Item - 2025.NY24.2

That:

1. City Council amend North York Community Council Recommendation 4.d. by: 

a. deleting the words "to the City's satisfaction" after the words "qualified person";

b. deleting the words "This will include the provision of a certificate from a qualified person, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Services certifying that the new or modified bridge meets the City’s standards and specifications, and applicable code requirements"; and replacing them with the words, "Prior to obtaining construction permits to construct the new bridge or modify the existing bridge, the Owner will provide a certificate from a qualified person, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Services, including the provision of signed and stamped engineering drawings, certifying that the new or modified bridge meets the City’s standards and specifications, and applicable code requirements".

so that it now reads as follows:

4.d. By-law 1082-2022, is amended by modifying the words "The Owner shall initiate the design and approval process and initiate construction prior to the issuance of the final building permit for the William Baker District Phase 1 lands for a new accessible public pedestrian and cycling bridge with a cap of $5,000,000.00 spanning the public right-of-way of Sheppard Avenue West, and shall provide a direct connection to Downsview Park" in Schedule A Paragraph C.vi) with the following words:

“Prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit for the William Baker District Phase 1 Lands, the Owner shall, at its sole cost and expense, undertake a study by a qualified person to the City’s satisfaction, in respect of the existing pedestrian bridge which connects to the Lands for the purpose of determining the feasibility of making modifications to the existing bridge or constructing a new public pedestrian and cycling bridge.  The Owner will share the final feasibility study with the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Services.

Prior to the issuance of the first above-grade permit for the final building for the William Baker District Phase 1 Lands, or unless otherwise agreed to by the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Service, and after consultation with the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Owner shall at its sole cost and expense, either option 1: design and construct a new accessible public pedestrian and cycling bridge spanning the public right of way of Sheppard Avenue West, providing a direct connection to Downsview Park, or option 2: should the owner elect, and based on the outcome of the feasibility study design and construct modifications to the existing pedestrian bridge to provide an accessible public pedestrian and cycling bridge. This will include the provision of a certificate from a qualified person, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Services certifying that the new or modified bridge meets the City’s standards and specifications, and applicable code requirements. Prior to obtaining construction permits to construct the new bridge or modify the existing bridge, the Owner will provide a certificate from a qualified person, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Services, including the provision of signed and stamped engineering drawings, certifying that the new or modified bridge meets the City’s standards and specifications, and applicable code requirements.

All costs for design and construction of the bridge, including modifications to the existing bridge, will be the responsibility of the Owner. The Owner shall own, operate, maintain, and repair the public pedestrian and cycling bridge at the Owner’s sole cost and expense.

Prior to obtaining the construction permits to build the new bridge or modify the existing bridge, the Owner shall at its sole cost and expense, enter into an encroachment agreement with the City, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the City Solicitor.”

2. City Council amend North York Community Council Recommendation 4 by adding the following new part:

1. By-law 1082-2022, is amended by deleting the words “in base park condition” in Schedule A, Paragraph C(iv), and adding the words “Base and above-base park improvements are to be completed no later than three (3) years after conveyance of the parkland. Unforeseen delays (e.g., weather) resulting in the late delivery of the parkland shall be taken into consideration and at the discretion of the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, when determining a revised delivery date for the parkland” so that it reads as follows:

The conveyance of an onsite parkland dedication by the owner of 15,476 square metres in satisfaction of the owner's parkland contribution required pursuant to the Planning Act, with such onsite parkland to be conveyed to the City prior to the issuance of any above grade building permit for the lands, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and the City Solicitor. The location of the onsite parkland contribution shall be to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks and Recreation. The subject parkland conveyance shall be in an acceptable environmental condition, and is to be free and clear, above and below grade of all physical and title encumbrances and encroachments, including surface and subsurface easements, except for those encumbrances permitted by the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, and the City Solicitor. Base and above-base park improvements are to be completed no later than three (3) years after conveyance of the parkland. Unforeseen delays (e.g., weather) resulting in the late delivery of the parkland shall be taken into consideration and at the discretion of the General Manager, Parks and Recreation when determining a revised delivery date for the parkland.”

That:

1. City Council direct the land owner to reach out during the Request for Proposal process to developers that have a proven track record in building seniors communities and tertiary supports and features.

2. City Council direct the Owner to work with the Downsview Community for ideas on advancing content in any future Request for Proposal in seeking a builder on the William Baker/Arbo lands that builds on a mission to establish a seniors village on the site.

That North York Community Council adopt the recommendations in the supplementary report (June 3, 2025) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District:

1. Delete Attachment 3 to the report (May 20, 2025) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District, and replace with it with Attachment 1 to the supplementary report (June 3, 2025) from the the Director, Community Planning, North York District.

2. Delete the replacement words in Recommendation 4.d. in the report (May 20, 2025) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District, and replace with the following:

“Prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit for the William Baker District Phase 1 Lands, the Owner shall, at its sole cost and expense, undertake a study by a qualified person to the City’s satisfaction, in respect of the existing pedestrian bridge which connects to the Lands for the purpose of determining the feasibility of making modifications to the existing bridge or constructing a new public pedestrian and cycling bridge.  The Owner will share the final feasibility study with the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Services.

Prior to the issuance of the first above-grade permit for the final building for the William Baker District Phase 1 Lands, or unless otherwise agreed to by the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Service, and after consultation with the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Owner shall at its sole cost and expense, either option 1: design and construct a new accessible public pedestrian and cycling bridge spanning the public right of way of Sheppard Avenue West, providing a direct connection to Downsview Park, or option 2: should the owner elect, and based on the outcome of the feasibility study design and construct modifications to the existing pedestrian bridge to provide an accessible public pedestrian and cycling bridge. This will include the provision of a certificate from a qualified person, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer, Engineering and Construction Services certifying that the new or modified bridge meets the City’s standards and specifications, and applicable code requirements.

All costs for design and construction of the bridge, including modifications to the existing bridge, will be the responsibility of the Owner. The Owner shall own, operate, maintain, and repair the public pedestrian and cycling bridge at the Owner’s sole cost and expense.

Prior to obtaining the construction permits to build the new bridge or modify the existing bridge, the Owner shall at its sole cost and expense, enter into an encroachment agreement with the City, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the City Solicitor.”

That North York Community Council recommend that:

1. City Council reiterate its support for the William Baker / Arbo Neighbourhood (Phase 1) development plan to include a "senior’s village," including seniors affordable housing, accessible public space and amenities and where possible the locating of services and agencies in the non-residential space within the proposed development to support seniors.

2. City Council direct the Owner, in consultation with the Executive Director, Development Review to work with the Downsview Community to further refine the elements and characteristics of an emerging seniors village / community.

3. City Council direct the Owner to work with the local ward Councillor to add new impetus to a Downsview working group to intensify the engagement process with local residents in developing the William Baker / Arbo lands. 

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to expand the Community Advisory Community to advance the design and construction of the Downsview Community Centre.

5. City Council direct the Owner, in consultation with the leadership of Downsview Lands Community Voice Association, to develop future community engagement to include multiple channels (in-person, pop-ups and virtual) across diverse demographics including culture, age and abilities.

6. City Council direct the Owner to provide a twice-a-year update in plain language on the progress and status of the project to be distributed in the Downsview Lands Community Voice Association newsletter.

7. City Council direct the Executive Director, Development Review, to provide an annual check-in meeting with community leaders including leadership of the Downsview Lands Community Voice Association to discuss the project and planned community consultations.