Item - 2024.PH15.3

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 35 Bellevue Avenue substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 6 to the report (September 12, 2024) from the Executive Director, Development Review, and Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

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

3. City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to propose a city-serviced garbage collection system that does not include a lay-by, and which will not delay construction start beyond end of 2024, and explore how this solution can be applied to other priority sites.

4. City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to submit a lighting plan for the south side of the building.

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on September 26, 2024, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report reviews and recommends approval of a City-initiated Zoning By-law amendment to permit a 4-storey residential apartment building with 78 new affordable rental dwelling units with supports at 35 Bellevue Avenue in the Kensington Market neighbourhood. The proposal is to replace an existing surface parking lot and add a mass timber building designed to have net zero greenhouse gas emissions, and will meet or exceed the Toronto Green Standard Version 4.

This project is one of five being delivered under a new Public Developer model, whereby the City retains ownership of its lands and is taking a more direct and intentional approach to the delivery of non-market homes that are affordable to low-and-moderate-income residents. Additionally, this project will support the City in delivering a full range of housing opportunities in line with the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan ("HousingTO Plan") target of approving 65,000 rent-controlled homes, including 18,000 supportive homes, within complete communities.

Approval of the recommendations in this report will enable the City to move quickly to start construction on this project by the end of 2024 and ensure residents can move into new homes by the end of 2025. Once completed, the building will offer 78 rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes to be operated by the Kensington Market Community Land Trust (KMCLT) in partnership with St Clare's Multifaith Housing Society (St Clare's), who has been selected as the not-for-profit housing provider for the site.