Item - 2022.EY33.6

The Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council approve the alterations to the heritage properties at 1974-1978 Weston Road, 1984-1986 Weston Road and 3-5 Little Avenue, in accordance with Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, to allow for the construction of a mixed-use development including two tall buildings with heights of 35 and 29-storeys, including the mechanical penthouses connected by an 8-storey podium with alterations substantially in accordance with plans and drawings dated February 28, 2022, prepared by Graziani Corazza Architects, and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA), prepared by Goldsmith Borgal Ltd. Architects, dated April 20, 2022 and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, all subject to and in accordance with a Conservation Plan satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and subject to the following conditions:

a. That the related site-specific Zoning By-law Amendment permitting the proposed alterations has been enacted by City Council and has come into full force and effect in a form and with content acceptable to City Council, as determined by the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

b. That the owner:

1. Provide a detailed Conservation Plan, prepared by a qualified heritage consultant that is substantially in accordance with the conservation strategy set out in the Heritage Impact Assessment for 1974-1978 Weston Road, 1984-1986 Weston Road and 3-5 Little Avenue, prepared by Goldsmith Borgal Ltd. Architects, dated April 20, 2022, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

2. Recommendation 1. b.1above is required to be satisfied prior to the introduction of the bill for any Zoning By-law Amendment related to the property, unless other legal mechanisms are utilized so as to satisfy the City Solicitor that no Building Permit will be issued until such time no later than December 9, 2022, or such later date as may be agreed by the owner and the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning in writing, failing which this condition will be determined to be unfulfilled.

c. That prior to final Site Plan approval for the proposal, for the property located at 1974-1978 Weston Road, 1984-1986 Weston Road and 3-5 Little Avenue, the owner shall:

1. Provide final Site Plan drawings substantially in accordance with the approved Conservation Plan required in Recommendation 1.b.1 to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

2. Provide a Heritage Lighting Plan that describes how the exterior of the heritage properties will be sensitively illuminated to enhance their heritage character to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

3. Submit a Signage Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

4. Provide an Interpretation Plan for the subject properties, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

d. That prior to the issuance of any permit for all or any part of the properties at 1974-1978 Weston Road, 1984-1986 Weston Road and 3-5 Little Avenue, including a heritage permit or a building permit, but excluding permits for repairs and maintenance and usual and minor works for the existing heritage building(s) as are acceptable to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, the owner shall:

1. Provide building permit drawings, including notes and specifications for the conservation and protective measures keyed to the approved Conservation Plan required in Recommendation 1.b.1, including a description of materials and finishes, to be prepared by the project architect and a qualified heritage consultant to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

2. Provide a Letter of Credit, including provision for upward indexing, in a form and amount and from a bank satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, to secure all work included in the approved Conservation Plan, Lighting Plan and Interpretation Plan.

3. Provide full documentation of the existing heritage properties, including two (2) printed sets of archival quality 8” x 10” colour photographs with borders in a glossy or semi-gloss finish and one (1) digital set on a USB flash drive in tiff format and 600 dpi resolution keyed to a location map, elevations and measured drawings, and copies of all existing interior floor plans and original drawings as may be available, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

e. That prior to the release of the Letter of Credit required in Recommendation 1.d.2, the owner shall:

1. Provide a letter of substantial completion prepared and signed by a qualified heritage consultant confirming that the required conservation work and the required interpretive work has been completed in accordance with the Conservation Plan and Interpretation Plan and that an appropriate standard of conservation has been maintained, all to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

This report recommends that City Council approve the proposed alterations for the heritage properties at 1974-1978 Weston Road, 1984-1986 Weston Road and 3-5 Little Avenue, under Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, in connection with the proposed redevelopment of the site. This report also recommends that City Council grant authority to enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement for these properties.

The subject site is located on the south side of Weston Road with frontage also on Little Avenue. The site is irregularly shaped and is comprised of the consolidation of nine properties. The west portion of the development site (1974-1978, 1980, 1984-1986 Weston Road, 1, 3 and 5 Little Avenue) is located within the Weston Phase 1 Heritage Conservation District (HCD), designated under Part V of the Heritage Conservation Act.

This application proposes to amend the Official Plan, the former City of York Zoning By-law 1-83 and City-Wide Zoning By-law 569-2013 to permit a mixed-use development including two tall buildings with heights of 35 and 29-storeys that are connected by a 8-storey podium that has a 2-3 storey base element. The proposed 8-storey podium would incorporate three of the identified heritage structures (1974-1978 Weston Road, 1984-1986 Weston Road and 3 Little Avenue) on the site, retaining the properties within the base of the podium. The buildings at 1980 Weston Road and 5 Little Avenue (which are also in the Weston Phase 1 Heritage Conservation District) are proposed to be demolished.

At its meeting on June 14, 2022, the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB35.2 and forwarded the Item without recommendation.

Summary from the report (May 24, 2022) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council approve the proposed alterations for the heritage properties at 1974-1978 Weston Road, 1984-1986 Weston Road and 3-5 Little Avenue, under Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act, in connection with the proposed redevelopment of the site. This report also recommends that City Council grant authority to enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement for these properties.

The subject site is located on the south side of Weston Road with frontage also on Little Avenue. The site is irregularly shaped and is comprised of the consolidation of nine properties. The west portion of the development site (1974-1978, 1980, 1984-1986 Weston Road, 1, 3 and 5 Little Avenue) is located within the Weston Phase 1 Heritage Conservation District (HCD), designated under Part V of the Heritage Conservation Act.

This application proposes to amend the Official Plan, the former City of York Zoning By-law No. 1-83 and City-Wide Zoning By-law No. 569-2013 to permit a mixed-use development including two tall buildings with heights of 35 and 29-storeys that are connected by a 8-storey podium that has a 2-3 storey base element. The proposed 8-storey podium would incorporate three of the identified heritage structures (1974-1978 Weston Road, 1984-1986 Weston Road and 3 Little Avenue) on the site, retaining the properties within the base of the podium. The buildings at 1980 Weston Road and 5 Little Avenue (which are also in the Weston Phase 1 HCD) are proposed to be demolished.