Item - 2023.TE4.6

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend the Official Plan for the lands at 152-164 Bathurst Street and 621-627 Richmond Street West, substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment, included as Attachment 5 to the report (March 22, 2023) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 152-164 Bathurst Street and 621-627 Richmond Street West, substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment, included as Attachment 6 to the report (March 22, 2023) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

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

4. City Council approve the Rental Housing Demolition Application, File 21 181261 STE 10 RH, in accordance with Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code and pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, which allows for the demolition of twelve (12) existing rental dwelling units located at 152-164 Bathurst Street and 621-627 Richmond Street West, subject to the following conditions:

a. the owner shall provide an acceptable tenant relocation and assistance plan to all eligible tenants and post-application tenants of the twelve (12) existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished to mitigate hardship; the tenant relocation and assistance plan shall be developed in consultation with, and to the satisfaction of, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and

b. the owner shall enter into, and register on title for 152-164 Bathurst Street and 621-627 Richmond Street West, one or more agreements to secure the conditions outlined in Recommendation 4.a. above, including a Section 111 Agreement pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, all to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

5. City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to issue Preliminary Approval for the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code for the demolition of all or any of the twelve (12) existing rental dwelling units at 152-164 Bathurst Street and 621-627 Richmond Street West, after all of the following have occurred:

a. the satisfaction or securing of the conditions in Recommendation 4 above;

b. the site-specific Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments have come into full force and effect;

c. the issuance of the Notice of Approval Conditions for site plan approval by the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, or their designate, pursuant to Section 114 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006;

d. the issuance of excavation and shoring permits (conditional or full permit) for the approved development on the site; and

e. the owner has confirmed, in writing, that all existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished are vacant.

6. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has given Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 5 above.

7. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a Residential Demolition Permit under Section 33 of the Planning Act for 152-164 Bathurst Street and 621-627 Richmond Street West, after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has issued the Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 5 above, which may be included in the demolition permit for Chapter 667 under 363-6.2, of the Toronto Municipal Code, on condition that:

a. the owner shall remove all debris and rubble from the site immediately after demolition;

b. the owner shall erect solid construction hoarding to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building;

c. the owner erects a mixed-use building on the site no later than three (3) years from the day demolition of the existing buildings is commenced; and

d. should the owner fail to complete the new building within the time specified in condition 7.c. above, the City Clerk shall be entitled to enter on the collector’s roll, to be collected in a like manner as municipal taxes, the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) for each rental dwelling unit for which a demolition permit is issued, and that each sum shall, until payment, be a lien or charge upon the land for which the demolition permit is issued.

8. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take such actions as are necessary to implement City Council's decision, including the execution of the Section 111 Agreement.

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on April 12, 2023 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit an 18-storey mixed-use building at 152-164 Bathurst Street and 621-627 Richmond Street West. The heritage building at 621 Richmond Street West and 164 Bathurst Street is proposed to be retained and the remaining buildings on the site are proposed to be demolished. The proposed development includes commercial uses on the ground floor, 217 residential condominium units above, 64 vehicular parking spaces and 224 bike parking spaces.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the Rental Housing Demolition Application under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code and the Residential Demolition Permit Application under Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code to demolish twelve (12) residential rental dwelling units, subject to conditions, which include the provision of a Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan.