Item - 2018.TE34.13

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend Zoning By-law 438-86, for the lands at 520 Richmond Street West, substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment to be available at the July 4, 2018 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council.

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 Bill to City Council for enactment, require the owner to enter into an Agreement pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act satisfactory to the City Solicitor and in consultation with the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, to secure the following as a legal convenience to support the development: 

i. Prior to the issuance of the first below-grade building permit for the 520 Richmond Street West property, the owner shall convey to the City for nominal consideration good and marketable title in fee simple to that part of the air space of the property municipally known as 530 Richmond Street West located above the horizontal plane that is between approximately 15 metres and approximately 15.8 metres above the grade of the property, free and clear of all encumbrances, except those that may be acceptable to the City in its sole and unfettered discretion;
 

ii. Upon conveying the required 1.02 metre lane widening of the north-south lane abutting the site at 520 Richmond Street West on the west side, the owner is required to restore the portion of the lane immediately abutting the property at 520 Richmond Street West (between Richmond Street West and Rush Lane) in accordance with City standards and reflecting any required public realm improvements associated with the future pedestrianization of the lane to be initiated by the City, from Richmond Street West to Queen Street West, to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Service;
 

iii. Prior to the issuance of the first below-grade permit, the owner shall submit a construction management plan to the satisfaction of the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, in consultation with the Ward Councillor and thereafter in support of the development, will implement the plan during the course of construction. The Construction Management Plan will include, but not limited to, details regarding size and location of construction staging areas, dates and significant concrete pouring activities, measures to ensure safety lighting does not negatively impact adjacent residences, measures to ensure graffiti artwork on nearby buildings is not damaged, measures to maintain pedestrian and functional uses of the public lane network, construction vehicle parking locations, refuse storage, site security, site supervisor contact information, vermin mitigation, and any other matters deemed necessary;
 

iv. Prior to site plan approval, in the event that Recommendation 3.iii. above is not yet satisfied, the owner shall provide a preliminary Construction Management Plan to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Ward Councillor; and
 

v. Prior to site plan approval, Community Planning staff shall consult with representatives of the Garment District Neighbourhood Association, the Queen Street West Business Improvement Area, The Laneway Project, and other stakeholders to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor particularly in regard to matters that may affect Rush Lane ("Graffiti Alley") and the adjacent unnamed north-south public lane.

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on July 4, 2018, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This application proposes to amend the Zoning By-law for the property at 520 Richmond Street West to facilitte the redevelopment of the site with a 15-storey mixed-use building having a height of 45 metres, including the mechanical penthouse. The building will contain retail uses at grade, 124 residential units above and 25 parking spaces in a below-grade parking garage. A total of 126 bicycle parking spaces will also be provided.  

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

Additionally, the proposal confirms with the policies of the Official Plan, the King-Spadina Secondary Plan, the Council adopted King-Spadina Urban Design Guidelines (2006), King-Spadina Secondary Plan Review and the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District Study.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law.