The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve the by-law in Attachment 1 of the report (April 6, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, adopting a Community Improvement Plan pursuant to Section 28 of the Planning Act to facilitate further implementation of the City’s Commercial Façade Improvement Program.

2.         City Council direct the City Solicitor to amend the draft by-law shown in Attachment 1 of the report (April 6, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to include the Emery Village Focus Area, a map of which is attached as Attachment 2 of the report (April 6, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, if the Emery Village Business Improvement Area boundaries are expanded in accordance with Attachment 2 of the report (April 6, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

3.         Council approve the by-law in Attachment 3 of the report (April 6, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to expand the Mount Dennis Focus Area.

4.         City Council direct the City Solicitor to introduce the Bill for the by-law in Attachment 3 of the report (April 6, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to City Council for enactment only if and when the Mount Dennis Business Improvement Area boundaries are expanded in accordance with the boundaries shown on Maps 1-3 of Attachment 3 of the report (April 6, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning. 

5.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft by-laws as may be required before introducing necessary bills to Council for enactment.

6.         City Council forward the report to the Economic Development Committee for information.

7.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary actions to give effect thereto.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee held a public meeting on April 21, 2010, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report brings forward a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) extending the Commercial Façade Improvement Program (CFIP) to property owners within new Business Improvement Areas and to property owners in BIAs which have been expanded.

Grants under the CFIP are a proven, cost-effective way to improve the economic vitality and viability, and cleanliness and attractiveness of main street shopping areas. The proposed CIP will enable properties within the new or expanded BIAs to benefit from the grants as soon as all eligibility requirements have been met. 

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council amend the Official Plan substantially in accordance with Attachment 1 of the report (March 26, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft official plan amendment as may be required.

The Province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe contains policies to direct a significant portion of future growth into a number of intensification areas.  These areas include "Urban Growth Centres" (UGCs), and are generally located within the existing built fabric in municipalities throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe.  Under the Growth Plan, municipalities are required to delineate the boundaries of the UGCs, with minor adjustments permitted, in their respective Official Plans.

The Growth Plan identifies five Urban Growth Centres in Toronto: Downtown/Waterfront, Scarborough Centre, North York Centre, Etobicoke Centre and Yonge-Eglinton Centre.  In the fall of 2008 the Province identified the approximate size and location of the UGCs.

In February 2009, City Planning staff were directed by Council to consult with the Yonge-Eglinton community with respect to incorporating the Province’s UGC boundary into the City’s Official Plan.  City Planning staff subsequently consulted with the community and have generally reflected the input received from those consultations in the proposed policy amendments.

This report recommends amendments to the Official Plan and Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan to delineate the proposed boundary of the Yonge-Eglinton Urban Growth Centre as required by the Growth Plan.  The recommended UGC generally corresponds to the area identified by the Province as shown on Attachment 2.  City Planning staff are recommending two minor adjustments to the Province’s UGC to accommodate the pattern of development along the northern edge and to reflect the results of the Yonge-Eglinton Centre Focussed Review in the southwest quadrant.

The proposed amendments include new policies with respect to the UGC that will reinforce the underlying land use designations and the intent of the existing Secondary Plan. The recommended amendments include a proposal to expand the applicability of the urban design, planning and development policies approved by Council in February 2009 as a result of the Yonge-Eglinton Centre Focussed Review that apply good general planning principles to the entire area of the Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan. 

The Planning and Growth Management Committee deferred consideration of the item to the June 16, 2010 meeting.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee:

1.         Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to prepare an Official Plan Amendment to designate a surface transit priority segment west of Highway 27, on the south side of Humber College Boulevard, to a terminal facility on the Humber College campus, to be considered at a statutory public meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee on June 16, 2010.

2.         Directed that notice for the statutory public meeting under the Planning Act be given according to the regulations under the Planning Act.

3.         Directed Planning Staff to schedule a Public Information Centre, together with the affected Ward Councillor, to present the draft Official Plan Amendment prior to the statutory public meeting under the Planning Act.

On March 21, 2007, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) endorsed Transit City, a light rail transit (LRT) plan for the City of Toronto.  The TTC and the City of Toronto are Transit City co-proponents.  Transit City is comprised of seven LRT projects, including the Etobicoke-Finch West line, which is currently proposed to run along Finch Avenue West, westerly from Finch Station on the Yonge Subway line to Highway 27, south on Highway 27 to Humber College Boulevard and terminating at Humber College campus, just west of Highway 27 on the south side of Humber College Boulevard.

