Item - 2019.EY10.13

Etobicoke York Community Council:

1.  Requested the Manager, Traffic Planning/Right-Of-Way Management to report to the February 5, 2020 meeting of the Community Council on the request to close John Street, between Pantelis Kalamaris Lane and South Station Street, as part of the enhanced Weston Farmers Market every Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. beginning May 9, 2020 and ending October 31, 2020.

In 2015 City Council approved an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment for the lands at 22 John Street, 33 King Street and 2 Elsmere Avenue to permit the development of a 30-storey, 370-unit rental apartment building, seven at-grade townhouses and a 1,200 m² outdoor community open space at 22 John Street to be used for the enhanced Weston Farmers Market ('the Market') and public open space.  Artscape Weston Common, a 794 m² Community Cultural/Hub with 26 affordable artist live/work units was also included in the development at 33 King Street and 2 Elsmere Avenue.

While these sites have been under construction, the Market temporarily relocated to 1865 Weston Road; it is scheduled to return to John Street, in a new public square, for the 2020 season. The vision for the enhanced Market has been to allow market activities to spill over onto the street. This was in part due to concerns raised by long-standing Market vendors regarding their ability to operate in the public square.

In preparation for the 2020 Market season, the Weston Village BIA which operates the Market have requested that the City allow the closure of John Street, between Pantelis Kalamaris Lane and the east side of South Station Street, every Saturday from May 9th, 2020 to October 31st, 2020 from 5:30 am to 2:30 pm.