Item - 2021.SC26.15

Scarborough Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the closure of the west sidewalk and a 3.3 metre wide portion of the southbound curb lane on Birchmount Road, between a point 77 metres south of Lawrence Avenue East and a point 41 metres further south,  from October 1, 2021 to March 1, 2022.

2. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the west side of Birchmount Road, between a point 77 metres south of Lawrence Avenue East and a point 41 metres further south.

3. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the west side of Birchmount Road, between a point 77 metres south of Lawrence Avenue East and a point 41 metres further south.

4. City Council direct the applicant to sweep/pressure wash the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

5. City Council direct the applicant to ensure that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkway have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

6. City Council direct the applicant to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local business improvement areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

7. City Council direct the applicant to install appropriate signage and converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

8. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

9. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

10. City Council direct the applicant to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

11. City Council direct the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

12. City Council direct the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor.

13. City Council direct that Birchmount Road be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Birchmount Road, City Council approval of this report is required.

Birchmount Green Inc. has retained Chamberlain Construction Services to construct a 15-storey, 220 unit combined residential and ground floor commercial building at 1236 Birchmount Road. The site is located on the west side of Birchmount Road between Lawrence Avenue and Modern Road.

Transportation Services is requesting approval to close the west sidewalk and a portion of the west side southbound curb lane on Birchmount Road for a period of 6 months (i.e. October 1, 2021 to March 1, 2022) to accommodate a construction staging area.

Pedestrian operations on the west side of Birchmount Road will be maintained in a 1.7 metre-wide covered and protected walkway within the closed portion of the existing lane.

The construction staging area on Birchmount Road will result in the loss of one southbound traffic lane. There will still be one 3.8 metre-wide southbound lane for traffic and there will be no impact on the two northbound lanes for traffic.