The Official Plan, Map 5 Surface Transit Priority Network, identifies both Finch Avenue and Highway 27 as transit priority segments, which provide for the implementation of the proposed Etobicoke Finch West LRT.  Map 5, however, does not provide for the extension of the LRT west of the intersection of Highway 27 on the south side of Humber College Boulevard to the Humber College Campus.

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s authorization for the preparation of a City-initiated Official Plan Amendment to reflect the recommended alignment for the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT, consistent with the Council approved Etobicoke Finch West LRT Environmental Project Report, specifically, the portion of the line west of the intersection of Highway 27 and Humber College Boulevard to a terminal at the Humber College campus.

The Official Plan Amendment would enable construction of the project to commence in a timely manner upon approval of the Transit Project Assessment Process and procurement of funding.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council deem that approval of this report by the Toronto Preservation Board shall be considered to be in consultation with the Toronto Preservation Board for all purposes under the Act, including subsections 29(2), 32(2), 33(4), 33(15), 34(2) and 42 (4.1).

2.         City Council delegate authority to the Chief Planner and Executive Director (the "Chief Planner") in consultation with staff of Heritage Preservation Services, to consider and either consent to or refuse applications to repeal designating by-laws, applications to erect, alter or demolish buildings or structures on properties designated under Parts IV and V of the Act, and to give notice of intention to designate listed properties, after the last City Council meeting of the term until the resumption of regular City Council meetings following the October 2010 municipal election.

3.         City Council direct the Chief Planner to report back to City Council through the Toronto Preservation Board and respective Community Councils at the next available meeting after the resumption of regular City Council meetings following the October 2010 municipal election with a list of the applications received and the decisions made during the delegation period.

4.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce any necessary bills in Council.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council endorse the continued use of the Tall Building Design Guidelines in the evaluation of tall building development proposals throughout the City.

2.         City Planning staff revise the document to respond to issues identified throughout the test period, stylistically formatted into the official City of Toronto urban design guideline template, and present it to Planning and Growth Management Committee in the Spring of 2011.

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the status of a consultant document titled "Design Criteria for Review of Tall Building Proposals".  This document, more generally referred to at the "Tall Building Design Guidelines", was adopted by City Council in 2006 for a test period of one year.  City Council subsequently extended this period by an additional two years, to January 2010, in order to allow for a greater period of testing through the review of tall building development proposals.

During this test period, the Guidelines have been used by stakeholders including staff, the development industry, and the urban design/architectural community.  Consultation with these stakeholders has shown that the document has been well received by staff and by the urban design/architectural community.  These stakeholders have also indicated that the document would benefit from some improvements and revisions.  The development industry has expressed some concerns with the document, including that some of the criteria are too general to be applied across the entire city. 

Despite these concerns, some of the Tall Building Design Guideline criteria have proven to work well throughout the duration of test period and have gained acceptance amongst stakeholders, including the development industry.  These criteria, which include minimum and maximum base building heights, a floor plate size limitation, and minimum tower-to-tower separation distances, lend themselves for inclusion in the City’s new zoning by-law.  A report on the new Zoning by-law, also before the Committee, discusses these proposed requirements and in which areas of the City they will apply. 

This report recommends that the Guidelines continue to be used in the evaluation of tall building development proposals.  Notwithstanding this, some changes to the Guideline document are required in order to respond to concerns raised and suggestions for improvement.  The report also recommends, therefore, that the finalized document be presented to Planning and Growth Management Committee in the Spring of 2011 for endorsement as an official City urban design guideline.  It will subsequently be incorporated into an updated version of the City’s "Urban Design Handbook".

The Planning and Growth Management Committee:

1.         Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning to:

a.         distribute the revised draft New Zoning By-law for the purposes of receiving public comment in the following manner:

i.          a printed copy of the main by-law text and maps be made available in the four civic centres, Metro Hall and the two Municipal Reference Libraries;

ii.         a downloadable version of the main by-law text and maps be posted on the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/zoning; and

iii.        the City’s interactive zoning web page, which allows searching for zoning information by address, be changed to include the April, 2010 new draft Zoning By-law text and maps.

b.         prepare a final report for the May 19, 2010 meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee that addresses any further concerns and issues that may be raised as result of the release of this latest draft of the new Zoning By-law.

c.         meet, to the extent possible, with business and resident associations, major stakeholders and the public to discuss outstanding issues and concerns with the draft new Zoning By-law.

d.         incorporate Recommendations 2 as amended, 4, 7 and 8, contained in the letter (April 6, 2010)  from Alan Milliken Heisey (PG37.7.2 ) in the final report on the Zoning By-law, as follows:

"2.        The short-term bicycle parking location requirements in the Zoning By-law be amended to include CR and RA Zones.

