Item - 2025.TE21.50

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Development Review, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to bring forward, at the earliest opportunity, City-initiated amendments to the Zoning By-laws identified in Attachment 1 to the revised letter (April 1, 2025) from Councillor Chris Moise that:

a. amend the Section 37 schedules in the Zoning By-laws listed in Attachment 1 to the revised letter (April 1, 2025) from Councillor Chris Moise to include the purchase and improvement of new or existing community space for community or non-profit use within Ward 13, Toronto Centre; and

b. include in the amended by-laws the same reallocation authority as in other by-laws, i.e. to authorize reallocation of unspent funds at the discretion of the Executive Director, Development Review and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Ward Councillor, provided that the purpose is identified in the Toronto Official Plan and will benefit the community in Ward 13, Toronto Centre.

2, City Council direct the Executive Director, Development Review to consult with the public at the earliest opportunity about these City-initiated amendments to the Zoning By-laws identified in Attachment 1 to the revised letter (April 1, 2025) from Councillor Chris Moise.

I am writing to request support to amend several existing Zoning by-laws to amend the section 37 agreements in the vicinity of the Church-Wellesley Village to go towards the purchase and improvement of new or existing community space for community or non-profit use within Ward 13.

A longstanding challenge in Toronto Centre has been ensuring the long-term viability of non-profit organizations that serve the 2SLGBTQ+ community. There are many organizations who serve this community who have left or are concerned about their long-term presence in the neighbourhood. Originally conceived as a land trust, I am seeking to have the City purchase a building within the neighbourhood using section 37 funds that can serve as a long-term home for non-profit organizations who primarily serve the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

An opportunity to purchase a building within the neighbourhood has arisen, but to capitalize on the opportunity would require amending the zoning by-laws, similar to what occurred in Ward 11,  to allow section 37 funds from nearby developments to go towards this goal. Staff are currently  evaluating the value of the property in question to ensure that any future purchase is obtained at a reasonable price.

In the event the purchase does not proceed, the funds would still be able to go towards their original uses, with the additional ability to put the money towards new or existing community space. I would also ask staff to add a three-year clause as found in more recent section 37 schedules to allow these pools of money to be used for other purposes at the discretion of the Executive Director, Development Review after three years have past.

Supporting this request would be an incredible step to help support the local 2SLGBTQ+ community and the future of the Church-Wellesley Village.