Item - 2018.EY31.3

Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council amend former City of York Zoning By-law No.1-83 for the lands at 1736 Weston Road substantially in accordance with the Draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment No. 4 to the report (May 14, 2018) from the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District.
 

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

3.  Before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment, City Council require the owner to:
 

a.  Maintain lease agreements in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor and to be registered on title, confirming that adequate off-site parking spaces are available for the exclusive use of 1736 Weston Road on Sundays between 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday nights during peak periods. The lease agreements must include:
 

i.  Confirmation that the off-site parking spaces are surplus to the applicable zoning requirements of the donor sites; and

 
ii.  Site plan drawings showing the location, dimensions and layout of the off-site parking spaces.
 

b.  Demonstrate that all parking space dimensions comply with minimum Zoning By-law parking space requirements.

Etobicoke York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on June 6, 2018, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This application proposes a Zoning By-law Amendment to maintain a place of worship use at 1736 Weston Road. A Zoning By-law Amendment to permit the place of worship use was approved by City Council in 2003, subject to a number of conditions that were never fulfilled. Between 2003 and 2008, the applicant requested through Etobicoke York Community Council and City Council that a condition related to off-site parking be amended to be less onerous. The request was deferred by City Council and Etobicoke York Community Council several times and ultimately considered by City Council in 2008.  In 2008, City Council approved a Temporary Use By-law, with no requirement for off-site parking, for a period of three years. The Temporary Use By-law was enacted by City Council in 2010 and it expired in 2013. The subject application seeks to permit the existing place of worship to remain as a permanent use.

The proposal is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) and conforms with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2017).

The proposal addresses the sites location within the Apartment Neighbourhoods designation of the Official Plan.  Apartment Neighbourhoods  are made up of apartment buildings and parks, local institutions, cultural and recreational facilities, and small-scale retail, service and office uses that serve the needs of area residents.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law subject to conditions before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment. Provided the conditions are fulfilled, staff are of the opinion that the existing use as a place of worship is appropriate in this location.