Item - 2021.EY26.5

The Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council approve the updated revised construction schedule for the construction of the integrated entertainment complex at 555 Rexdale Boulevard as shown in Attachment 1 to the report (September 2, 2021) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District.

2. City Council direct the City Solicitor, together with other staff as appropriate to work with the owner to expedite the registration of the draft approved Plan of Subdivision, File Number 17 158705 WET 02 SB in the updated revised schedule as shown on Attachment 1 to the report (September 2, 2021) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning or at an earlier date to their satisfaction.

In July 2015, City Council approved, in principle, expanded gaming at the Woodbine Racetrack lands at 555 Rexdale Boulevard, subject to the gaming service provider meeting 21 conditions. The conditions include 12 planning conditions, and 9 other conditions focused on community benefits (economic development, local employment, access to community space and Responsible Gambling matters). Condition No. 1 requires the expanded gaming on the Woodbine Racetrack lands to occur within the context of an integrated entertainment complex to be built concurrently. 

In April 2018, City Council approved two Zoning By-law amendment applications to permit expanding gaming and endorsed the draft approval of the Plan of Subdivision for the northern portion of the Woodbine Racetrack lands to establish a framework for public roads, delivery of municipal services and development blocks to facilitate the development of an integrated entertainment complex. The Notice of Decision to approve the Draft Plan of Subdivision was subsequently appealed by a third-party and approved by the Local Planning Appeal Board (now the Ontario Land Tribunal) in 2019.

Fulfillment of Condition No. 1, to require an integrated entertainment complex be built concurrently with expanded gaming, was to be achieved through the development of Woodbine Square ("Block 9"), the Gaming District ("Block 10") and the introduction of public roads and facilities on the site as proposed through the submitted planning applications noted above.  At the time, City Council adopted staff's recommendation that this condition could be fully satisfied through the following conditions: 

• The finalization of the Draft Plan of Subdivision application and the Site Plan Control applications for Block 9 and Block 10;
   
• The owner – Woodbine Entertainment Group, entering into a Subdivision Agreement that included a condition requiring Block 9 and Block 10 to be built concurrently, the subdivision plan be registered prior to any site plan approval, and submission of a 20 million dollars ($20,000,000.00) financial guarantee to secure the obligation; and
   
• The implementation of the development, as outlined in Woodbine Entertainment Group's Letter of Commitment dated March 27, 2018, confirming their intention to construct Block 9, concurrently with the construction of Block 10. 

This report provides a status update on the applicant's progress in constructing the integrated entertainment complex and recommends endorsement of a revised schedule in order to provide a basis for continued construction.

This report provides information on the updated construction schedule submitted by Woodbine Entertainment Group ("WEG") and Ontario Gaming Group Limited Partnership ("OGGLP") to replace the previous construction schedule referenced in the August 23, 2021 report. The updated construction schedule projects an extended timeframe for the approvals of the Planning Act applications by approximately two months.

Aside from the extended timeframes for approval, the information contained in the August 23, 2021 report remains the same. It is recommended the updated construction schedule be approved.