Item - 2022.TE31.93

The Item was withdrawn from the agenda.

Toronto Centre is one of the busiest and most development-heavy wards in the city and province.  The West Don Lands neighbourhood in particular is experiencing a surge in development applications. Many have been filed ahead of the Inclusionary Zoning by-law coming into effect. Along with community members, I am concerned that City Planning is not resourced properly and is already too back-logged with applications to handle the application surge. Some of the developments include the new hotel at Mill and Trinity, three large developments on the Triangle Lands, the Dream and Great Gulf developments to the South, the Transit-Oriented Community at First Parliament, and the three Ontario Line stations in Toronto Centre.

The adverse impacts of having blocks upon blocks of downtown Toronto turn into massive, multi-year construction sites is harming the health and well-being of residents; and creating financial hardships and a disruptive environment for business owners. The proliferation of road occupancy permits issued by Transportation Services have created significant traffic gridlock in development heavy neighbourhoods. This is further compounded by inaccessible and unsafe conditions whereby sidewalks and cycling lanes simply 'disappear' and are replaced by idling and parked construction vehicles and unsightly construction hoarding. This will only worsen with the onslaught of the Ontario Line construction, which will largely turn the downtown into one major construction site.

Public safety for vulnerable road users must be prioritized and properly considered when evaluating multi-location development and construction sites. City Planning and Transportation Services have a responsibility to improve technical coordination and road closures of new development to avoid overwhelming a neighbourhood with years of harmful construction impacts and road disruptions.