The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council amend the Official Plan for the lands at 8304 Sheppard Avenue East, substantially in accordance with the draft official plan amendment attached as Attachment 8 to the report (May 28, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2.         City Council amend the Employment Districts Zoning By-law No. 24982, as amended, of the former City of Scarborough, for the lands at 8304 Sheppard Avenue East, substantially in accordance with the draft zoning by-law amendment attached as Attachment 9 to the report (May 28, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning. 

3.         City Council amend the Scarborough Site Plan Control By-law No. 2319 substantially in accordance with the draft site plan control by-law attached as Attachment 10 to the report (May 28, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

4.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft official plan amendment, draft zoning by-law amendment and draft site plan control by-law as may be required.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee referred the item back to the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, for further consideration and consultation with stakeholders (including the school boards), and requested that further recommendations be submitted to the Planning and Growth Management Committee in 2011 in conjunction with the upcoming Official Plan Review and the Living Downtown Study.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council amend the Official Plan, Map 5, Surface Transit Priority Network, substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment attached as Attachment 3 to the report (May 28, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to provide for the approved alignment of the Etobicoke-Finch West Light Rail Transit Line, specifically the portion of the line west of the intersection of Highway 27 and Humber College Boulevard to a terminal at the campus of Humber College.

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 Planning and Growth Management Committee held a public meeting on June 16, 2010, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee referred the item back and requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report to the Committee on:

1.         an appeal mechanism that would allow local Community Councils to over-ride staff approval for hoarding advertising; and

2.         a fee structure to ensure full cost recovery for inspection and processing costs associated with this policy.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee of April 14, 2009 requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with appropriate staff to report further on:

1.         definition of hoarding specifying that it must be a continuous enclosure;

2.         a provision which regulates the timing of the erection of construction hoarding in relation to the applicant obtaining demolition and building permits, so that hoarding cannot be erected prematurely or remain when no construction activity is taking place; and

3.         information on the market value of first party advertising on hoarding, to assist the Committee and Council in the event that it wishes to increase revenue for the use of City property for first party advertising on construction hoarding.

This report recommends amendments to Chapter 693, Signs, of the Toronto Municipal Code implementing a harmonized, City-wide approach to permit first party project specific graphics and information on construction hoarding erected within the public right-of-way.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council amend the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 694, Signs, General substantially in accordance with the administrative design features attached as Appendix A to the report (June 1, 2010) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

2.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction in Council to implement the above recommendations, subject to such stylistic and technical changes to the draft bills as may be required.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve an amendment to Chapter 694, Signs, General, to adopt a Signage Master Plan for the property municipally known as 3250 Midland Avenue, substantially in accordance with the administrative design features set out in Appendix A to the report (June 2, 2010) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

2.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction in Council to implement the above recommendations, subject to such stylistic and technical changes to the draft bills as may be required.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve an amendment to Chapter 694, Signs, General, to adopt a Signage Master Plan for the property municipally known as 15 York Street, substantially in accordance with the administrative design features as set out in Appendix B to the report (June 1, 2010) from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, City Building.

2.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to prepare the necessary Bills for introduction in Council to implement the above recommendations, subject to such stylistic and technical changes to the draft bills as may be required.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         The Map contained in Attachment 1 of the supplementary report (June 1, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, be amended to designate the Avenue segments on Dundas Street West, between Royal York Road and the Humber River, and Bloor Street West, between the Humber River and Mimico Creek, as character areas.

2.         Attachment 2 of the supplementary report (June 1, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, be amended to have the remaining Avenue section on Yonge Street, north of Lawrence Avenue, designated as an Avenue, excluded from the retail study.

3.         Attachments 6 and 7 in the report dated May 4, 2010 from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning be deleted and replaced with revised Attachments 1 and 2 in the supplementary report (June 1, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

4.         City Council request staff to use the "Mid-Rise Building Performance Standards" contained in Section 3 of the report entitled "Avenues & Mid-Rise Buildings Study (May 2010)" and appended as Attachment 5 to the report (May 4, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in the evaluation of all new and current mid-rise development proposals on the Avenues and in the implementation of future Avenue studies so that the Avenues “vision” can be realized more quickly and effectively, subject to Recommendation 8.

