Item - 2018.EY31.10

Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council direct City staff to continue to negotiate with the applicant to resolve the outstanding issues detailed in the report (May 16, 2018) from the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District.

 
2.  City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff, to attend and to oppose the application in its current form should the application be appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) on the basis of City Council's failure to make a decision on the application within the statutory timeframe of the Planning Act.

 
3.  City Council direct City staff to schedule a community consultation meeting for the lands at 2346 and 2352 Weston Road together with the Ward Councillor.

 
4.  City Council direct that Notice for the community consultation meeting be given to landowners and residents within 240 metres of the site, and expanded in consultation with the Ward Councillor, with the additional cost to be borne by the applicant.

 
5.  City Council direct that Notice for the statutory public meeting under the Planning Act be given according to the regulations of the Planning Act.

This report provides preliminary information and an early opportunity to raise issues for follow-up with regard to the application. It seeks City Council's direction on the community consultation process and indicates the expected timing for a Final Report to City Council. The application has been circulated to all appropriate agencies and City divisions for comment and a staff review of the application is underway.

This application proposes a 15 storey (44.8 m in height, including mechanical penthouse) affordable rental apartment building with 157 units and below grade parking for 52 vehicles at 2346 and 2352 Weston Road. It is proposed that all apartment units will be affordable rental housing constructed under the City's Open Door Affordable Rental Housing Program.

The applicant requested a pre-application consultation meeting for assistance in defining the requirements for application submission. Staff held meetings with the applicant on May 24, 2017, November 13, 2017 and February 7, 2018.  

The application was submitted on February 22, 2018. A notice of complete application was issued on March 22, 2018.
 

A community consultation meeting is anticipated to be held prior to the end of July 2018. A Final Report will be submitted for City Council's consideration following community consultation, the resolution of outstanding issues related to this application, and the holding of a statutory Public Meeting under the Planning Act. The target timeline for the Final Report is anticipated to be in the first quarter of 2019.

City Planning staff have identified concerns with the proposal described in this report with respect to built form, density, height, massing, site layout, shadow impact, proximity to the Humber River valley, access, parking and loading. These issues and all additional matters that arise through the development review process will need to be addressed

prior to submission of the Final Report to City Council.  While staff will continue to work with the applicant to address the issues noted here, since it is an election year, it is recommended that City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City Staff to attend and oppose the application in its current form should the application be appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) on the basis of City Council's failure to make a decision on the application within the statutory timeframe of the Planning Act.