4.         The Education Use provisions of the Zoning By-law be amended to increase the bicycle parking requirement from 3 bicycle parking spaces and 1 bicycle parking space per 100 square metres of Education Uses to 2 bicycle parking spaces per 100 square metre of building dedicated to Education Uses.

7.         Amend the Zoning By-law to delete the exemption from the bicycle parking requirements for buildings less than 150 square metres in size and amend the Zoning By-law to provide that 3 bicycle parking spaces be required for all buildings greater than 200 square metres in size and 2 bicycle parking spaces be provided for all buildings 200 square metres or less in size.

8.         Prepare a draft amendment for consideration by the Committee at its meeting in May 2010 permitting the provision of bicycle parking, required in the Zoning By-law, in a location approved by the City Works Department, off site in a public road allowance within a distance of 50 metres of the property."

e.         submit a report to the May 19, 2010 meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee on the process that the City of Hamilton is following in harmonizing the Zoning By-laws, specifically the zoning regulations that pertain to Industrial properties.

2.         Referred the following Recommendation 9 contained in the letter (April 6, 2010)  from Alan Milliken Heisey (PG37.7.2) to the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning for consideration and report to the June 16, 2010  meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee:

"9.        Amend the Zoning By-law to permit a reduction of one motor vehicle parking space to a maximum of 25% of the total motor vehicle parking spaces required under the Zoning By-law, for every five bicycle parking facilities provided in excess of the minimum bicycle parking requirements required under the Zoning By-law."

This report will explain all the major changes made to the draft new Zoning By-law since its initial release in May 2009.  Most of the changes are a direct result of the remarks received during consultation with the public.  The consultation effort included open houses, public meetings organized by Ward Councillors, on-line comments, written comments and meetings with representatives of business and resident associations and major landowners such as the school boards.  Not all the minor changes will be explained in this report as most involve ensuring clarity and consistency of language throughout the new Zoning By-law.  However, copy of the initial draft will continue to be available on the City’s website for direct page by page comparison for those who wish to do so.

Forwarding a request from the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee. (Attachments are on file in the City Clerk's Office.) 

The attachment to this report contains the "Building Permit Fees 2009 Annual Report" for the 12‑month period ending December 31, 2009.

Under the Building Code Statute Law Amendment Act, the City is required to report on the 2009 budget year outlining how new revenues collected have been used to cover the direct and indirect costs of administering and enforcing the Building Code Act and the Building Code.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee:

1.         Deleted the recommendation in the report (April 7, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning.

2.         Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director to prepare an Official Plan Amendment for the Garrison Common North Secondary Plan for 30 Ordnance Street to:

a.         Add residential permissions to 30 Ordnance Street.

b.         Encourage a total non-residential gross floor area of 24,000 square feet to be developed on the site prior to or concurrent with any residential use.

c.         Ensure that the non-residential gross floor area of 24,000 square feet supports the Employment Areas policies.

d.         Encourage linkages to the proposed Fort York Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge from the Ordnance Street triangle.

3.         Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning and the City Clerk to give notice of a statutory public meeting on May 19, 2010, according to the regulations under the Planning Act.

4.         Requested the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to review the City's ownership of 11 and 25 Ordnance Street and 45 Strachan Avenue, consult with Build Toronto on the potential for redevelopment of the City-owned lands for employment or other uses and report thereon to the appropriate Committee.

This Official Plan Amendment application proposes to amend the Garrison Common North Secondary Plan to permit the conversion of employment lands to a mix of uses, including residential uses, on lands known as 11, 25 and 30 Ordnance Street and 45 Strachan Avenue.  The application also proposes that 10 Ordnance Street be encouraged to be developed as a public park.  The Official Plan designates the properties as Employment Areas, and they are shown on the Urban Structure Map within an Employment District.

The proposal does not conform with the Province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, nor the Toronto Official Plan, and is not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement.

This report reviews and recommends refusal of the application to amend the Official Plan.

City Planning Division submitted a staff report, dated April 7, 2010, recommending refusal of the application to amend the Official Plan to permit the conversion of employment lands to a mix of uses, including residential uses, on lands known as 11, 25 and 30 Ordnance Street and 45 Strachan Avenue.  At the time of writing the report Planning was not in receipt of comments prepared by the Economic Development and Culture Division.  The following is a summary of the comments prepared by Economic Development, Business Services and is to be received as information supplementary to the April 7, 2010 report prepared by the City Planning Division.