Item - 2024.EX15.2

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services to strengthen internal coordination amongst City Divisions in order to maximize achievement of the priorities outlined in Attachment 2 to the report (June 4, 2024) from the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services in interactions with the Provincial government and its agencies in the delivery of all current and future transit expansion and transit-oriented community projects.

2.  City Council request the Province to give the City authority to require community benefits up to a minimum value of 10 percent as part of all Transit Oriented Communities proposals in Toronto, distinct and separate from any affordable housing allocation, and that City staff prioritize essential social infrastructure for complete communities including, but not limited to, childcare facilities, community agency space, libraries and community recreation centres in all negotiations with the Province and its agencies.

3.  City Council request that all the new housing in Transit Oriented Communities in Toronto align with Inclusionary Zoning targets with a goal of reaching twenty percent of all units as affordable and City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, to make affordable housing a key priority in all negotiations with the Province and its agencies.

4.  City Council inform Metrolinx that the City will not execute any further transactions for City lands until such time that Metrolinx informs the City as to how they will mitigate construction impact to residential tenants and businesses.

5.  City Council request Metrolinx to make available to City staff all property needed to support transit expansion projects, including City-owned properties and private properties so that the City can monitor the performance of Metrolinx plans to mitigate the impact of transit construction to residential tenants and businesses.
 

6.  City Council request the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to establish a dedicated position to monitor the outcomes of Metrolinx’s approaches to address the impact for residential tenants and businesses during the construction of transit projects.

7.  City Council forward the Item to the Toronto Transit Commission, Waterfront Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario.

An unprecedented level of transit expansion, housing development and other major infrastructure projects is currently underway in Toronto. Delivery of higher-order transit lines, as well as development, brings numerous benefits, to increase housing supply, reduce congestion, support the City’s environmental goals, and promote a well-connected and accessible city. The advancement of the Province’s transit expansion projects along with its Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Program, present significant opportunities to advance City priorities and maximize benefits to communities. At the same time, these large-scale and long-term construction projects present challenges that must be carefully managed to mitigate negative impacts on residents and businesses.

The purpose of this report is to:

1. Identify the City priorities that guide and inform negotiations with the Provincial government and its agencies, as well as the relevant policies and levers for implementation;

2. Provide a guide to external partners that outlines the City expectations with the Province, Metrolinx and the public more broadly; and,

3. Assist City staff in reviewing permit, licences and agreements under negotiation to determine if City priorities are being sufficiently addressed, while strengthening internal coordination to maximize City benefits.

The report identifies City priorities in the following areas, as detailed further in Attachment 2:

- Delivering mobility;

- Transit and housing as city building;

- Public realm improvements;

- Roadways, traffic and construction management;

- Parkland, forestry, and recreational facilities;

- Real estate;

- Protecting City infrastructure and assets;

- Community benefits;

- Business and cultural supports; and

- Community engagement.

City Divisions continue to review the Province’s technical designs, plans and requests for permits licences and approvals, in coordination with the local Councillor, as necessary, to identify all opportunities to advance the City’s priorities and to ensure a wholistic and coordinated City-wide approach that maximizes the benefits for the City. To further strengthen coordination processes as well as the engagement with the local Councillor, staff will:

- Ensure all City staff participating in transit expansion and TOC work understand the City priorities identified in Attachment 2, which will help guide and inform all negotiations with the Province and its agencies.

- Establish a monthly Transit and TOC Leaders Roundtable consisting of senior City staff across City Divisions. The purpose of this Roundtable is to review and provide strategic direction on critical, complex or non-routine permits, licenses and other agreements prior to issuance, where permitted under applicable law.

- Enhance their engagement with the local Councillor as part of ongoing work to assess opportunities to deliver on City priorities and identify potential improvements for advancement that reflect local ward priorities.