Item - 2025.TE24.5

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands municipally known as 126-130 Avenue Road substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 5 to the report (June 19, 2025) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.

3. Before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment, City Council require:

a. that City Council has approved the Rental Housing Demolition Application (23 119299 STE 11 RH) under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, to permit the demolition of 11 existing rental dwelling units;

b. the owner submit a revised Functional Servicing and Stormwater Management Report, (“Engineering Reports”), and supporting plans, to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services; and/or

c. the owner enter into a financially secured agreement with the City to secure the construction of any upgrades or required improvements to the existing municipal infrastructure identified in the accepted Engineering Reports to support the development, if any, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services.

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services to amend the Toronto Municipal Code as necessary to exclude the development at 126-130 Avenue Road from curbside garbage collection.

5. City Council request the applicant to establish a Neighbourhood Liaison Committee, in consultation with the Ward Councillor, and to consult the Neighbourhood Liaison Committee in developing and implementing a Neighbourhood Communication Strategy and the Construction Management Plan for the project, including with respect to noise, dust, contractor parking, vehicle staging and haul routes.

6. City Council request the applicant to consult with nearby residents and the residents’ associations including the Annex Residents’ Association, the ABC Residents’ Association and the Greater Yorkville Residents’ Association, in preparation of, and at, the site plan application stage, including with respect to public realm improvements such as additional street trees.

7. City Council request that through the site plan application process staff work with the applicant to secure a right of first refusal for the existing flower shops to lease retail space in the new building, and all other commitments in the applicant’s letter of July 7, 2025.

8. City Council request the Executive Director, Development Review to consider securing the following as part of the site plan agreement:

a. a minimum 3.5 metre wide easement within the rear driveway to allow for a future vehicular and pedestrian connection between Bernard Avenue and Davenport Road;

b. short-term bicycle parking spaces, though not within the public realm along Avenue Road;

c. removal of the existing hydro poles along Avenue Road and Bernard Avenue and burial of associated hydro wires servicing the future development, in consultation and subject to approval from Toronto Hydro;

d. the gas meter to be installed at the rear of the building or within a recessed portion of the building along Bernard Avenue and not to be installed facing Avenue Road, in consultation with and subject to approval from Enbridge;

e. appropriate heritage commemoration of the site’s history and architecture;

f. an outdoor, publicly accessible source of drinking water;

g. outdoor seating, to be located within or adjacent to the public right-of-way for public use, in consultation with Transportation Services; and

h. low-carbon energy strategy as part of the site plan agreement that includes at least the following sustainability measures:

1. a highly energy-efficient building envelope;

2. low carbon building heating and cooling, including Energy Recovery Units that provide sensible and latent heat recovery from ventilation in each suite;

3. ample electrical outlets for bicycle charging in the interior bicycle parking area;

4. fixtures and appliances that are efficient in their use of water and energy;

5. electric-only appliances or fireplaces in the residential units;

6. accommodation for future solar photovoltaic system;

7. improved Stormwater management measures;

8. installation of outdoor (dark sky) downward lighting;

9. provision of indoor space dedication for household hazardous waste; and

10. conduit to allow for electric vehicle supply equipment for 100 percent of motor vehicle parking.

9. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 126-130 Avenue Road from Permit Parking.       

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on July 8, 2025 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This Report reviews and recommends approval of an application to amend the Zoning By-law to permit an 11-storey mixed-use building at 126-130 Avenue Road containing a total of 60 dwelling units (including 11 rental replacement units), 169 square metres of at-grade retail, an underground parking garage containing 18 vehicular parking spaces, and 66 bicycle parking spaces.

The application proposes the demolition of the three existing buildings at 126, 128, and 130 Avenue Road. The existing buildings are located within the East Annex Heritage Conservation District (EAHCD) and are not considered to be “of heritage significance at this time”. An approval report for the application to demolish the designated properties under Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act will be presented to the Toronto Preservation Board on June 30, 2025, and will be considered concurrently with this report at the July 8, 2025 Toronto and East York Community Council meeting.

A related Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion application (23 119299 STE 11 RH) has also been submitted as the proposed development includes the demolition of 11 rental dwelling units. The proposal includes replacement of all 11 units with new units of the same type and of similar size, and a Tenant Assistance Plan that addresses the right for eligible tenants to return to replacement rental dwelling units at similar rents and financial assistance to lessen hardship. An approval report for the Rental Housing Demolition application has been advanced concurrently with this Zoning By-law Amendment approval report.