Item - 2026.PH30.1

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend the former City of Toronto Official Plan for Ookwemin Minising substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment included as Attachment 9 to the report (April 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Development Review and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 702-2024 for Ookwemin Minising, substantially in accordance with draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 10 to the report (April 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Development Review and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

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

4. City Council adopt the updates to the Ookwemin Minising Precinct Plan included as Attachment 7 to the report (April 24, 2026) from the Interim Executive Director, Development Review and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

5. City Council direct the City Solicitor to withhold the necessary Bills for enactment of the Zoning By-law Amendment until such time as By-law 702-2024 is brought into full force and effect.

6. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning in partnership with Waterfront Toronto, to advance opportunities for Indigenous-led design and the identification of opportunities for Indigenous-led cultural, community, and economic uses, and land and water stewardship, on publicly owned lands in Ookwemin Minising, including the Essroc Silos site (Block 02).

The Planning and Housing Committee held a Statutory Public Meeting on May 7, 2026 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

The first Precinct Plan for Ookwemin Minising was approved by City Council in 2017 and envisioned a largely mid-rise island community. In June 2024, in response to Toronto's Housing Action Plan, City Council approved an updated Precinct Plan together with Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments to provide for greater densities, in an inclusive, sustainable, and walkable urban community.

In December 2024, City Council directed staff, working with Waterfront Toronto and CreateTO, to explore opportunities to add additional density on the public lands on Ookwemin Minising in order to provide for opportunities for additional housing, including affordable housing. In response to that direction, City staff and Waterfront Toronto engaged a consulting team to undertake a public realm and massing study (the Development Concept Plan) to iteratively advance the design of the Ookwemin Minising's public realm alongside a review of the density and massing of development.  

Based on that work, this report brings forward an updated Precinct Plan and public realm vision for Ookwemin Minising together with implementing amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law. The renewed vision builds on the planning and design foundation established through the approved Precinct Plan, carrying it into a greater level of detail, and informed by further Indigenous and public engagement. This work moves in step with the enabling infrastructure investments now underway, so that planning approvals and design direction are in place as implementation advances.

Ookwemin Minising is now anticipated to deliver homes for approximately 21,000 people (12,000 units) and jobs for approximately 2,900 workers over the next 25 years, through both the updated Precinct Plan as well as private development sites. This includes approximately 10,000 units on public lands, with a target of 30 percent of units on public lands as new affordable rental housing. It represents an approximate 27 percent increase in gross floor area (GFA) on public lands compared to the 2024 approvals. It also delivers an estimated additional 300-800 affordable housing units compared to what was presented to Council in the 2024 plan, with the prior range of approximately 2,200 to 2,700 units replaced by up to 3,000 units.

The updated Precinct Plan delivers a unique approach to built form that emphasizes the quality of the public realm, active mobility, and urban biodiversity, and reflects engagement with Indigenous peoples. The Biidaasige Naturefront (a gentle, porous edge to the park), the Keating Channel (a tall, mixed “urban room”), and the new Centre Commons (a smaller, intimate pedestrian area) anchor a richer network of public spaces that create a sense of place.

Ookwemin Minising is the first mixed-use residential community to emerge from the Port Lands Flood Protection Project. With flood protection infrastructure now complete, a renewed $975 million tri-government funding commitment for enabling infrastructure in January 2025, and funding for Waterfront East Transit announced in March 2026, the project is moving from vision to implementation.

Waterfront Toronto is currently leading the first phase of development on Ookwemin Minising, delivering the enabling infrastructure and public realm needed to enable new residential development, including new streets, utilities, servicing, and parks. The Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments recommended in this report would enable development of Phase 1 of Ookwemin Minising in accordance with tri-government funding to accelerate the delivery of Waterfront Toronto's revitalization plan. Together, the recommendations in this report are a significant step towards redevelopment of the Port Lands and implementing the vision for Ookwemin Minising.