Item - 2025.IE21.9
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on May 21 and 22, 2025 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Infrastructure and Environment Committee on May 7, 2025 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on May 21 and 22, 2025.
IE21.9 - Remediating Flooding and Minimizing Flood Vulnerable Areas Associated with Taylor-Massey Creek near Eglinton Avenue East between Birchmount Road and Kennedy Road
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- 20 - Scarborough Southwest, 21 - Scarborough Centre
City Council Decision
City Council on May 21 and 22, 2025, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the City Manager, in coordination with the local City Councillor, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Executive Director, Development Review and other relevant departments, to engage with the Toronto Transit Commission and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority to seek their cooperation in addressing flooding associated with Taylor-Massey Creek in the area of Eglinton Avenue East, between Birchmount Road and Kennedy Road.
2. City Council request the City Manager to collaborate with the local City Councillor, the Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the affected developers to develop a flood remediation strategy for the subject area, including potential infrastructure solutions and cost-sharing opportunities, and report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on cost sharing arrangements and any budget implications.
3. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the local City Councillor, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Executive Director, Development Review and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the development of a flood remediation strategy for the subject area with recommendations to remediate flooding in the subject area by no later than the first quarter of 2026.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-254849.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-189862.pdf
(May 7, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (IE.Supp)
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council amend Recommendation 1 by adding the words "the local City Councillor" before the words "the Chief Planner and Executive Director" so that it now reads as follows:
1. City Council request that the City Manager, in coordination with the local City Councillor, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, and other relevant departments, to engage with the Toronto Transit Commission and Toronto Region Conservation Authority to seek their cooperation in addressing flooding associated with Taylor-Massey Creek in the area of Eglinton Avenue East, between Birchmount Road and Kennedy Road.
2. City Council amend Recommendation 2 by adding the words "the local City Councillor" before the words "Toronto Transit Commission" so that it now reads as follows:
2. City Council request that the City Manager collaborate with the local City Councillor, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the affected developers to develop a flood remediation strategy for the subject area, including potential infrastructure solutions and cost-sharing opportunities, and report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on cost sharing arrangements and any budget implications.
3. City Council amend Recommendation 3 by adding the words "the local City Councillor" before the words "the Chief Planner and Executive Director" so that it now reads as follows:
3. City Council request the City Manager in consultation with the local City Councillor, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Executive Director, Development Review, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the development of a flood remediation strategy for the subject area with recommendations to remediate flooding in the subject area by no later than the first quarter of 2026.
IE21.9 - Remediating Flooding and Minimizing Flood Vulnerable Areas Associated with Taylor-Massey Creek near Eglinton Avenue East between Birchmount Road and Kennedy Road
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- 20 - Scarborough Southwest, 21 - Scarborough Centre
Committee Recommendations
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request that the City Manager, in coordination with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review, and other relevant departments, to engage with the Toronto Transit Commission and Toronto Region Conservation Authority to seek their cooperation in addressing flooding associated with Taylor-Massey Creek in the area of Eglinton Avenue East, between Birchmount Road and Kennedy Road.
2. City Council request that the City Manager collaborate with the Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the affected developers to develop a flood remediation strategy for the subject area, including potential infrastructure solutions and cost-sharing opportunities, and report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on cost sharing arrangements and any budget implications.
3. City Council request the City Manager in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Executive Director, Development Review, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the development of a flood remediation strategy for the subject area with recommendations to remediate flooding in the subject area by no later than the first quarter of 2026.
Origin
Summary
I am moving this request as Chair of the Toronto Region Conservation Authority. The floodplain associated with Taylor-Massey Creek near Eglinton Avenue East between Birchmount Road and Kennedy Avenue in Scarborough spills during regional (high) flood events. The primary cause of this flood spill is an undersized culvert underneath the Canadian National Rail line and on top of the Toronto Transit Commission subway easement. Figure 1 illustrates the extent of the floodplain and the location of the noted culvert. Toronto Transit Commission is proposing to undertake repairs on this culvert that would require review and approval by Toronto Region Conservation Authority.
The broader area consists of a mix of single-family residential developments, commercial plazas, and mid-rise buildings and will be served with Higher-Order Transit with the upcoming opening of the Eglinton Light Rail Transit. Development pressures including new housing exist within the subject area. Several landowners have presented concepts for redevelopment along and north of Eglinton Avenue. However, redevelopment and intensification opportunities are limited due to the extent of the flood hazard and lack of safe access. Provincial, City and Toronto Region Conservation Authority policies prohibit new development in floodplains and as a result the City and Toronto Region Conservation Authority cannot support these development applications until the floodplain is remediated.
The Toronto Transit Commission is in the process of identifying options to remediate the Taylor-Massey culvert that is currently in poor condition. Consultation between the Toronto Transit Commission and Toronto Region Conservation Authority in respect to their regulatory role in managing flood hazards has taken place. Through these discussions, Toronto Region Conservation Authority has identified an opportunity to replace the existing undersized culvert with a larger structure to reduce the extent of the flood hazard in the subject area. Toronto Transit Commission has indicated that the cost of replacing the culvert with one appropriately sized to mitigate flooding is of concern within current budgetary constraints and project timelines.
There is an opportunity to develop a flood remediation strategy to reduce the flood hazard associated with Taylor-Massey Creek, protect existing and future infrastructure, and enable redevelopment along the Eglinton Light Rail Transit line. This strategy would include alternative culvert replacement options, other mitigation strategies as well as cost sharing opportunities with the development community. To date, one private landowner, Bentall Green Oak, located at 2293 Eglinton Avenue East has expressed interest in exploring collaborative solutions. Ongoing discussions between City staff, the Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto Region Conservation Authority, and the development community will be essential to developing and implementing viable remediation strategies.
(See Figure 1 titled "Figure 1: Subject Area Location"),
in the Summary section of the letter dated
April 15, 2025 from Councillor Paul Ainslie
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-254849.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-189862.pdf
(May 7, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (IE.Supp)
Speakers
Motions
That Infrastructure and Environment Committee:
1. Add the "and Executive Director, Development Review" after Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to recommendation 1 so it reads:
1. City Council request that the City Manager, in coordination with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Development Review and other relevant departments, to engage with the Toronto Transit Commission and Toronto Region Conservation Authority to seek their cooperation in addressing flooding associated with Taylor-Massey Creek in the area of Eglinton Avenue East, between Birchmount Road and Kennedy Road.
2. Add the words "and report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on cost sharing arrangements and any budget implications." at the end of recommendation 2 so it reads:
2. City Council request that the City Manager collaborate with the Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the affected developers to develop a flood remediation strategy for the subject area, including potential infrastructure solutions and cost-sharing opportunities, and report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on cost sharing arrangements and any budget implications.
3. Add the words "the Executive Director, Development Review, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority" after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, remove the words "specific actions and", and add the words "first quarter of 2026" at the end, so it reads:
3. City Council request the City Manager in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Executive Director, Development Review, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the development of a flood remediation strategy for the subject area with specific actions and recommendations to remediate flooding in the subject area by no later than the first quarter of 2026.