The city's heritage advisory committee is being asked to approve signage for the side of Amazon's massive new fulfillment centre on Old Mill Road in Blair that is 20 times the size allowed.
Since the property lies within the Blair Heritage Conservation District any signage that doesn't meet the size limitations laid out in the HCD has to meet committee and council approval.
Even though the metal clad warehouse is a "non contributing property in terms of heritage character" it still falls within the parameters described under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Amazon wants to place three non-illuminated signs on the building, two with the Amazon name and one with the smile logo familiar to anyone who has received a delivery from the e-commerce giant.
All of the signs exceed the permissible maximum sign area within the Heritage Conservation District.
Two of the wall signs will each have a total area of 25 square meters and the third with a total area of 28 square meters, whereas the Sign By-law currently permits a maximum size of 1.25 square meters for properties within a Heritage Conservation District.
The signs are proposed to be placed at opposite ends from each other on the north façade that faces Fountain Street and the 401 exchange.
"Because these wall signs are not facing the historic core of the HCD, the signs do not present an adverse affect on the heritage character or attributes of the historic core," reads a report headed to MHAC next week.
City staff is recommending the committee approve the signs since "the design, size and lettering of the proposed signs are appropriate given its context on a modern structure and corporate branding."
