Item - 2024.PH11.1

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013, as amended, for the lands at 3326 and 3330 Bloor Street West and 1240 and 1226 Islington Avenue substantially-in-accordance with the recommended Zoning By-law Amendments attached as Attachment 9a and Attachment 9b to the report (March 18, 2024) from the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the recommended Zoning By-law Amendments as may be required.

3. In accordance with the delegated authority under By-law 229-2000, as amended, City Council be advised that the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning intends to approve the Draft Plan of Subdivision for the lands at 3326 and 3330 Bloor Street West and 1240 and 1226 Islington Avenue as generally illustrated on Attachment 6a and 6b to the report (March 18, 2024) from the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning subject to:

a. The City obtaining the lands shown as Block 5 on the Draft Plan of Subdivision, currently a portion of the hydro corridor, under the jurisdiction of Hydro One Networks Inc.

b. The condition that a Lease Agreement has been entered into between the City and the development partner that includes, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, standard subdivision obligations as applicable and with necessary modifications for implementation of the proposed plan as well as site-specific subdivision requirements as set out in the Lease Agreement; and

c. Revisions to the proposed Draft Plan of Subdivision and additional or modified subdivision requirements for inclusion in the Lease Agreement with the development partner, as the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, may deem appropriate to address matters arising from the ongoing technical review of this development.

4. City Council request the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to engage City partners and the development partner to advance the detailed design of development requirements identified in Attachment 5 to the report (March 18, 2024) from the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and to secure the delivery of the development requirements on terms, including details and timing, in a Lease Agreement with the development partner.

5. City Council direct that any future planning applications for this development be reviewed in the context of the Bloor-Islington Block Context Plan included as Attachment 7 to the report (March 18, 2024) from the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on April 5, 2024, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

The City-owned properties at 3326 and 3330 Bloor Street West and 1240 and 1226 Islington Avenue comprise the Bloor-Islington Housing Now site and the new Islington bus terminal. This is one of 22 sites approved by City Council for redevelopment through the Housing Now Initiative. This report recommends approval of City-initiated Zoning By-law amendments to Zoning By-law 569-2013 to permit a proposed multi-tower development concept and performance standards for the new Toronto Transit Commission Islington bus terminal, which is being relocated to the northern portion of the property to support the overall redevelopment of the site. 

The Housing Now redevelopment will result in approximately 1,415 new dwelling units on this site, of which, approximately 471 new affordable rental units will be targeted through the Housing Now Initiative. The development concept supports a complete community in this part of Etobicoke Centre, providing approximately 9,946 square metres of non-residential space, which will be programmed for community, commercial, and retail uses.

The report also outlines the proposed Draft Plan of Subdivision for the site, creating a new public street linking Bloor Street West and Islington Avenue, implementing the Etobicoke Centre Secondary Plan vision to improve pedestrian connections. The Draft Plan of Subdivision sets out four development blocks: two blocks for mixed-use Housing Now development, one block for the relocated Toronto Transit Commission bus terminal and one for a new publicly accessible space.

The recommended Zoning By-law Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020), conforms with the A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020), the City's Official Plan and Etobicoke Centre Secondary Plan.