Item - 2019.EY2.6

Etobicoke York Community Council:

1.  Directed 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. The report also 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 to construct a 1-story (23.5 metres in height, including mechanical penthouse) frozen goods automated warehouse distribution building, with a gross floor area of 19,533 m2, an overall site density of 0.48 times the area of the lot, 124 surface parking spaces and 27 loading docks at 170 The West Mall.  The existing dry and frozen goods warehouse distribution building on the site would remain.

The applicant requested a pre-application consultation meeting for assistance in defining the requirements for application submission. Staff held the meeting with the applicant on October 13, 2017. 

The application was submitted on June 4, 2018.  A notice of Incomplete Application was issued on June 14, 2018, and a notice of Complete Application with regard to the application was issued on September 7, 2018.

A community consultation meeting was held on October 9, 2018, combined with the owner's (Metro Ontario Incorporated) other application for the properties at 17, 25 and 75 Vickers Road (File No. 18 124934 WET 05 OZ).  A Final Report will be submitted for City Council's consideration following 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 the second quarter of 2019.

As outlined in this report, City Planning staff have identified concerns with the proposal with respect to the appropriate location of the building, vehicular and truck access, parking and circulation, compliance with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority requirements related to the Etobicoke Creek regulated lands, and compliance with applicable policies and guidelines. 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.

Please note that in the absence of these issues being resolved and where staff will not be in a position to recommend approval or refusal of the application, an Interim Directions Report will be submitted to City Council for decision, prior to the expiration of the statutory review period in the Planning Act for this planning application.