Item - 2026.SC29.2

The Scarborough 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 Zoning By-law Amendment application, in its current form, for the lands at 2650 Lawrence Avenue East.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to attend the Ontario Land Tribunal in opposition to the Official Plan Amendment application for the lands at 2650 Lawrence Avenue East.

3. City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to continue discussions with the applicant in an attempt to resolve outstanding issues.

4. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and 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 the Ontario Land Tribunal allows the appeal, in whole or in part.

The Manager, Community Planning, Scarborough District gave a presentation on 2650 Lawrence Avenue East - Official Plan Amendment Application and Zoning By-law Amendment Application - Appeal Report.

On November 30, 2022, a Zoning By-law Amendment application was submitted to permit the development of a 25-storey residential building and a 35-storey mixed-use building, each with an eight-storey podium, a shared three-level underground parking garage and a public park on a portion of the lands municipally known as 2650 Lawrence Avenue East. This application was subsequently revised in August 2025, increasing the proposed heights to 33 storeys and 43 storeys, along with an increased unit count and gross floor area while deleting the proposed park.

A separate Official Plan Amendment application was submitted on August 13, 2025, concurrently with the revised Zoning By-law Amendment application. The proposed amendment would apply to the entirety of the lands at 2650 Lawrence Ave East. It seeks to amend Official Plan Policy 3.4.8, which requires that development be set back from locations where flooding presents a significant risk to life and property by at least 10 metres or more, depending on the severity of existing or potential natural hazards.

On August 20, 2025, the applicant appealed the Zoning By-law Amendment application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (the "OLT") due to City Council failing to make a decision within the prescribed time frames in the Planning Act.

On January 13, 2026, the applicant appealed the Official Plan Amendment application to the Ontario Land Tribunal due to City Council failing to make a decision within the prescribed time frames in the Planning Act.

This report recommends that the City Solicitor together with appropriate City staff attend the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing to oppose the application in its current form and to continue discussions with the applicant to resolve outstanding issues.