Item - 2025.TE23.12

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Received the report (May 20, 2025) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District for information. 

The St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street area is a vibrant, transit-accessible community with a diverse mix of residential, commercial and institutional uses. The area includes a mix of single and semi-detached houses, low-rise walk-up apartment buildings, mid-rise and tall buildings and tower-in-the-park style purpose-built rental buildings. Newer developments are concentrated around the St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street intersection and on Raglan Avenue, and development interest is spreading to the surrounding areas. A range of small, independent shops, restaurants and businesses that serve the local community and animate the street encompass the character of the area’s major streets. The area also features numerous parks and a complex ravine system.

Forest Hill Village is a mixed-use area along Spadina Road, adjacent to the St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street area. Spanning between Montclair Avenue and Strathearn Boulevard, Spadina Road has a distinct main street character with a mix of commercial and residential uses. The surrounding residential neighbourhood consists of single and semi-detached houses, townhouses and walk-up apartment buildings.

Council directed the Development Review Division, in consultation with City Planning, to review of the St. Clair Avenue West and Bathurst Street Planning Framework (2019) and Forest Hill Village Urban Design Guidelines (2015) to renew the overall vision and ensure the framework and guidelines are relevant given changes to Provincial legislation and policies, updated Official Plan policies, and recently approved development. The proposed review of the Planning Framework will include a revised vision and goals, an updated public realm network plan and a review of the character areas and their corresponding objectives and directions.

This report outlines the strategy for both broad and targeted community consultation. Public consultation is anticipated to span from Q2-Q3 2025 and will include public sessions for residents to learn more and share their ideas, and targeted working meetings with key stakeholders in the community. Staff are targeting bringing forward a recommended final version of the St. Clair Avenue West, Bathurst Street and Forest Hill Village Planning Framework to Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC) in Q4 2025.