Item - 2014.TE33.7

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council repeal Interim Control By-law No. 963-2013 for Bathurst Street from Queen Street West to Dupont Street and amend the retail and service uses in Section 12(2) 270 of By-law 438-86 by adopting the draft zoning by-law amendment found in Attachment 1 to the report (May 29, 2014), from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Zoning By-Law as may be required.

3.         City Council request the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District to initiate a study of the Bloor-Bathurst four corners area found in Attachment 2 to the report (May 29, 2014) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

4.         City Council authorize a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Study under Section 40.(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act for the area on Markham Street known as Markham Village, as shown in Attachment 2 to the report (May 29, 2014) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

City Planning has completed the Council-directed planning study focussing on built form and land use on both sides of Bathurst Street from Dupont to Queen Street ("Better Bathurst Study").  One of the key objectives of the study is to better define the role Bathurst plays as a boundary between the area formally designated as "Downtown and Central Waterfront" (Official Plan Chapter 2, Map 2) and the rest of the City.

The motion can be found at the following link:

http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2012.TE17.57

The study examined the land uses, built-form, heritage, retail characteristics, public realm, and policy framework.  Community consultation included four community meetings, one community workshop for the whole corridor, a visioning workshop for the Bathurst and Bloor four corners, and a survey on retail use and shopping patterns.

The outcome of the Study is a recommendation to amend Zoning By-law 438-86 Section 12(2)270 to regulate retail and service uses. In addition, an Official Plan Amendment is recommended to introduce a site and area-specific Official Plan Policy that defines the existing elements of the street to be retained and enhanced along with direction for areas of the street than can accommodate change.

In summary, the draft policy reinforces the prevailing fine grain character of the street while providing more emphasis on public realm and streetscape, heritage, character of the street, intersections with Avenues and with Dupont Street, and transition to adjacent residential uses. 

This report discusses the methodology, considerations, and community comments that informed the planning study and provides the planning rationale for the draft area-specific Official Plan policy.