5.         The effectiveness of the Mid-Rise Performance Standards referred to in Recommendation 4 above be monitored by staff during a ‘monitoring’ period of approximately two years.

6.         Staff report as soon as possible, and prior to the end of the ‘monitoring’ period, respecting the implementation of the Mid-Rise Building Performance Standards to the Planning and Growth Management Committee.

7.         The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, incorporate the following matters into the 2011 statutory 5‑Year review of the Official Plan:

a.         a review and potential expansion of the Avenues identified on Map 2, Urban Structure Map, of the Official Plan and their underlying Land Use Designations;

b.         a review of Map 4, Higher Order Transit Corridors and Map 5, Surface Transit Priority Map, in light of any changes to Map 2 and Transit City;

c.         a review of the Avenue policies in Section 2.2.3 of the Official Plan and identification of any Official Plan amendments required to implement the recommendations of the Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study, including the future role of Avenue Studies and segment studies;

d.         a review of the Built Form policies of Section 3.1.2 of the Official Plan to include the creation of new policies for mid-rise buildings and public realm improvements to implement the recommendations of the Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study;

e.         a review of policies relating to the preservation and enhancement of public lanes on the Avenues;

f.          a review of Secondary Plans and Site and Area Specific Policies relating to areas that overlap with Avenues to identify any appropriate amendments to implement the recommendations of the Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study where necessary; and

g.         a review of the Housing policies of Section 3.2.1 of the Official Plan and the thresholds for demolition and conversion of rental housing units in the implementing By-law 885-2007.

8.         The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in considering development applications on Avenues, be directed not to apply the principles respecting Enhancement Zones as set out in the Consultants' Study and reports from the Chief Planner dated May 4, 2010 and June 1, 2010.

9.         The Mid-Rise Buildings Interdivisional Team maintain an ongoing role during the two year phase in period.

The purpose of this report is to update the Planning and Growth Management Committee on the status of the ‘Avenues and Mid-Rise Building Action Plan’.

The Action Plan consists of a number of components to encourage the reurbanization of Toronto’s Avenues.  It includes the Avenues & Mid-Rise Buildings Study prepared by Brook Mcllroy Planning + Urban Design/Pace Architects with E.R.A. Architects, Quadrangle Architects Limited and Urban Marketing Collaborative, and consultations with members of the Mid-Rise Buildings Interdivisional Team, various stakeholders and the public. This report provides updates on these initiatives and makes recommendations related to implementation.

Toronto's Avenues are an integral part of the urban fabric.  Avenues serve as social and commercial centres and are intimately linked to the identity and vitality of the neighbourhoods that surround them.  They are also part of Toronto's Official Plan growth management strategy and therefore it is important to anticipate and set the stage for an appropriate, typically mid-rise, form of development.  In the City of Toronto, mid-rise buildings are defined in relation to the adjacent street or Avenue and can rise no taller than the street ‘right-of-way’, which is generally between 4 and 11 storeys.

The Official Plan vision for Toronto's Avenues is one of vibrant, tree-lines streets, wide sun-lit sidewalks, framed by well designed and contextually sensitive mid-rise buildings that support an active street life by providing a variety of retail and community uses at the ground floor level.  Mid-rise buildings are an integral part of the City’s past, present and future built form and they also help to achieve the growth targets while enhancing and revitalizing existing neighbourhoods.

The implementation of the Avenues’ vision has been dependant on individual Avenues Studies, sixteen of which have been completed across the city to date. Even with new as-of-right zoning in those areas, there has been a slow response from the development community. A faster and more pro-active ‘Action Plan’ was deemed appropriate to put new housing and jobs close to existing transit and infrastructure.  This report, the Consultant study, the ongoing work of the Mid-Rise Building Interdivisional Team, and other related city initiatives together form the ‘Action Plan’.

