City Council on May 11 and 12, 2010, adopted the following:

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.         City 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 a copy of the report (April 6, 2010) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, 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 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. 

City Council on May 11 and 12, 2010, adopted the following:

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 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. 

City Council on May 11 and 12, 2010 referred Item PG37.5 to the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, with a request that the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning submit a further report, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to the Planning and Growth Management Committee.

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.

City Council on May 11 and 12, 2010, adopted the following:

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 Council request City Planning staff to 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 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".