Your Input: Toronto’s Employment Lands Sept.19 + Electronic & Illuminated Signs Sept.23-26, 2013

The City of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, is seeking your input via online or information sessions on the following topics.

  • Economic and Employment Lands Policies.
  • Electronic and Illuminated Signs and Billboards.

Economic and Employment Lands Policies

This video presents “Planning for a Strong and Diverse Economy.”

  • This video provides an overview of the City’s draft Official Plan policies for our economic health and employment lands.

employment-lands-toronto-20

Employment Lands Open House – Proposed Official Plan Policies

Official Plan Review

Two Open Houses will be held on:

Thursday September 19, 2013,

at

2 to 5 p.m. (presentation at 2:30 p.m.) or
6 to 9 p.m. (presentation at 6:30 p.m.).

Metro Hall Rotunda, 55 John Street

Contact Info: Paul Bain, Project Manager: pbain@toronto.ca; 416-392-8781

Jeffrey Cantos, Senior Planner: jcantos@toronto.ca; 416-397-0244

  • The City of Toronto is hosting two public open houses to provide feedback on proposed policy changes to the economic policies and land use designations for employment lands contained in the Official Plan.
  • The proposed policies seek to stimulate the growth of new office space close to rapid transit, preserve employment areas for business purposes, and provide locations for the retail sector to accommodate the needs of Toronto’s growing population.
  • The open houses offer an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed policy changes before City Council considers the recommended changes.
    • Residents can join City staff at either of the above open house sessions.

Please click here to provide your online input via a survey.

  • PLEASE NOTE: This survey is meant to gather information pertinent to your opinions on the draft policies on Toronto’s employment lands.
    • Please do not place any personal information in any of the boxes (ie. name, address, postal code).
  • Follow City Planning on Twitter @CityPlanTO.

Electronic and Illuminated Signs and Billboards

This video presents “Billboards on Yonge-Dundas Square (October 22, 2010 Toronto).”

  • The City of Toronto is looking for your input on potential changes to the sign regulations related to electronic and illuminated signs and billboards.
    • The Toronto Sign By-law Unit is responsible for the issuance and inspection of sign permits and carries out pro-active by-law enforcement for permanent signs on private property.
    • City of Toronto Council in 2010 passed a new Sign By-law for the City of Toronto (Municipal Code, Chapter 694).
      • It contains regulations governing the location of various types of electronic signs across Toronto.
    • This Sign By-law also establishes illumination controls for all types of signs including signs in residential areas.
  • Earlier this year, the City of Toronto initiated a comprehensive research project that included a planning and design review, an update of traffic safety implications, and a poll to assess public opinion in Toronto towards electronic and illuminated signs.
  • Based on the planning and design review, potential changes to Toronto’s sign regulations have been identified and were introduced at the September 12 meeting of the City’s Planning and Growth Management Committee.
    • Please click here for a copy of the planning and design review (pdf).
    • The planning and design review included the following recommendations for Illuminated Signs.

      “RECOMMENDATIONS
      1. Illuminated Signs
      a) Revise the maximum illumination level for signs to 300 nits between sunset and sunrise.
      b) Revise the maximum level for light trespass to 3.0 lux above ambient light levels when measured at a distance of 10 metres from the illuminated sign.”

  • The issues being considered as part of this review include:
    • locations where illuminated and electronic signs should be allowed in the city;
    • the impact of these types of signs on surrounding neighbourhoods; and
    • the impact of these signs on public spaces.

All Toronto residents and businesses are encouraged to participate and provide the City with feedback about this important issue via the following ways.

  • You are invited to attend one of the following workshops for a brief presentation, and to speak with City staff to share thoughts and ideas on this subject.
    • Public information sessions will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on the following dates:
    • Each session will have an information presentation at 7:30 p.m.
      • Attendees will be able to speak one-on-one with staff and ask any questions or provide feedback and ideas.
  • For those unable to attend in person, comments can also be sent directly via email at signbylawunit@toronto.ca .

The findings related to electronic and illuminated signs and billboards will form part of the final recommendations in the staff report to City Council.

Please click here for more info about Sign By-law and the Illuminated and Electronic Sign Study.

City of Toronto Contact Info

Phone within Toronto city limits: 311.

Phone outside city limits: 416-392-CITY (2489)
(can be used within Toronto if you can’t reach 311).

TTY customers: 416-338-0TTY (0889)
Fax: 416-338-0685
E-mail: 311@toronto.ca

If your matter is urgent, please call them. They are open 24/7.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

NEWS RELEASE

September 16, 2013

City of Toronto seeking feedback on economic and employment lands policies

The City of Toronto is hosting two public open houses for members of the public to provide feedback on proposed policy changes to the economic policies and land use designations for employment lands contained in the Official Plan.

As part of the Official Plan Review, the City has proposed economic policies to support the economic health of Toronto as well as proposed policies for Toronto’s employment lands to support and preserve lands designated as employment areas for economic purposes.

“Employment lands are crucial to job growth in Toronto,” said Mayor Rob Ford. “Employers need space to build and expand their businesses to employ more people. We want to hear from residents and businesses as we revise our Official Plan policies on these lands.”

The proposed policies seek to stimulate the growth of new office space close to rapid transit, preserve employment areas for business purposes, and provide locations for the retail sector to accommodate the needs of Toronto’s growing population.

The open houses offer an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed policy changes before City Council considers the recommended changes. Residents can join City staff at either of the open house sessions:

Thursday, September 19
Metro Hall Rotunda, 55 John St.
– 2 to 5 p.m. (presentation at 2:30 p.m.)
– 6 to 9 p.m. (presentation at 6:30 p.m.)

For more information on the proposed policies, or to take the online survey (under “Your Say”), visit http://www.toronto.ca/opreview/employment. To sign up for City Planning or Official Plan email updates, please visit http://www.toronto.ca/e-updates. Follow City Planning on Twitter @CityPlanTO.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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