Item - 2024.TE18.22

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the closure of a 6.6 metre wide portion of O'Keefe Lane, between a point 38.1 metres south of Gerrard Street East and a point 33.5 metres further south, from December 18, 2024 to January 31, 2026, inclusive.

2. City Council rescind the existing designated one-way for southbound traffic only on O'Keefe Lane, between Gerrard Street East and a point 96.5 metres south.

3. City Council rescind the existing stopping prohibition in effect from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays on the east side of Yonge Street, between Gerrard Street East and a point 91.5 metres south.

4. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition at all times on the east side of Yonge Street, between Gerrard Street East and a point 91.5 metres south.

5. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the east side Yonge Street, between Gerrard Street East and a point 91.6 metres south.

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

7. City Council direct the applicant to construct and maintain a fully covered, protected and unobstructed walkway for all pedestrians, including for those with mobility devices, for the entire duration of the construction staging area permit to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and ensure it is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

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

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

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

11. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone 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.

12. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone 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.

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

14. City Council direct the applicant to post 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.

15. City Council direct the applicant to provide and install 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.

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

17. City Council direct that O'Keefe Lane and Yonge Street be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

18. City Council direct the applicant to cooperate with and provide all necessary assistance to the City Engineers, staff and representatives carrying out operation, maintenance and construction activities to municipal infrastructure with the vicinity of the construction staging area, and at no cost to the City to remove any staging to accommodate the necessary municipal infrastructure work.

19. City Council direct the applicant to provide monthly community meetings to discuss any concerns raised by the community.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. City Council direct the applicant to establish a Construction Management Working Group that meets monthly and invite local stakeholders including Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto Buildings, adjacent neighbours, local resident groups, local Business Improvement Area Board of Managements and local school administration.

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

As Yonge Street is classified as a major arterial street, City Council approval of this report is required.

Concord Properties Developments Corp is constructing an 87-storey condominium at 363-391 Yonge Street. The site is located on the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Gerrard Street East. Currently, O'Keefe Lane, from a point 38.1 metres south of Gerrard Street East and a point 33.5 metres further south is closed to facilitate construction staging operations. In order to maintain local access to the laneway, the one-way southbound traffic operation has been temporarily converted to a two-way operation.  Pedestrian movements are maintained around the construction staging area. It should be noted that the construction staging area has been installed and is operating under a monthly Street Occupation Permit.

Transportation Services is requesting to formalize the above noted closures and traffic amendments on O'Keefe Lane. The developer has requested the subject construction staging areas for a period of 38 months, from December 18, 2024 to January, 31, 2028.