The consultant’s Avenues & Mid-Rise Building Study provides guidance about the future built form of the Avenues through suggested Performance Standards which will provide the foundation for new zoning regulations and urban design guidelines for mid-rise buildings that respect individual characteristics.

This report recommends that staff use the Mid-Rise Performance Standards in reviewing proposals for a two year monitoring period. During the monitoring period, an implementation strategy will be developed which will include a review of existing zoning, the statutory 5 year review of the Official Plan, and the new Urban Design Handbook, in order to incorporate the Performance Standards in guidelines, policies or new as-of-right zoning.

By the end of the two year monitoring period, staff will report back to the Planning and Growth Management Committee on the effectiveness of the Performance Standards and potential implementation measures as appropriate and necessary.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee:

1.         Directed Planning staff to schedule a community consultation meeting together with the Ward Councillor.

2.         Directed that notice for the community consultation meeting be given to landowners and residents within 120 metres of the site and be extended to include all landowners, residents and condominium corporations east to G. Ross Lord Park, including all properties along Fisherville Road from its western boundary to the park, and all properties on Festival Drive and Carnival Court; and that the applicant pay the City for the costs associated with extending the notice area.

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

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         Approval of the report (May 11, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning by the Toronto Preservation Board, contained in its report dated May 28, 2010, shall be considered to be 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.         Except for permits that must be or are deemed to be issued under Article IV of the Municipal Code, Chapter 103, Heritage, City Council direct the Chief Planner to refuse applications made under Parts IV and V of the Ontario Heritage Act that have not been considered by Council at or prior to its last regularly scheduled meeting before the October 2010 municipal election and for which the ninety-day period in which Council must respond will expire before Council's first regularly scheduled meeting in 2011, unless the applicant or owner agrees to extend this period to allow Council to consider the application at its first regularly scheduled meeting in 2011.

3.         City Council direct the Chief Planner to express Council’s 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 when an application to alter or demolish a listed property is submitted.

4.         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.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends to City Council that, given the Province's advisement that it will not be providing indemnities or financial security for Provincial projects in the City of Toronto being undertaken by the Province, Ontario Realty Corporation or Infrastructure Ontario, City Council direct that City staff apply the following policies to any subdivision agreements, site plan agreements or other agreements required to facilitate proposed Provincial projects:

1.         All development is to be constructed and new infrastructure and relocated  infrastructure is to be installed  in accordance with all City standards and specifications.

2.         No provisions will be included requiring indemnification of the City or financial security in the form of letters of credit or cash deposits.

3.         Enhanced insurance provisions, especially in respect of civil liability for third party bodily  injury and property damage arising from construction of the project and installation of infrastructure, will be provided to the satisfaction of the Manager of Insurance and Risk Management.

4.         For subdivision approvals, future public roads may be shown as blocks on the Draft Plan of Subdivision, and such blocks may not to be conveyed to and/or assumed by the City until such time as they are constructed, inspected, accepted and the two year maintenance period has expired.

At its meeting of February 22 and 23, 2010, City Council adopted a Planning report recommending approval of an application by the Province for Draft Plan of Subdivision Approval for lands at 1201 Wilson Avenue ("Provincial Campus").  In adopting the report, Council directed the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Executive Director of Technical Services, and other appropriate staff, to report to the Planning and Growth Management Committee on the City-wide implications of Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC) advising the City that ORC and Infrastructure Ontario will not be able to provide indemnities, letters of credit or deposits on any Provincial projects. This report responds to that direction.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning to remove the sections of the Draft Zoning By-law that pertain to school sites for further consultation with the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and other stakeholders, and requested staff to report back to the Planning and Growth Management Committee in August, 2010.

Report request from Councillor Vaughan that the Chief Planner be directed to remove the sections of the Draft Zoning By-law that pertain to school sites for further consultation with the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and other stakeholders.