Item - 2023.TE5.24

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the continuation of the closure of the north sidewalk and a 2.3-metre-wide portion of the westbound curb lane on Wellesley Street West, between Bistro Lane and St. Nicholas Street, and provision of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the eastbound curb lane from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024.

2. City Council authorize the continuation of the closure of all of St. Nicholas Street, between Wellesley Street West and a point 43 metres north, from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024.

3. City Council direct the applicant to pressure wash (or sweep during winter weather conditions) the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

4. City Council direct the applicant to continue ensuring that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkways have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

5. City Council direct the applicant to continue consulting and communicating all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local Business Improvement Areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

6. City Council direct the applicant to continue installing appropriate signage and converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

7. City Council direct the applicant to continue providing a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

8. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

9. City Council direct the applicant to continue installing cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

10. City Council direct the applicant to continue posting a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

11. City Council direct the applicant to continue providing and installing public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor.

12. City Council direct the applicant to continue Construction Management Working Group monthly meetings, and inviting local stakeholders including Transportation Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto Buildings, adjacent neighbours and local resident groups.
 

13. City Council direct that Wellesley Street West and St. Nicholas Street be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

14. City Council direct the applicant to continue to email monthly construction progress reports to the local Councillor, local residents' association and Business Improvement Area Board of Management.

15. City Council direct the applicant to create a publicly accessible website with regular construction updates and post the website address on the construction site hoarding, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

16. City Council direct the applicant to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local Business Improvement Areas, resident associations and local school administration in advance of any physical road modifications.

17. City Council direct the applicant to mitigate light pollution by installing a shield/barrier on any lighting standards in close proximity to adjacent residential properties, such as cranes.

18. City Council direct the applicant, in consultation with Transportation Services, to maintain any bike lanes, and install appropriate signage to inform drivers and cyclists of any changes to the cycling lanes.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Wellesley Street West, City Council approval of this report is required.

Wellesley Street Nicholas Residences Limited Partnership is constructing a 55-storey residential development building at 6-16 Wellesley Street West and 5-7 St. Nicholas Street. The site is located on the north side of Wellesley Street West, west of Yonge Street between Bistro Lane and St. Nickolas Street. The north sidewalk and a 2.3-metre-wide portion of the westbound curb lane/cycle track on Wellesley Street West, between Bistro Lane and St. Nicholas Street is currently closed to accommodate construction staging operations for the development. In addition, St. Nicholas Street is closed in its entirety, between Wellesley Street West and a point 43 metres north.

City Council, at its meeting on May 11, 2022, approved the subject construction staging areas from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. At the time, the developer indicated they would require the staging area for a total of 31 months, from July 1, 2022 to January 31, 2025.

As the previous permit was only approved for a 12-month period, the developer has requested an extension of the duration of the construction staging areas on Wellesley Street West and St. Nicholas Street in order to complete the construction of the development.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to extend the duration of the construction staging areas on Wellesley Street West and St. Nicholas Street for an additional 19 months, from July 1, 2023 to January 31, 2025, to allow for the construction of the development to be completed.