Item - 2024.TE15.12

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 1266 Queen Street West substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 5 to the report (June 21, 2024) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2. City Council refuse the application for an Official Plan Amendment for the lands at 1266 Queen Street West.

3. City Council direct the City Solicitor to withhold the introduction of the necessary Bills until such time as:

a. the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing approves Official Plan Amendment 653 as it relates to the property known as 1266 Queen Street West;

b. owner prepares and submits a revised rail safety and mitigation report, to be peer reviewed at the owner's expense, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and

c. the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning confirms to the City Solicitor that Bills do not require any changes, beyond stylistic and technical changes, as may be required, as a result of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing's decision.

4. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 1266 Queen Street West from Permit Parking.

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

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on July 10, 2024 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

The application at 1266 Queen Street West proposes to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to construct a 24 storey mixed use building with a 5 storey base building,  containing 331 residential units. A total of 22,104 square metres of gross floor area is proposed, including 563 square metres of commercial space on the ground floor. 

This report reviews and recommends refusal of the Official Plan Amendment (OPA) application and approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law. The OPA is proposed to be refused, as the redesignation has previously been reviewed and recommended for conversion through Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 653, that forms a part of the City's Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) and Growth Plan conformity exercise. The Minister is the approval authority for the MCR.

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and will conform with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020), pending the Minister's decision on OPA 653. The proposed development also conforms to the City's Official Plan.