Item - 2025.TE25.10

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to attend the Ontario Land Tribunal in opposition to the current Zoning By-law Amendment application appeal for the lands at 1149 and 1153 Queen Street West and to continue discussions with the applicant to resolve outstanding issues.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and other appropriate City Staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision, including requesting any conditions of approval that would be in the City's interest, in the event an appeal of City Council's decision is allowed by the Ontario Land Tribunal, in whole or in part.

On November 20, 2024, an application to amend the Zoning By-law to permit a 27 storey mixed-use building containing 367 residential units and 762.7 square metres of ground floor retail at 1149 and 1153 Queen Street West was submitted. The existing buildings on the site are proposed to be demolished, including 10 rental dwelling units that are proposed to be replaced within the new building. A Rental Housing Demolition application was also submitted.

On April 7 2025, the applicant appealed the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (“OLT”) citing City Council’s failure to make a decision on the Zoning By-law Amendment application within the 90-day time frame in the Planning Act.

This report recommends that the City Solicitor, with the appropriate City staff, attend the OLT hearing to oppose the application in its current form and to continue discussions with the applicant to resolve outstanding issues. The Zoning By-law Amendment does not conform with the City’s Official Plan, including the Site and Area Specific Policy 566.