Item - 2026.TE31.20

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council request the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District to use the draft West Chinatown Planning Framework included as Attachment 9, the proposed Official Plan Amendments included as Attachments 10, 11 and 12, and the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment as Attachment 13 to the report (March 16, 2026) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, as the basis for public and stakeholder consultation, and bring forward final recommendations to the July 9, 2026 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council.

2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Development Review to consult with the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat in completing the Chinatown Planning Framework and to ensure it considers opportunities to support the stability and growth of community, cooperative and non-market housing, including land trusts, in Chinatown, including Chinatown’s existing stock of community and nonprofit owned housing.

3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Development Review, in collaboration with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to ensure that the final Chinatown Planning Framework adequately supports the proposed Chinatown Cultural District designation and to report back as part of the final Chinatown Planning Framework with:

a. any appropriate changes to the draft Chinatown Planning Framework, including any recommended changes with respect to land use, built form and massing, and to supports for mixed-use, or live-work forms of housing;

b. recommendations for a Community Improvement Plan;

c. recommendations relating to community requests for a Heritage Conservation District Study and for a Secondary Plan;

d. any other appropriate tools through which the City can support renovations, landscaping and facade improvements to buildings in disrepair;

e. next steps for including inclusionary zoning for affordable housing in the Protected Major Transit Stations Areas in Chinatown, once the City is able to do so;

f. any appropriate changes to the draft Chinatown Planning Framework to address Public Realm, Open Space and Public Art as well as a strategy for Laneway Improvement and Animation;

g. recommendations relating to inclusion of the anti-displacement policies found in the Mount Dennis Community for All Action Plan; and

h. a procedure to ensure that the Chinatown Planning Framework and Cultural District designation are considered in the review of all development applications.

4. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to commence a Cultural Heritage Resource Assessment in Chinatown in the fourth quarter of 2026, which will include an analysis of potential cultural heritage resources, and to report back on recommendations for any appropriate implementation tools related to heritage conservation.

5. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to take necessary steps to designate West Chinatown as a Community Improvement Project Area, with the boundaries proposed in Attachment 2 to the report (March 16, 2026) from Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

6. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Development Review and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, through the reporting on the Community Improvement Plan for West Chinatown, to evaluate the potential for the Community Improvement Plan to include supports for affordable retail and cultural space.

7. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Development Review, to assess the feasibility of creating Urban Design Guidelines for West Chinatown and to report back as part of the Final Report on the Chinatown Tomorrow Planning Initiative.

8. City Council direct the Executive Director, Development Review to conduct a jurisdictional scan, including consultation with local stakeholders, to identify whether any secondary plans in Ontario include enforceable anti-displacement measures and to report back as part of the Final Report on the Chinatown Tomorrow Planning Initiative.

9. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back to the appropriate committee in the second quarter of 2026 with recommendations relating to pedestrianizing Huron Street as a cultural plaza in the immediate vicinity of the current plaza just north of Dundas Street West. 

West Chinatown is a vibrant, inclusive and culturally rich community with an important history. This report provides an update on the Chinatown Tomorrow Planning Initiative, which aims to understand the unique character of West Chinatown and how to effectively plan for new development that will conserve and support the existing built form and cultural heritage; preserve the unique retail character; contribute to affordable housing; and ensure that the public realm, parkland and community services meet the needs of the community.

This proposals report presents a draft West Chinatown Planning Framework as well as proposed policy changes through Official Plan Amendments and a Zoning By-law Amendment, to guide future development in the area. The purpose of this recommendation is to bring together and translate community priorities into directions on community and economic development, land use planning and development. Additional community consultation will be completed in Q2 of 2026 and staff intend to bring forward a Final Report in July 2026.