Item - 2025.PH18.2

City Council considered the following Items together:

PH18.2 headed “City-Initiated Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments to Support the ReNew Golden Mile Municipal Class Environmental Assessment - Decision Report – Approval”; and

EX20.11 headed “ReNew Golden Mile Environmental Assessment: Final Report”.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend the Official Plan for the lands municipally known as 1871, 1875, 1880, 1885, and 1888 O'Connor Drive, and 1460, 1468 and 1474 Victoria Park Avenue substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment 788 included as Attachment 1 to the report (January 9, 2025) from the Executive Director, Development Review.

2. City Council amend the Site and Area Specific Policy of the Official Plan for the lands municipally known as 1 to 70 Eglinton Square, 1431 and 1437 Victoria Park Avenue, and 14, 18, 22, and 26 Engelhart Crescent substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment 789 included as Attachment 2 to the report (January 9, 2025) from the Executive Director, Development Review.

3. City Council amend Site-Specific Zoning By-law 1282-2022(Ontario Land Tribunal) for the lands municipally known as 1 to 70 Eglinton Square, 1431 and 1437 Victoria Park Avenue, and 14, 18, 22, and 26 Engelhart Crescent substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 3 to the report (January 9, 2025) from the Executive Director, Development Review.

4. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Official Plan Amendments and Zoning By-law Amendment, as may be required.

5. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to take all necessary actions to implement City Council's decision.

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on January 23, 2025, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This Report recommends approval of the City-initiated Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments in support of the ReNew Golden Mile Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA).

The ReNew Golden Mile MCEA was undertaken by the City to complete Phases 3 and 4 of the Environmental Assessment process that will determine the design of new or existing major streets that were identified in the Golden Mile Transportation Master Plan (TMP) in 2020. The conclusion of the Renew Golden Mile MCEA advances the preferred alignments these new or reconfigured major streets. The Final Report on the ReNew Golden Mile MCEA is anticipated to be considered by Executive Committee on January 28, 2025, and City Council on February 5, 2025.

One of the preferred alternatives to be advanced is the O'Connor Drive Reconfiguration at Victoria Park Avenue, south of Eglinton Avenue East. As described in greater detail in the MCEA report, O'Connor Drive is proposed to be reconfigured to cross Victoria Park Avenue south of its current intersection and continue east towards Pharmacy Avenue generally parallel to Eglinton Avenue East. To support the implementation of the recommended alignment, amendments are required to Site and Areas Specific Polices (SASPs) for lands along the reconfigured right-of-way on both sides of Victoria Park Avenue, and a minor Zoning By-law Amendment is required for lands east of Victoria Park Avenue.

Lands west of Victoria Park Avenue (1871, 1875, 1880, 1885, and 1888 O'Connor Drive, and 1460, 1464 and 1474 Victoria Park Avenue) are subject to SASP 400. The proposed Official Plan Amendment adjusts SASP 400 and provides policy direction to protect for the lands required for the future O'Connor Drive Reconfiguration by encouraging consolidation and comprehensive mixed-use intensification of the subject lands. SASP 400 would be amended by requiring a Block Context Plan as part of a complete application. The Block Context Plan would need to demonstrate how the future O'Connor Drive right of way could be delivered through consolidation and comprehensive redevelopment of the subject lands. Through this redevelopment process, the recommended OPA provides City Council the opportunity to authorize the existing O'Connor Drive right of way lands to be included in future consolidation if the lands required for the road reconfiguration are appropriately protected for.

Lands east of Victoria Park Avenue (1 to 70 Eglinton Square, 1431 and 1437 Victoria Park Avenue, and 14, 18, 22, and 26 Engelhart Crescent) are subject to a site-specific Official Plan Amendment (SASP 582) and Zoning By-law Amendment (By-law 1282-2022(OLT)) to facilitate comprehensive redevelopment of the existing mall. The lands are also subject to the Golden Mile Secondary Plan (GMSP). The proposed Official Plan Amendment recommended for approval makes refinements to SASP 582 to facilitate the preferred O'Connor Drive alignment and makes adjustments to the approved built form map accordingly. The overall development permission (gross floor area and gross site density from SASP 582) are unchanged. Similar adjustments to the site-specific Zoning By-law are recommended, along with the lifting of the Holding (H) symbol. The holding provision was originally put in place to ensure development did not proceed until the completion of the MCEA and is no longer required.

City staff recommend the proposed amendments to the Official Plan and the Zoning By-law Amendment to support and implement the ReNew Golden Mile MCEA. The proposed amendments have regard to matters of provincial interest under section 2 of the Planning Act, are consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement (2024), and are consistent with the general intent of the Official Plan. The proposed Zoning By-law Amendment for the lands east of Victoria Park Avenue will conform with the Official Plan, as amended by proposed OPA.