Item - 2025.TE27.12

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend the Official Plan for the lands municipally known as 170 and 180 Merton Street substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment included as Attachment 5 to the report (November 10, 2025) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands municipally known as 170 and 180 Merton Street substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 6 to the report (November 10, 2025) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

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

4. City Council request that the owner make reasonable commercial efforts to identify, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, a suitable off-site parkland dedication as a substitution for an on-site parkland dedication that:

a. is accessible to the area where the subject site is located;

b. is a good physical substitute for any on-site parkland dedication;

c. is free and clear, above and below grade, of all easements, encumbrances and encroachments; 

d. is in an acceptable environmental condition; and

e. the value of the off-site parkland dedication shall not exceed the estimated value of the cash-in-lieu parkland dedication that would otherwise be required, which value may include the cost of acquiring the land, land transfer tax, typical closing cost and reasonable real estate commissions of up to five (5) percent,

all to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks and Recreation.

5. Should the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, and the owner agree to a property as a substitution for an on-site parkland dedication, City Council accept the off-site parkland dedication, in full or partial fulfilment of the parkland dedication requirements, pursuant to Section 42 of the Planning Act, with conveyance to the City to occur prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit in accordance with the following:

a. in the event the value of the off-site parkland dedication is less than the value of an on-site parkland dedication, the owner shall provide a cash-in-lieu payment for the shortfall in parkland dedication in accordance with Chapter 415 Article III of the Municipal Code; and

b. in the event the owner is unable to provide a substituted off-site parkland dedication to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the owner will be required to satisfy the parkland dedication requirement through a cash-in-lieu of parkland payment prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit in accordance with Chapter 415 Article III of the Municipal Code,

all to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks and Recreation.

6. Should a substituted off-site parkland dedication be accepted by the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, City Council approve a development charge credit against the Parks and Recreation component of the Development Charges for the design and construction by the owner of the Above Base Park Improvements to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks and Recreation; the development charge credit shall be in an amount that is the lesser of the cost to the owner of designing and constructing the Above Base Park Improvements, as approved by the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, and the Parks and Recreation component of development charges payable for the development in accordance with the City's Development Charges By-law, as may be amended from time to time.

7. City Council request the Mayor, as a part of subsequent City Budget processes at the time the Community Benefits Charge is collected, to allocate the Community Benefits Charge contribution from the development at 170 and 180 Merton Street towards streetscape enhancements and pedestrian improvements along the north and south sides of Merton Street between Yonge Street and Mount Pleasant Road, compatible with direction in the Midtown Public Realm Implementation Strategy. 
 

8. City Council request the Applicant to establish a Neighbourhood Liaison Committee including the South Eglinton Davisville Residents Association, representatives from Condo Corporations at 194 Merton and 195 Merton, the Geneva Centre for Autism, Sprint Senior Care, as well as any other interested neighborhood residents, and to consult the Neighbourhood Liaison Committee on the Site Plan Application on items including wind, traffic and transportation impacts, pedestrian safety, and enhanced tree planting and public realm improvements.

9. City Council request the Executive Director, Development Review, in consultation with the Ward Councillor and the General Manager, Transportation Services, to consult the Neighbourhood Liaison Committee on the Construction Management Plan for the project and as a part of the Construction Management Plan, request the following key priorities be addressed:

a. regular cleaning of the streets and sidewalks;

b. the installation of screening adjacent to the Geneva Centre for Autism; and

c. adequate notice to residents of any major construction disruptions.

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on November 27, 2025 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report recommends approval of the application to amend the Official Plan to secure non-residential uses in lieu of office replacement. This report also recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law to permit a 141.3-metre (45-storey), excluding mechanical penthouse, mixed-use building with 531 dwelling units and 198.3 square metres of ground floor retail space at 170 and 180 Merton Street.

A separate report from Heritage Planning on the proposed alterations to of the existing heritage-designated building at 170 Merton Street will be considered by City Council in conjunction with this report.