advising that the subject property is located near the intersection of Victoria Street South and Oak Street and is developed with a Law office. The applicants are requesting a minor variance for permission to construct a ground supported sign on a lot with a frontage of 10.4 metres (34.12 feet) rather than the required 15 metres (49.21 feet)of section 680.11.2 of the Sign By-law. In considering the requested variance to the Sign By-law, Planning staff offer the following comments. The proposed sign does not meet the required lot width of 15 metres (49.21 feet) however the proposed sign does meet the intent of the Sign By-law. The intent of the 15 metre (49.21 feet) street frontage requirement is to ensure that signage does not dominate the streetscape of the neighbourhood. Section 680.11.13 of the Sign By-law requires a separation distance of 15 metres (49.21 feet) from ground supported signs located on abutting properties. The adjacent properties of 107 Victoria Street South do not have ground supported signs on their properties and the nearest ground supported sign at 127 Victoria Street South meets the required separation distances of the Sign by-law. With consideration that there are no ground supported COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT -8- MAY 20, 2014 1. Submission No.: SG 2014-003 (Cont'd) signs on the adjacent properties and the sign meets all required separation distances from all nearby signs, staff is of the opinion that the ground supported sign will not adversely affect the streetscape of the surrounding neighbourhood, and is therefore appropriate. The proposed sign will allow the applicants to clearly advertise their services and the location of their business. The sign will not interrupt pedestrian or traffic visibility, and does not affect the streetscape. The proposed ground supported sign has a height clearance of 2.6 metres (8.53 feet) which complies with the required height clearance of 2.44 metres (8.005 feet) of section 6.80.11.5 of the Sign By-law. The proposed sign complies with all other regulations of the Sign- By-law. The Committee considered the report of the Region of Waterloo Transportation Planner, dated May 5 2014, advising that at this location Regional Road #55 (Victoria Street North) has a designed road allowance width of 26.213m (86ft), as designated in the Region of Waterloo Official Policies Plan (ROPP). The existing road width in this area of Victoria Street South is 20.10m (66ft). Under any future Development Application (Site Plan, Consent, Zone Change, Official Plan Amendment) the Region of Waterloo will require a road allowance widening of 3.05m (10ft) across the frontage of this property. While a road dedication is not a Regional requirement for this Sign Variance application, Region of Waterloo staff advise that the proposed ground supported sign be located so that it would not encroach onto Regional property after the road allowance widening is taken under a future Development Application. Regional staff also suggest the sign not be located inside the driveway visibility triangle. The Committee considered comments from the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA), dated May 12, 2014, advising that although they have no concerns with this application, they noted that information currently available indicates that the subject property is within the floodplain of Schneider Creek. Consequently, the property is regulated by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) under Ontario Regulation 150/06. Any future development on the property (other than the proposed sign)will require prior written approval from GRCA in the form of a permit pursuant to Ontario Regulation 150/06. Moved by Mr. B. McColl Seconded by Ms. J. Meader That the application of Jaspal Virk and Manpreet Kaur requesting permission to install a ground supported sign on a lot having a frontage of 10.4m (34.120') rather than the required 15m (49.212'), on Part Lot 21, Plan 418, 107 Victoria Street South, Kitchener, Ontario, BE APPROVED,subject to the following condition: 1. That the owner shall obtain a sign permit shall from the City's Planning Division for the proposed ground supported sign. It is the opinion of this Committee that: 1. The variance approved in this application is minor in nature. 2. This application is desirable for the appropriate development of the property. 3. The general intent and purpose of Chapter 680 (Signs)of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code is being maintained on the subject property. Carried ADJOURNMENT On motion, the meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m. Dated at the City of Kitchener this 20th day of May, 2014. Dianna Saunderson Secretary-Treasurer Committee of Adjustment