Item - 2023.SC6.12

The Scarborough Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to attend the Ontario Land Tribunal in opposition to the current Application regarding the Official Plan Amendment appeal for the lands at 300 Borough Drive, 1755 Brimley Road, 400 to 580 Progress Avenue and 350 Town Centre Court and to continue discussions with the Applicant in an attempt to resolve outstanding issues.

2. In the event that the Ontario Land Tribunal allows the appeal in whole or in part, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to request that the issuance of any final Orders be withheld until such time as the City Solicitor advises that:

a. the final form and content of the draft Official Plan Amendment are to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director City Planning;

b. the Owner has provided updated Urban Design Guidelines to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

c. the Owner has provided an Infrastructure / Municipal Servicing Strategy, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services;

d. the Owner has provided a Transportation and Street Network Strategy, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Transportation Services;

e. the Owner has provided and Affordable Housing Strategy to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and

f. the Owner has provided an Energy Strategy, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

On September 2, 2021 an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) application was submitted to permit a long-term mixed use development plan for portions of the Scarborough Town Centre (STC) Shopping Centre site. The existing STC Shopping Centre is to remain in operation. Proposed development is intended to occur in a phased manner over the next 20 years and beyond. The proposed master plan introduces an internal private above and below grade street network, the extension and realignment of three public streets, parks and opens paces, cycling infrastructure, internal pedestrian connections, new residential uses in the form of mid-rise and tall buildings, and additional commercial and office uses. It consists of 21 new development blocks, seven new park blocks and 10 private parks and/or Privately-Owned Publicly Accessible Spaces (POPS) blocks. Over 15,500 residential units, 32,400 square metres of retail, 32,500 square metres of office for an overall proposed Floor Space Index of 3.9 (including the STC Shopping Centre). Proposed building heights range from eight to 65 storeys.

On October 17, 2022, the applicant appealed the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) due to Council not making a decision within the 120-day time frame in the Planning Act.

This report recommends that the City Solicitor with the appropriate City staff attend the OLT hearing to oppose the application in its current form and to continue discussions with the Applicant to resolve outstanding issues.