Item - 2019.NY6.4

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend the Official Plan, for Gordon Baker Road between Harold Evans Crescent and the North York Hydro Corridor in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment attached as Attachment No. 1 to the report (May 2, 2019) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District.  

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Official Plan Amendment as may be required.

North York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on May 22, 2019 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act. No one addressed the North York Community Council on May 22, 2019.

At its meeting on May 22, 2019, the North York Community Council also considered the report (May 21, 2019) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District, which confirms the proposal does conform with the "A Place to Grow" Plan, 2019.

This report recommends approval of a City initiated Official Plan Amendment to reduce the planned right-of-way width for Gordon Baker Road from "45 metres and over" to 27 metres between Harold Evans Crescent and the North York Hydro Corridor on Map 3, Right-of-Way Widths Associated with Existing Major Streets.

The City initiated Official Plan Amendment is to reflect the right-of-way width needed to be consistent with the right-of-way width requirement shown on Map 3 for Gordon Baker Road North of Harold Evans Crescent, which has been determined by staff to be sufficient to meet the City's needs in the area and minimize property impacts on the abutting land owners along Gordon Baker Road which would result from taking the "45 metres and over" planned right-of-way width on Map 3 of the Official Plan.

The Official Plan Amendment would also facilitate the application at 101 Gordon Baker Road (App No. 17 226908 NNY 17 OZ) that proposes to amend the Zoning By-law to permit the construction of six self-storage buildings.

On May 2, 2019, the Province of Ontario released A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019 ("A Place to Grow") which amends the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2017). 

The "A Place to Grow" Plan has come into effect on May 16, 2019 and all planning decisions are required to conform with it, on or after May 16, 2019. Planning staff have reviewed the proposed Official Plan amendment with respect to the "A Place to Grow" Plan and can advise that for this proposal, the relevant policies of the "A Place to Grow" Plan carry on the direction of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2017). 

Staff confirm that the Official Plan amendment conforms with the "A Place to Grow" Plan.