Item - 2019.NY6.6

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend the Official Plan, for the lands generally fronting Lawrence Avenue West between Shermount Avenue and Englemount Avenue (excluding the properties known municipally as 567, 575 and 577 Lawrence Avenue West) substantially in accordance with the Official Plan Amendment 433 appended as Attachment No. 10 to the report (May 3, 2019) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to Official Plan Amendment 433 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.

At its meeting on May 22, 2019, the North York Community Council also considered the report (May 17, 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 summarizes the findings of the Lawrence Avenue West Block Study and recommends approval of a Site and Area Specific Policy (SASP) as an amendment to the Official Plan for the lands fronting the south side of Lawrence Avenue West between Shermount Avenue and Englemount Avenue (excluding the properties known municipally as 567, 575 and 577 Lawrence Avenue West).

The SASP implements the findings of the Lawrence Avenue West Block Study.

The SASP seeks to:

- Provide a variety of housing typologies within the Study Area without amendment to the Official Plan, including semi-detached houses, duplexes, triplexes and various forms of townhouses, as well as apartments that are no higher than four storeys;

- Guide and manage moderate, incremental development within the study area;

- Encourage a sense of place, by promoting well-designed built form;

- Respect and reinforce the existing Neighbourhoods area to the south of the Study Area;

- Achieve appropriate transition between new development and the adjacent Neighbourhoods area to the south; and

- Promote a vibrant, animated and safe public realm along Lawrence Avenue West and into the Neighbourhoods area to the south.

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

This report reviews and recommends approval of the City-Initiated application to amend the Official Plan. The proposed SASP conforms to the Townhouse and Low-Rise Apartment Guidelines (2018), the proposed housing typologies are currently permitted by the in-force Official Plan designation of Neighbourhoods  and the proposed built form is compatible with adjacent and nearby land uses.

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 Site and Area Specific Policy (SASP) as an Amendment to the Official Plan with respect to the "A Place to Grow" Plan and can advise that for this proposed amendment, 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 this proposed Official Plan Amendment and Site and Area Specific Policy conforms with the "A Place to Grow" Plan.