Item - 2022.TE34.34

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 689 King Street West substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 5 to the report (June 9, 2022) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to submit the necessary bill(s) to implement the foregoing recommendations provided the City Solicitor is satisfied that the appropriate legal mechanisms are in place to ensure that no building permit will be issued until such time as the Section 37 Agreement is executed and registered.

3. City Council require the owner to enter into an Agreement pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act as follows:

a) Prior to the issuance of the first above-grade building permit, a cash contribution of $500,000 towards improvements to parkland and the adjacent public realm at Stanley Park, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Ward Councillor;

b) The financial contribution pursuant to Recommendation 3. a) above shall be indexed upwardly in accordance with the Statistics Canada Non-Residential Building Construction Price Index for Toronto, calculated from the date City Council adopts the zoning by-law amendment(s) to the date of payment;

c) In the event the cash contributions referred to in Recommendation 3. a. above have not been used for the intended purposes within 3 years of the By-laws coming into full force and effect, the cash contribution may be redirected for another purpose, at the discretion of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Ward Councillor, provided that the purpose is identified in the Toronto Official Plan and will benefit the community in Ward 10; and

d) Prior to Site Plan Approval, the owner shall submit, and thereafter implement, a Construction Management Plan to address matters such as wind, noise, dust, traffic mitigation, and street closures during construction, which shall be to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and developed in consultation with the Ward Councillor.

4. Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.

5. City Council declare, pursuant to subsection 45(1.4) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13 for the purposes of subsection 45(1.3) of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13, that the owner, may be permitted to apply to amend the site specific zoning by-law for the lands at 689 King Street West before the second anniversary of the first day on which any part of the site specific by-law comes into effect.

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on June 30, 2022 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

The application proposes to amend the Zoning By-law to permit the redevelopment of the site with a 18-storey hotel building fronting King Street West and a 11-storey hotel building closer to the rear of the site. The two hotel components would be connected by a 1-storey enclosed base building. A maximum total gross floor area of 13,241 square metres and a density of 8.32 times the area of the lot is proposed. A total of 25 vehicle parking spaces, 14 bicycle parking spaces, one Type B loading space and one Type B/C loading space would be provided within the ground level and two underground levels. Vehicular access to the site is proposed via an existing driveway on the east side of the site.  

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020), and conforms with the Toronto Official Plan and Garrison Common North Secondary Plan.

The proposal presents an appropriate built form and contribution to the public realm that is compatible with the surrounding context. It has been revised, since its initial submission, to reduce the built form impact on the adjacent properties by providing a west facing upper storey side stepback and reducing the height of the rear building. The application has addressed transportation related comments by incorporating an existing curb cut and providing a drop-off area along King Street West. This report reviews and recommends approval of the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment.