Agenda

This meeting of City Council will be conducted with Members participating in person and remotely and the proceedings of City Council will be conducted publicly.

Notice to people writing to Council: The City of Toronto Act, 2006, and the City of Toronto Municipal Code authorize the City of Toronto to collect any personal information in your communication or presentation to City Council or its committees. The City collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the relevant issue(s). If you are submitting letters, faxes, e-mails, presentations or other communications to the City, you should be aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the City will become part of the public record and will appear on the City’s website. The City will also make your communication and any personal information in it - such as your postal address, telephone number or e-mail address - available to the public, unless you expressly request the City to remove it.

Closed Meeting Requirements: If Council wants to meet in closed session (privately), a Member of Council must place a motion to do so and give the reason why Council has to meet privately (City of Toronto Act, 2006).

November 3, 2023

toronto.ca/council

This agenda and any supplementary materials submitted to the City Clerk can be found online at www.toronto.ca/council. Visit the website for access to all agendas, reports, decisions and minutes of City Council and its committees.

- O Canada

- Moment of Silence

City Council will confirm the Minutes from the regular meeting held on October 11 and 12, 2023.

Report of the Executive Committee from Meeting 9 on October 31, 2023

Submitted by Mayor Olivia Chow

Report of the Economic and Community Development Committee from Meeting 7 on October 24, 2023

Submitted by Councillor Alejandra Bravo, Chair

Report of the General Government Committee from Meeting 7 on October 30, 2023

Submitted by Councillor Paul Ainslie, Chair

Report of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee from Meeting 7 on October 25, 2023

Submitted by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, Chair

Report of the Planning and Housing Committee from Meeting 7 on October 26, 2023

Submitted by Councillor Gord Perks, Chair

Report of the Etobicoke York Community Council from Meeting 8 on October 16, 2023

Submitted by Councillor Stephen Holyday, Chair

Report of the North York Community Council from Meeting 8 on October 17, 2023

Submitted by Councillor James Pasternak, Chair 

Report of the Scarborough Community Council from Meeting 8 on October 19, 2023

Submitted by Councillor Paul Ainslie, Chair 

Report of the Toronto and East York Community Council from Meeting 8 on October 18, 2023

Submitted by Councillor Chris Moise, Chair 

New Business and Business Previously Requested submitted by the Mayor and City Officials.

Members of Council will declare interests under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.

Members of Council may file petitions.

Various presentations and announcements will be made at the City Council meeting.

City Council will review the Order Paper.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the recommendations contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the public release of the confidential recommendations in Confidential Attachment 1 and Confidential Appendix A to this report from the City Solicitor if the confidential recommendations in Confidential Attachment 1 are adopted by City Council.

3. City Council direct that all other information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor is to remain confidential at the discretion of the City Solicitor, as it contains advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

On July 19, 2022, the City received Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for 25 Old York Mills Road (the "Site") to permit the construction of a 12-storey (38.05 metres, plus 4.5 metres for the mechanical penthouse) mixed-use building.

The applicant appealed City Council's neglect or failure to make a decision on its applications for the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment (the "Appeal"), to the Ontario Land Tribunal on January 6, 2023.

Two Case Management Conferences have taken place, and a hearing was scheduled to commence on November 15, 2023. The Toronto Region Conservation Authority and two residents associations, the Townhomes of Hogg's Hollow Community Association and the York Mills Valley Association, were granted party status, and two individuals obtained participant status.

The City Solicitor requires further directions for the upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal hearing scheduled for November 15, 2023.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council forward the Item to the Toronto Police Services Board to inform continued action and next steps on the Auditor General’s recommendations.

The Executive Committee considered Items EX9.2 and EX9.10 together.

This report provides an update to City Council on recommendations made by the Auditor General's (AG) office in items AU13.5 and AU13.6.

In July 2022, City Council received two reports from the Auditor General, which presented findings from audits undertaken to improve and modernize the Toronto Police Service (TPS).

The Auditor General audits focused on two areas:

1) Enhancing the efficiency of 9-1-1 operations (2022.AU13.5)

2) Supporting more effective responses to calls for service to improve community safety and well-being (2022.AU13.6)

The Auditor General posed 51 recommendations across the two reports. Of these, 16 involved the City Manager's Office and relevant City Divisions, including Toronto Paramedic Services (PS), Toronto Fire Services (TFS), Social Development, Finance and Administration (SDFA), Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS), Customer Experience Division (CXD, formerly 311), and others. 

In July 2023, TPS presented a comprehensive update to the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) on the status of all 51 Auditor General recommendations. Building on the July 2023 Toronto Police Service update, this report provides an update on the 16 Auditor General recommendations directed to the City Manager's Office and other City Divisions.

A detailed status update for each of the 16 Auditor General recommendations can be found in Appendix 1. As of October 2023, 14/16 (88%) of the Auditor General recommendations are actively in progress, one is implemented and ongoing, and one has not yet started. The status of these recommendations is subject to verification by the Auditor General.

Progress on the Auditor General recommendations reflects a year of positive collaboration among police and City staff to modernize the Toronto Police Service, enhance their operations, and support community safety for Toronto residents.

Key milestones include the launch and evaluation of the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) and 9-1-1 Crisis Call Diversion (CCD) pilots, which yielded 78% and 65% successful diversion rates for calls received, respectively. These programs represent promising alternative responses to support mental health and community safety while enabling police to refocus on emergency matters within their mandate. 

The revived 9-1-1 Committee has enabled Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Service, and Paramedic Services to meet quarterly, with discussions focused on improving 9-1-1 operations. This partnership among the tri-services has set the stage for the successful rollout and transfer of operations to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1), expected no later than March 2025, which will further improve interconnectivity, data sharing, and the efficiency of call transfers.

Ongoing partnership and knowledge exchange among the tri-services has supported Toronto Fire Service and Paramedic Services to reduce call transfer times (the time it takes for police to transfer a call to Toronto Fire Service or Paramedic Services dispatchers) and maintain national standards. Toronto Fire Service Call Answering performance has consistently remained within the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) standard of 15 seconds 90% of the time. Paramedic Services has undertaken significant recruitment and training efforts to improve call transfer times, with a 53% reduction in average call transfer time in August 2023, when compared to July 2022.

Areas for action and next steps include ongoing coordination among Toronto Police Service, Customer Experience Division, and Municipal Licensing and Standards to receive and respond to non-emergency service requests, particularly noise complaints. Criteria and guidance for where to direct noise complaints need to be reinforced internally and more broadly communicated to the public. Continued partnership among Toronto Police Service, Customer Experience Division, and Municipal Licensing and Standards, alongside a new awareness campaign slated for launch mid-to-late October 2023, will help minimize confusion and ensure Torontonians can 'make the right call' when it comes to non-emergency issues like noise.

Overall, this report demonstrates a strong, collaborative foundation for the City and Toronto Police Service to continue driving Auditor General recommendations to completion. The Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, will continue to facilitate this collaboration and provide updates on the success of City staff and Toronto Police Service in implementing Auditor General recommendations.

The next status update on AU13.5 and AU13.6 will be provided to City Council in the first quarter of 2025, ahead of the successful rollout and transfer of operations to NG9-1-1.

Please find attached an extract from the draft Minutes of the Public meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board held on July 27, 2023, entitled “Update on Auditor General Recommendations Implementation.”

The Board agreed that a copy of this Minutes be forwarded to you for information and to the City Clerk’s Office to inform Council, as necessary.

The Executive Committee recommends that:  

Financial and Implementation Considerations

1.  City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to develop a new community housing sector strategy aimed at protecting existing non-profit homes and co-operative homes on City land that are approaching end of lease terms, end of mortgage, and/or end of operating agreement terms, and to increase the stock of net new non-profit and co-operative homes, and report back by the fourth quarter of 2023.

2.  City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to review the Open Door Affordable Rental Program in light of Council’s revised HousingTO Plan targets that include both affordable rental (including Rent-Geared-to-Income) and rent-controlled market units as set out in Part 1 of Item 2023.EX7.2, and to report back by the first quarter of 2024 with recommendations in respect of the program to support the delivery of a full range of rent-controlled purpose-built rental homes.

3.  City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to review the City’s Affordable Home Ownership Policy and Program Framework, with consideration of the Auditor General’s recommendation in Item 2020.AU6.3, an assessment of the value of funds held in existing affordable home ownership programs and the value of affordable ownership revolving loans to be repaid, and the impacts of the Government of Ontario’s More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (Bill 23), and to report back with recommendations to amend the City’s program by the second quarter of 2024.

4.  City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, in consultation with appropriate Divisions Heads, CreateTO and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, to advance early due diligence work on the list of potential housing sites outlined in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, and to report back by end of the second quarter of 2024, with a prioritized list and recommendations, including any financial implications, to advance appropriate sites for housing purposes.

5.  City Council direct that Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services remain confidential in its entirety, as it pertains to a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the City of Toronto, Toronto Community Housing and/or Build Toronto Inc./CreateTO, as it deals with a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the City, and it contains financial information, supplied in confidence to the City of Toronto, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization.

6.  City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services to:

a.  advance a City-led development model at five ‘housing ready’ sites (Attachment 2 to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services) located at 405 Sherbourne Street, 150 Queens Wharf Road, 1113-1117 Dundas Street West, 11 Brock Avenue and 35 Bellevue Avenue, whereby the City leads all aspects of the delivery of these sites under a ‘public builder model’ including undertaking all due diligence, and report back by the third quarter of 2024 with a status update and to identify any tools and new approaches needed to expand this model to additional sites; and

b.  identify opportunities to accelerate delivery of the 47 other City-owned ‘housing ready’ sites (Attachment 2 to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services) and the 31 non-profit owned sites, in partnership with federal and provincial governments, as well non-profit and private sector development partners.

7.  City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in collaboration with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to engage with the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness, Miziwe Biik Development Corporation, the Co-op Housing Federation of Toronto, Kindred Works, community land trusts and others as deemed appropriate, to identify lands owned by Indigenous, non-profits and co-op housing providers and faith-based groups, that can be activated to create new homes and report back by the second quarter of 2024.

8.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to negotiate and enter into, on behalf of the City of Toronto, a Memorandum of Understanding and funding agreement with the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness, to advance the parties’ shared objectives including increasing deeply affordable rental and supportive housing and provide funding in the amount of up to $115,000, included in Housing Secretariat’s approved 2023 operating budget, on such terms and conditions outlined in Attachment 4 to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, and on such other or amended terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

9.  City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services to engage with United Way Greater Toronto, the Atkinson Foundation and others as deemed appropriate, to explore collaborative opportunities that support non-profit led affordable housing development and acquisition projects and create new affordable and Rent-Geared-to-Income homes, with a particular focus on community service infrastructure needed for equitable and complete mixed-income communities, and to report back to City Council by the second quarter of 2024 with an update on this initiative.

10.  City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services to engage with the federal and provincial governments, Indigenous organizations, non-profit and co-op housing organizations, financiers, academic institutions, philanthropic organizations and private sector organizations (including large employers), to explore the establishment of a sustainable ‘Toronto Housing Affordability Fund’ as well as loan guarantees to support non-profit and public-led housing developments, and to report back to City Council by the second quarter of 2024 with recommendations to advance this initiative.

City-wide Alignment Considerations

11.  City Council request the Board of Directors of Toronto Community Housing Corporation to direct the President and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, in collaboration with the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, to review the Board’s current strategic plan mandated by its shareholder direction and identify opportunities for enhanced alignment to support delivery of the City’s housing plans and targets.

12.  City Council request the Board of Directors of CreateTO to direct the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, in collaboration with the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, to review the organization’s current mandate and identify opportunities for enhanced alignment to support delivery of the City’s housing plans and targets.

13.  City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, in collaboration with appropriate Division Heads, the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, to report to the December 5, 2023, meeting of the Executive Committee, with recommendations to ensure alignment of the strategic plan of Toronto Community Housing Corporation and the mandate of CreateTO, with the City’s housing plans and targets.

14.  City Council request the Board of Directors of Toronto Community Housing Corporation to request the President and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, as part of a continued effort, to work with the City’s Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services and explore options to enhance the financial viability of Toronto Community Housing Corporation in-flight and planned revitalization and infill projects, including exploring both public and private options for financing, while delivering a wider range of net new rent-controlled affordable, Rent-Geared-to-Income and market rental homes and other City-building uses.

15.  City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, in collaboration with the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, appropriate Division Heads, the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO and the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation, to harmonize all housing programs to reflect the City’s income-based definition of affordable housing, as defined in City of Toronto By-Law 944-2021, to adopt Amendment 558 to the Official Plan for the City of Toronto respecting Affordable Rental and Ownership Housing Definitions, for all projects on a go forward basis.

16.  City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, in collaboration with appropriate Division Heads, to combine the tracking, implementation and reporting of the HousingTO and Housing Action Plans, including cost estimates, required investments and financial commitments made to-date from the City, Government of Canada and Government of Ontario, and provide a comprehensive annual update to City Council by no later than the first quarter of each following year.

Intergovernmental Considerations

17.  City Council request the Government of Canada to support delivery of the updated HousingTO Plan new homes target, which is also necessary to support delivery of the National Housing Strategy targets, by:

a.  urgently allocating land to develop new purpose-built affordable and market rental homes;

b.  allocating between $500 million and $800 million per year in grant funding to Toronto over the next seven (7) years;

c.  allocating $6.5 billion and $8 billion in low-cost financing/re-payable loans to Toronto over the next seven (7) years;

d.  amending the National Housing Strategy programs and establish lending criteria tailored to the unique risk profile and requirements of municipal governments and non-profits;

e.  investing in future phases of the Rapid Housing Initiative and amend the program criteria to allow projects to access financing through the Co-Investment Fund to manage cost overruns due to factors beyond control (e.g., market conditions);

f.  launching the Co-operative Housing Development Program which was promised as part of Budget 2022;

g.  launching the federal Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy and immediately allocate a fair share of funding through a regional approach that respects the existing and established community-based infrastructure of the Aboriginal Labour Force Development Circle and Miziwe Biik Development Corporation;

h.  providing loan guarantees for non-profit and public led purpose-built affordable and market rental projects;

i.  establishing a requirement that as part of any future federal land sales, at least 30 percent of the gross floor area be allocated for affordable housing for 99 years;

j.  adopting the City of Toronto’s income-based definition of “affordable housing” and harmonize all federal housing programs to create certainty and predictability; and

k.  developing targeted and joint immigration and housing plans to attract individuals in the skilled trades, prioritizing their applications through the immigration scoring and selection process, and ensuring available job and affordable housing opportunities upon arrival in Canada.

18.  City Council request the Government of Canada to protect existing renters and rental stock by:

a. establishing a property acquisition fund, or providing funding to augment the City’s Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Program;

b.  increasing investments to support the renovation and retrofit of existing multi-unit residential properties, including multi-tenant houses (rooming houses);

c.  urgently increasing investments in the Canada Housing Benefit program to meet unmet demand, to support newcomers and to assist Torontonians living in severe housing need;

d.  funding eviction support and prevention programs that build on successful City of Toronto’s programs including the Eviction Prevention in the Community, Toronto Rent Bank, Housing Stability Fund and Toronto Tenant Support programs, or to provide funding to the City to enhance these programs to address the growing rate of evictions;

e.  enhancing the Reaching Home program (and pairing with the Rapid Housing Initiative) to create new supportive housing;

f.  increasing investments and leading an intergovernmental approach to fund, streamline and enhance access to critical mental and physical health care, as well as addictions supports, to help people exit homelessness and achieve housing stability long term;

g.  amending the Income Tax Act to require landlords to disclose in their tax filings the rent they receive pre-and post-renovation and to pay the taxing authority a proportional surtax if the increase in rent is excessive;

h.  introducing an anti-flipping tax on residential properties sold within the first 12 months of ownership;

i.  reforming the tax treatment of Real Estate Investment Trusts; and

j.  developing policies to curb excessive profits in investment properties while protecting small independent landlords.

19.  City Council request the Government of Ontario to support delivery of the updated HousingTO Plan new rent-controlled homes target, which is also necessary to support delivery of the More Homes Built Faster plan targets, by:

a.  urgently allocating land to develop new purpose-built affordable and market rental homes;

b.  allocating between $500 million and $800 million per year in grant funding to Toronto over the next seven (7) years;

c.  allocating $6.5 billion and $8 billion in low-cost financing/re-payable loans to Toronto over the next seven (7) years;

d.  immediately waiving the Provincial Sales Tax on all purpose-built rental housing projects;

e.  providing loan guarantees for non-profit and public led purpose-built affordable and market rental projects, as well as for affordable homeownership projects;

f.  establishing a requirement that as part of any future federal land sales, at least 30 percent of the gross floor area be allocated for affordable housing for 99 years;

g.  allowing zoning with conditions to enable the City of Toronto to secure purpose-built rental housing as part of individual site-specific zoning by-laws;

h.  limiting appeals of municipally-initiated Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for purpose-built rental projects;

i.  allowing for Inclusionary Zoning to be applied across the city and approve the City’s Protected Major Transit Station Areas delineations, require the homes to meet the City’s income-based definition of affordable housing and ensure that affordability is secured for 99 years;

j.  adopting the City of Toronto’s income-based definition of “affordable housing” and harmonize all provincial housing programs to create certainty and predictability;

k.  introducing a time limit on planning approval entitlements related to purpose-built rental projects to incent development-ready sites to advance to construction;

l.  removing right of appeal for projects with at least 30 percent affordable housing in which units are guaranteed affordable for at least 50 years;

m.  increasing investments to help the Ontario Land Tribunal speed up case resolution, improve customer service and accelerate housing creation;

n.  creating an Affordable Housing Trust from a portion of Land Transfer Tax Revenue to support projects that deliver new affordable housing for Indigenous and equity-deserving groups;

o.  modernizing the Ontario Building Code and other policies to remove any barriers to affordable construction and to ensure meaningful implementation;

p.  reviewing the requirements of the Ontario Building Code Act with respect to applicable building permit fees for affordable housing projects; and

q.  developing targeted and joint immigration and housing plans to attract individuals in the skilled trades, prioritizing their applications through the immigration scoring and selection process, and ensuring available job and affordable housing opportunities upon arrival in Ontario.

20.  City Council request the Government of Ontario to protect existing renters and rental stock by:

a.  increasing investments in the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit program to meet unmet demand, to support newcomers and to assist Torontonians living in severe housing need;

b.  allocating additional funding for eviction support and prevention programs that build on successful City of Toronto’s programs including the Eviction Prevention in the Community, Toronto Rent Bank, Housing Stability Fund and Toronto Tenant Support programs, or to provide funding to the City to enhance these programs to address the growing rate of evictions;

c.  establishing a property acquisition fund, or providing funding to augment the City’s Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Program;

d.  maintaining the City’s ability to require rental replacement, including any associated conditions, as part of any rental demolition project;

e.  re-introducing rent control to cover units occupied after November 15, 2018;

f.  identifying tenants in need of housing support services through the eviction process and provide these services for every household that is evicted through the Landlord and Tenant Board, with a goal of timely re-housing;

g.  providing and funding emergency temporary accommodation and related supports for households evicted through the Landlord and Tenant Board, at no cost to municipalities, until long-term housing can be provided for those households;

h. reforming the process that allows Landlords to levy Above the Guideline rent Increases for basic maintenance or cosmetic improvements; and

i. significantly increasing the number of provincial Residential Tenancy Act inspectors or make the necessary legislative changes, and provide adequate funding, to allow the City of Toronto to address fraudulent evictions and other Residential Tenancy Act infractions through the RentSafe program.

21. City Council re-iterate its request to the Government of Ontario to improve the adequacy and structure of social assistance programs, based on data and evidence, so that recipients are better able to meet their basic needs, including the high cost of housing in Toronto, and to equalize the benefit rate across the Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program.

22. City Council request to the Government of Ontario to reduce the financial burden on the City of Toronto related to provincial social assistance programs, which is estimated to be $125 million annually, by eliminating the Housing Services Act Rent Scales to equalize the shelter benefit components of Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program for rent-geared-to-income households residing in City-administered community housing, with those residing in the private market housing.

Other

23. City Council request the Board of Directors of Toronto Community Housing Corporation to request the President and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Community Housing Corporation to work with the City’s Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services to report back to the Executive Committee by the second quareter 2024 on a strategy to accelerate the implementation of the Lawrence Heights Revitalization Phases II and III.

24. City Council request the City Manager to write to the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada to re-engage on a priority basis to negotiate funding contribution agreements to expeditiously move forward on the implementation of the Lawrence Heights Revitalization Phases II and III.

25. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in the report requested in MM11.16 - Rental Demolition Permits and Market Rentals, to also report on the feasibility of requiring that as a condition of approving any rental demolition application for purpose-built rental buildings with more than 100 units, owners/landlords be required to increase the rental space in replacement buildings, subject to planning approvals, by adding at least 10 percent net new purpose-built rental units, 8 percent gross floor area or cash-in-lieu where it is not possible to increase units or gross floor area on site, in addition to rental replacement requirements.

The Executive Director, Housing Secretariat and the Director, Housing Secretariat gave a presentation on Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Homes.

Despite the City of Toronto taking an increased role in the delivery of new affordable homes in recent years, Toronto’s housing and homelessness crisis has worsened and now demands an even more robust range of actions across the housing continuum to adequately address the needs of current and future residents. Increasing the supply of new homes across the full continuum is necessary to reduce pressures throughout the entire housing system, improve housing affordability and access particularly for lower- and middle-income households, and to support growth.

In recognition of the urgent need to expedite efforts to transform Toronto’s housing system, at its meeting of September 6, 2023, City Council adopted Item EX7.2 and directed the City Manager, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, to work with agencies, boards, corporations and divisions to assess preliminary cost estimates and create a plan, including an implementation framework with timelines, to achieve 25,000 new rent-controlled homes, including new affordable rental, rent-geared-to-income (RGI), and market rental homes. City Council also requested staff to identify current, suitable parcels of land owned by the City, co-operative (co-op) and non-profit housing providers, government organizations and other partners, that can be immediately activated for housing development. Further, Council requested an update on the financial contributions required from both the federal and provincial governments to enable successful delivery of the new homes.

The new targets identified in Item EX7.2  amend and increase the City’s previous HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan (HousingTO Plan) target of approving 40,000 affordable rental homes by 2030 (now 65,000 rent-controlled homes, comprising 6,500 RGI, 41,000 affordable rental and 17,500 rent-controlled market units). The new targets also support delivery of the  Housing Action Plan 2022-2026 (Housing Action Plan), which is focused on enabling both market, non-market and mixed income housing production in order to achieve or exceed the provincial housing target of 285,000 new homes over the next 10 years (see Figure 1 on page 20).

This report responds to Council’s requests and outlines several recommended actions, as well as highlights initiatives underway, which will make a generational change to transform and strengthen Toronto’s housing system and expedite delivery of the HousingTO and Housing Action Plan targets, including:

1. Dedicating more City-owned land to create new affordable homes - advancing due diligence on 40 additional City-owned sites (including sites owned by agencies, boards and corporations) that have been identified as potential future housing sites (Confidential Attachment 1);

2.  Accelerating the delivery of ‘housing ready’ projects on City and non-profit owned land – this includes almost 19,000 net new affordable rental, RGI and rent-controlled market homes on land owned by the City and the non-profit sector (Attachment 2);

3. Streamlining and Optimizing People, Processes, and Technology to Expedite Approvals and Housing Delivery, including:

a. organizational and resource re-alignment;

b. process improvement (including a new Toronto Building Citywide Priorities Team to streamline the building permit process); and

c. utilizing new and enhanced technology solutions to improve efficiencies and expedite the planning and building application review and approval processes.

4. Developing New and Sustainable Funding Models – exploring new and sustainable funding models to expand the delivery of affordable and RGI homes within mixed-income and sustainable communities; and

5. Supporting the Non-profit and Co-operative Housing Sectors - additional measures, including City development support, to support the non-profit sector.

The actions outlined in this report will build upon and align the City’s recent and ongoing initiatives to increase housing supply, remove regulatory barriers and support a housing system shift. These include: implementation of the Open Door, Housing Now, Modular Housing, and Rapid Housing Initiative programs; zoning by-law amendments to eliminate most minimum parking standards; as-of-right zoning permissions for multi-tenant housing, secondary suites, garden and laneway suites; multiplexes and establishing minimum densities in Protected Major Transit Station Areas (PMTSAs), along with accompanying affordable housing requirements through Inclusionary Zoning, subject to approval of the PMTSAs by the Government of Ontario. Staff will continue to report to Council periodically on implementation progress, as well as to highlight key risks associated with delivery of the City’s housing objectives.

Additionally, all actions and investments will centre around:

- People – ensuring that there are a range of new homes for a range of incomes, with a focus on low-and-middle income households, including people experiencing homelessness and renters; promoting housing stability for renters long-term; and increasing access to support services.

- Equity and Reconciliation – supporting Indigenous residents and those from equity-deserving groups, including racialized people, seniors, youth, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, people with disabilities, and women and gender diverse people to access and maintain safe, adequate, affordable homes.

- Strengthening and shifting the housing system to deliver more non-market housing – a renewed focus on the public delivery of sites; increasing public and non-profit owned housing stock (including new co-operative homes) through new development as well as acquisitions; increasing the supply of net new rent-geared-to-income (RGI) homes; increasing the supply new affordable and rent-controlled market rental homes; and increasing access to affordable and attainable homeownership opportunities.

- Sustainability and Predictability – creating sustainable, mixed-income buildings within complete communities; and mechanisms for more predictable funding.

- Climate action – creating new energy efficient homes and improving the condition of existing homes.

- Urgency - expedited delivery of new homes, particularly RGI and affordable homes.

The City of Toronto, with its partners, stands ready to quickly build more affordable homes. The City will continue to leverage its limited resources and tools to support the delivery of new affordable and RGI homes, within mixed-income, complete communities. As outlined in Attachment 2, with the support of the federal and provincial governments, between 17,000 and 18,000 homes on City lands can be expedited, with a over half of these delivered within the next three to four years. Pending further due diligence, a number of additional City-owned sites in Confidential Attachment 1 can also be added to this pipeline.

Of the overall 65,000 new rent-controlled homes target, funding has already been secured to deliver 4,455 homes. The estimated cost to deliver the remaining 60,545 homes is between $28.6 billion and $31.5 billion. However, the estimated contribution/funding required from each order of government over the next 7 years is between $500 million to $800 million per year, net of repayable loans/financing (see Financial Impact section). With access to low-cost financing, the contribution/grants required from each order of government can be further reduced. The City will also work with developers on a site-by-site basis to identify additional opportunities to reduce cost. These required financial investments, although significant, are necessary to restore some level of affordability after decades of insufficient public investments in housing.

As all orders of government focus on building new affordable homes, efforts must equally concentrate on protecting the existing supply of homes to ensure net growth of the affordable housing stock. To highlight this need, for every 1 new affordable unit built in Toronto, it is estimated that 15 existing private affordable units are lost. City Council has ramped up efforts in this regard, and at its meeting on October 11, 2023, through Item 2023.EX8.7, voted to increase investments in the City’s Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition (MURA) program which is focused on acquisition of existing private rental stock to convert to permanently affordable non-profit homes. These investments will help curb housing speculation and tackle its downstream social and economic impacts including housing market price escalations, weakened protections for renters, and increased rates of evictions and homelessness.

Addressing the current housing crisis is critical to supporting the social, cultural and economic growth and prosperity of Toronto, the region and rest of the province, and the country. While the City is committed to taking every possible action within its jurisdictional and financial capacity to tackle the housing crisis, strengthened partnerships with the federal and provincial governments are needed to complement Toronto’s efforts. Specifically, new and enhanced policy, program and financial tools are urgently needed to meet Toronto, Ontario and Canada’s respective housing supply targets. This includes a new fiscal deal to support the structural changes that will put Toronto on a path to long-term financial sustainability plus a commitment from the federal and provincial governments to invest in the HousingTO Plan. Collaboration across governments and sectors will also be essential to increase the labour market capacity in the skilled trades needed to significantly scale up the production of new homes.

The Executive Committee recommends that:  

1.  City Council approve a development charge credit against the Transit component of the development charges payable for the proposed development located at 334-350 Bloor Street West for the cost of the design and construction by the owner of the expansion of the concourse level of the Spadina Station discussed in the report (October 17, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Controller; the development charge credit shall be in an amount that is the lesser of the eligible cost to the owner of designing and constructing the improvements to Spadina Station, to the satisfaction of the Toronto Transit Commission, and the Transit component of development charges payable for the development.

2.  City Council authorize appropriate City officials to take such actions as are necessary to implement City Council’s decision, including amending the Section 37 Agreement to give effect to the credit in Recommendation 1 above, and adding any additional provisions in the agreement necessary to protect the interests of the City and ensure the completion of the capital works in a timely and effective manner that is integrated with the overall plans for the station.

This report recommends that City Council approve a development charge credit for the Spadina Subway improvements to be completed by an adjacent developer. 

The improvements are part of the TTC's Line 2 Capacity Enhancement Program (L2CEP) and would be completed by the applicant concurrently with the construction of the proposed 35-storey mixed-use building project at 334-350 Bloor Street West and 2-6 Spadina Road. The improvements to Spadina Station will enhance pedestrian movement and circulation and includes the construction of a concourse expansion and future stair or escalator between levels. In exchange for the construction of these works, the City would provide the applicant with a credit against the transit component of the development charges payable for the proposed development. While approval for development charges credits are normally considered at the time of the final City Planning report, staff are of the opinion that it is beneficial to the City for the applicant to complete the station modification concurrently with the construction of their development proposal. This will result in construction efficiencies for the City, while also contributing to the planned Station expansion.

This report has been prepared in consultation with the City Solicitor, and the Toronto Transit Commission.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct that the 2021 operating surpluses totalling $535,253 from five Arenas (George Bell, William H. Bolton, McCormick, Moss Park and Ted Reeve) be payable to the City of Toronto and be used, in part, to fund the operating deficit of $12,808 for Forest Hill Memorial Arena, resulting in a net operating surplus of $522,455 prior to the contribution to the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve (XQ0703) for COVID-19 backstop, as illustrated in Appendix A to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

2. City Council direct the excess of the actual operating net surplus balance of $522,455 over the approved 2021 budgeted equating to $490,307, be allocated to the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve (XQ0703) for COVID-19 backstop and the remaining $32,138 be retained by the City as illustrated in Appendix A to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

3. City Council direct a funding provision be made through the 2023 Year-End Operating Budget Variance for the $32,138 difference between the reported Arena Boards 2021 surplus of $522,455 and the final net surplus to the City of $490,307, as shown in Appendix A to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

On an annual basis, the City of Toronto receives the audited financial statements from eight Arena Boards of Management (Arenas). The audited financial statements assist the City to determine whether additional operating subsidy payments need to be provided to or clawed back from the Arenas to settle their operating deficits or surpluses. City staff report annually on the Arenas' operating surpluses and deficits once the respective Boards financial statements have been audited and approved by Council. The audited financial statements are based on the Public Sector Accounting Board requirements for government not-for-profit entities while the operating deficits or surpluses align with the modified cash basis of accounting.

This report recommends the settlement of six of the Arenas' operating surpluses and deficits for 2021 based on their audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, with operating surpluses payable to the City and operating deficits funded by the City upon Council’s approval.

At the time of preparation of this report, the 2020 and 2021 audited financial statements for Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Arena and 2021 audited financial statements for North Toronto Arena remains in progress and therefore the settlement for these outstanding Arenas will be presented in a future report for consideration and approval purposes.

While normally the prior year end settlement reports for both Association of Community Centres and Arena Boards are submitted together to Council in the following year, the 2021 settlement reports were delayed due to delays in completing the 2021 audits. City staff will present the 2022 Settlement Reports at the first opportunity to the City Council for consideration and approval.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the 2021 operating surpluses of six of the centres (Central Eglinton Community Centre, Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre, Ralph Thornton Community Centre, Scadding Court Community Centre, Swansea Town Hall Community Centre and Waterfront Community Centre) totalling $536,457 be paid to the City of Toronto and the City of Toronto provide four centres (Applegrove Community Centre, Cecil Street Community Centre, Community Centre 55 and 519 Church Street Community Centre) with supplementary subsidies to fund the operating deficits totalling $35,850, resulting in a net operating surplus of $500,607 to be received by the City, as illustrated in Appendix A to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

2.  City Council direct the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services to undertake a feasibility study on opportunities to add new Association of Community Centres in the City, funded from unspent Association of Community Centres funds for 2022, and to report on the scope of the study to the January 11, 2024 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee.

On an annual basis, the City of Toronto receives the audited financial statements from 10 Association of Community Centres. The audited financial statements assist the City to determine whether additional operating subsidy payments need to be provided to or clawed back from the Association of Community Centres to settle their operating deficits or surpluses. The audited financial statements are based on the Public Sector Accounting Board requirements for government not-for-profit entities while the operating deficits or surpluses align with the modified cash basis of accounting.

This report recommends settlement with the Association of Community Centres for 2021 based on their audited financial results as of December 31, 2021. 

While normally the prior year end settlement reports for both Association of Community Centres and Arena Boards are submitted together to Council in the following year, the 2021 settlement reports were delayed due to delays in completing the 2021 audits. City staff will present the 2022 Settlement Reports at the first opportunity to the City Council for consideration and approval.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the 2019 operating net surplus of $166,713 from Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Arena to be payable to the City of Toronto and to be allocated to the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Arena Debt Service Reserve Fund (XR3216) as illustrated in Appendix A to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

On an annual basis, the City of Toronto receives the audited financial statements from eight Arena Boards of Management (Arenas). The audited financial statements assist the City to determine whether additional operating subsidy payments need to be provided to or clawed back from the Arenas to settle their operating deficits or surpluses. City staff report annually on the Arenas' operating surpluses and deficits once the respective Boards financial statements have been audited and approved by Council. The audited financial statements are based on the Public Sector Accounting Board requirements for government not-for-profit entities while the operating deficits or surpluses align with the modified cash basis of accounting.

This report recommends the settlement of Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Arena's operating surplus for 2019 based on their audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019, with operating surplus payable to the City upon Council’s approval.

The remainder of the seven Arena Boards' 2019 settlement results were previously approved by City Council.

At the time of preparation of this report, the 2020 and 2021 audited financial statements for Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Arena remains in progress and therefore the settlement for the outstanding years will be presented in a future report for consideration and approval purposes.

While normally the prior years' end settlement reports for both Association of Community Centres and Arena Boards are submitted together to Council in the following year, the 2019 Leaside Memorial Community Gardens Arena's settlement was delayed due to delays in completing the 2019 audit. City staff will present the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Settlement Reports at the first opportunity to the City Council for consideration and approval.

The Executive Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize that the 2024 interim levy for all property classes be based on 50 percent of the total 2023 taxes billed for each property, adjusted, as necessary, to reflect any additional taxes added to the previous year's taxes as a result of assessment added to the tax roll.

2. City Council authorize that the interim levy apply to assessments added to the tax roll for 2023 that were not on the assessment roll when the by-law was passed.

3. City Council authorize that:

a. the interim bill payment due dates for property tax accounts paid on the eleven (11) installment pre-authorized tax payment plan be: February 15, March 15, April 15, May 15 and June 17, 2024;

b. the interim bill payment due date for the two (2) installment pre-authorized tax payment plan be March 1, 2024; and

c. the interim bill payment due dates for all other property tax accounts on the regular instalment option or on the six (6) instalment pre-authorized tax payment plan be: March 1, April 2 and May 1, 2024.

4. City Council authorize the introduction of the necessary Bill in City Council providing for the levy and collection of the 2024 interim taxes prior to the adoption of the estimates for 2024, which By-law, when enacted, will be effective as of January 1, 2024.

This report requests Council authority to adopt the necessary by-law to levy interim property taxes for all property classes for 2024 and to prescribe applicable interim bill payment due dates. The 2024 interim levy will raise approximately $2.62 billion for City purposes, and will provide for the cash requirements of the City until such time as the 2024 Operating Budget and 2024 final property tax levy are approved by Council.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the reallocation of cashflows and corresponding funding within Toronto Water’s approved 2023 Capital Budget and 2024-2032 Capital Plan in the amount of $55.817 million, for acceleration and deferral of projects, as presented in Schedule A (Parts A and B) to the report (October 13, 2023) from the General Manager, Toronto Water, with a zero Budget impact.

2. City Council authorize the reallocation of project costs, cashflows and corresponding funding in Toronto Water's Approved 2023 Capital Budget and 2024-2032 Capital Plan in the amount of $8.469 million from projects that have been awarded under budget or completed to those requiring additional funding in the same amount as presented in Schedule A (Part C) to the report (October 13, 2023) from the General Manager, Toronto Water, with a zero Budget impact.

This report requests City Council's authority to amend Toronto Water's Approved 2023 Capital Budget and 2024-2032 Capital Plan by adjusting project cash flows contained within the Budget and Plan, to align forecasted project accelerations and deferrals.  Additional reallocations to project cashflows and project costs are requested where project costs exceed the current approved cashflows and project costs.  These reallocations will allow Toronto Water to continue to deliver projects within its capital plan.  The adjustments will have a zero dollar impact on the 2023 Capital Budget and 2024-2032 Capital Plan and will align the budget and plan with Toronto Water's capital project delivery schedule and program requirements.

The Executive Committee recommends that:  

1.  City Council endorse the City-wide expansion of the Toronto Community Crisis Service as Toronto's fourth emergency service.

2.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to negotiate, enter into, and amend any service and funding agreements with the Toronto Community Crisis Service anchor partners (namely, Gerstein Crisis Centre, TAIBU Community Health Centre, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations and The Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto Branch) for the provision of the Toronto Community Crisis Service until 2034 on the terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor. 

3.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to negotiate, enter into, and amend any service and funding agreements with Findhelp Information Services (Findhelp | 211 Central), as the intake partner for the Toronto Community Crisis Service, on the terms and conditions satisfactory to the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

4.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to negotiate, enter into, and amend single-and multi-year contribution agreements for not-for-profit organizations funded through the Strengthening the Community Crisis System grant, with funding recipients and grant amounts to be determined through a call for proposals, within the budget allocation for the program, and on such content, terms and conditions as deemed necessary by the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. 

5.  City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration to negotiate, enter into, and amend single-and multi-year agreements to support program components related to the Toronto Community Crisis Service (e.g. training, evaluation, outreach campaigns) within the budget allocation for the program, and on such manner, content, terms and conditions as deemed necessary by the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. 

6.  City Council request the Province of Ontario to fund the expansion of the Toronto Community Crisis Service in alignment with the 75/25 cost-sharing funding model for public health services and to increase investments to close the service gaps in mental health services and addiction recovery programs, including detox beds and broad options for affordable and supportive housing.

7.  City Council request the Mayor to consider the City-wide expansion of the Toronto Community Crisis Service in proposing the 2024 Budget for the Social Development, Finance and Administration Division, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration.

8.  City Council forward this Item to the Toronto Police Services Board for information.

9.  City Council share the Toronto Community Crisis Service One-Year Evaluation Report with the Big City Mayors' Caucus for consideration.

The Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration gave a presentation on Toronto Community Crisis Service 2023 Update and Proposed Expansion Plan.

The Executive Committee considered Items EX9.2 and EX9.10 together.

In March 2022, the Toronto Community Crisis Service launched a 24/7 service to provide a community-based, client centred, trauma-informed, non-police led response to people experiencing mental health crisis and wellness checks. In its first year of operations the Toronto Community Crisis Service received 6,827 calls for service, with 78 per cent of calls transferred from 911 successfully resolved without police involvement.

Data from the Toronto Community Crisis Service's one-year evaluation demonstrates that 95 per cent of clients were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they received and 90 per cent indicated that it positively impacted their perception of community safety and wellbeing. In year one, community crisis teams completed 2,936 post-crisis follow up interactions and connected 1,160 service users to ongoing case management supports.

The Toronto Community Crisis Service provides access to ground-breaking transformative care in 64 per cent of all Toronto wards. If approved by Council, the service will be expanded city-wide in 2024 to become the fourth municipal emergency service in Toronto, alongside Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Paramedic Services, and the Toronto Police Service.

The expansion of the Toronto Community Crisis Service is one of the first priority actions of SafeTO: Toronto’s Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan to reduce vulnerability in Toronto through proactive mental health support strategies and community-based crisis support models.

After a successful first year of operations, and the demonstrated need for crisis response services in Toronto, Social Development, Finance and Administration is accelerating the service expansion to city-wide coverage so all Torontonians can access the support they need when they need it most before the end of 2024.

This report will provide:

·  an update on the progress of the Toronto Community Crisis Service, including the first year of performance data, service achievements and challenges, public awareness building efforts, as well as the recognition the service has received nationally and internationally as a model for community-based crisis response;

·  a roadmap to expand the Toronto Community Crisis Service city-wide, including a proposed approach to strengthening the dispatch and intake functions, which will ensure that dispatching is efficient, effective, and safe as the service expands;

·  recommendations for qualified community anchor partners to deliver the service in expanded service areas; and,

·  an overview of the additional investments provided through the Strengthening the Community Crisis System grant stream in support of expansion efforts.

The Executive Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council establish the City of Toronto Long-Term Care Committee of Management for the City's 10 directly operated Long-Term Care homes in accordance with the governance structure set out in Attachment 1 to the report (October 13, 2023) from the General Manager, Seniors Services and Long-Term Care.

2. City Council establish a new Toronto Municipal Code Chapter setting out the Committee of Management’s mandate and governance structure.

3. City Council authorize the City Clerk to initiate an appointment process through Striking Committee for Committee of Management Members for consideration and appointment by City Council.

4. City Council appoint the City Clerk as Secretary of the City of Toronto Long-Term Care Committee of Management.

5. City Council direct that the Long-Term Care Committee of Management operate under the rules of procedure in Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, as applicable and until such time as it adopts its own rules of procedure by-law as ratified by City Council.

6. City Council direct that the Police Record Check and declarations required by the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021, for the purpose of appointing members to the Committee of Management be submitted to the General Manager, Seniors Services and Long-Term Care for the purpose of determining eligibility to serve, and once members are appointed by City Council, such records are stored in accordance with Regulation 246/22. 

7. City Council request the Mayor to consider establishing a Committee of Management for Long-Term Care in proposing the 2024 Budget for the City Clerk’s Office, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and the General Manager, Seniors Services and Long-Term Care.

The purpose of this report is to establish a Committee of Management for the City of Toronto to comply with the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021.

The Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 (FLTCA) is provincial legislation that regulates Ontario's long-term care (LTC) sector. On April 11, 2022, the FLTCA was proclaimed into force and the former Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 was repealed. As a LTC operator in Ontario, City of Toronto Seniors Services and Long-Term Care (SSLTC) must comply with all requirements under the FLTCA and associated regulations, including those related to a LTC Committee of Management.

Under the FLTCA and Ontario Regulation 246/22, municipal operators of LTC homes must establish a Committee of Management for the homes. The purpose of the Committee of Management is to ensure that City of Toronto LTC homes comply with all requirements under the FLTCA.  

The Committee of Management must be appointed by City Council from among its members, with a minimum of three members. Under the FLTCA and Ontario Regulation 246/22, members of the Committee of Management are required to undergo a Police Record Check (PRC) and provide a signed declaration disclosing certain criminal charges, convictions, and misconduct.

Without a formal Committee of Management in place, including members who have undergone required screening, the City is in violation of the FLTCA and subject to penalties under the Act. The recommendations in this report will ensure that the City complies with its obligations related to the LTC Committee of Management under the FLTCA.

The Executive Committee recommends that :  

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 169, Officials, City, to delegate authority to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to:

a. submit applications to any government, agency, community organization, private entity or individual for funding related to the provision of Council-approved programs and services provided by Toronto Animal Services; and

b. enter into contribution agreements, transfer payment agreements, grant agreements or other related agreements with any government, agency, community organization, private entity or individual for the purposes of receiving and using funds for the provision of Council-approved programs and services provided by Toronto Animal Services on such terms and conditions as are satisfactory to the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and in a form approved by the City Solicitor, provided that the cumulative amount received from any individual order of government, agency, community organization, private entity or individual shall not exceed $500,000 in any calendar year.

2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to accept a bequest donation from Dorothy J. Wells' estate valued at $250,000 and allocate and disburse the funds for the provision of future Toronto Animal Services services and programs.

Toronto Animal Services runs various programs and services to help deliver its mandate of ensuring public safety and the welfare of Toronto’s wildlife and domestic animal population. Grants have been an important source of funding for Toronto Animal Services to support its programs and services, such as Indigenous and Black community engagement initiatives to improve equitable access to pet ownership resources, and a COVID-19 aid program for pet owners needing financial assistance during the pandemic.

This report seeks Council authority for the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to apply for and enter into agreements with community organizations, private entities, individuals and other levels of government to receive funding for the provision of Council-approved programs and services by Toronto Animal Services. This authority would be added to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 169, Officials, City. 

Staff have determined that this delegated authority would mitigate existing constraints that Toronto Animal Services is experiencing when finalizing grant agreements and applying for additional grants. As there is no City-wide protocol for receiving grants, staff have been using the City's Sponsorship Policy where applicable. As grants that Toronto Animal Services may be eligible for do not fit the nature of every aspect of the Sponsorship Policy, staff are seeking clear authority to enable Toronto Animal Services to apply for and receive grants in keeping with various City requirements, policies and practices. The proposed delegated authority would be applicable for grant funding amounting to a maximum of $500,000, and any grant agreement with a funding amount above this threshold would be reported to Council.

In April 2020, Council approved similar authority for the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, under Chapter 169, Officials, City, Article 6, to help streamline grant administration for housing and homelessness programs in Toronto.

As required by the City's Donations to the City of Toronto for Community Benefits Policy, this report also seeks Council approval for TAS to receive a $250,000 bequest. 

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council adopt the Relationship Framework of the City with the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal as set out in Attachment 1 to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Director, Court Services.

2.  City Council approve the amendment of the Code of Conduct for Members of Adjudicative Boards to add the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal to its schedule of applicable boards.

3.  City Council authorize the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to make technical changes to the Relationship Framework and any other changes as may be required to give effect to City Council’s decision.

4.  City Council direct that City Council will appoint the Chair of the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal and that the Vice-Chair of the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal will be selected by tribunal members as opposed to being appointed by City Council.

5.  City Council authorize the City Clerk to recruit members for the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal for review by the appropriate Nominating Panel for recommendation of appointment by City Council.

6.  City Council direct that remuneration for members of the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal is as follows:

a.  nembers receive a per diem of $460 for a full day of hearings;

b.  members receive $275 for a half day of hearings, where a half day is defined as three and a half hours or fewer;

c.  members receive $460 for attendance at a full-day business meeting or training, as required;

d.  members receive $275 for attendance at a half-day business meeting or training, as required, where a half day is defined as three and a half hours or fewer;

e.  members receive $1,500 annually for performing the duties of a Member of the Tribunal; and

f.  the Chair receive $25,000 annually for performing the duties of the Chair of the Tribunal.

The Executive Committee directed the City Manager and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to present the proposed qualifications for members of the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal, set out in Section 6.6.1 of the draft Relationship Framework in Attachment 1 to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Director, Court Services, to the Tenant Advisory Committee and report directly to City Council at its November 8, 9 and 10, 2023 meeting on any additional or modified board-specific qualifications for members of the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal.

This report recommends that City Council adopt the City’s Relationship Framework for the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal in Attachment 1 and as generally described in this report. A Relationship Framework is City Council’s governing instrument for setting out details of the functioning of City tribunals. It also clarifies roles and responsibilities for tribunal members as adjudicators of matters before the tribunal and City staff as administrators of the tribunal.

On December 14, 2022, City Council adopted a Multi-Tenant House regulatory framework that included the establishment of a new Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal. The Relationship Framework outlined in Attachment 1 reflects the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal’s mandate in Chapter 575 of the Toronto Municipal Code, Multi-Tenant Houses which becomes effective on March 31, 2024.

This report also recommends that City Council direct the City Clerk to recruit Members of the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal and compensate the Chair and Members at the proposed rates outlined in Recommendation 6.

Finally, this report recommends that City Council direct that Council will appoint the Chair of the Multi-Tenant House Licensing Tribunal, and that the Vice-Chair will be selected by tribunal members as opposed to being appointed by City Council. This process is consistent with all other City tribunals that have a Vice-Chair.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the alignment of the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (October 17, 2023) from the Executive Director, Transit Expansion.
 

2. City Council approve advancing the 60 percent design for the full Waterfront East Light Rail Transit project from Queens Quay to Villiers Loop; this includes all Segment 2 and 3 components, as well as the Yonge Street Infill and Queens Quay East Extension early works.

3. City Council approve the completion of the following activities:

a. secure environmental approvals for all project components consistent with the current alignment;

b. undertake a Traffic Management Plan to address the construction schedule interface between the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit and other major infrastructure projects in the area; and

c. design and coordinate scope between the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit and the Lake Shore Boulevard East re-alignment and reconfiguration of the Cherry Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East intersection; the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit and the Inner Harbour West Tunnel Project in the vicinity of Queens Quay and Jarvis intersection; and the segment between the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit Cherry Street portal and the Union Station Rail Corridor Hydro One Networks, Inc Relocation project.

4. City Council increase the Transit Expansion Division’s 2023-2032 Capital Budget and Plan by $63.6 million ($21.1 million in 2024, $31.7 million in 2025 and $10.8 million in 2026), with $44.7 million funded by the Roads and Related Development Charge Reserve Fund (XR2110), $10.2 million funded by the Transit Development Charge Reserve Fund (XR2109) and $8.7 million funded by the City Building Fund (XR1730).
 

5. City Council direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, in consultation with the Toronto Transit Commission and Waterfront Toronto, to report back to City Council in 2024 with:

a. an update on the progress made on the design and coordination work identified in Recommendations 2 and 3 above, along with a broader update on advances to the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit project.

The Waterfront East Light Rail Transit (WELRT), consisting of the Union Station to Queens Quay Link and the East Bayfront Light Rail Transit, is a City of Toronto priority transit project. According to growth projections, when fully built, the proposed 3.8-kilometre WELRT project will provide over 50,000 daily trips, bringing higher-order transit to support an estimated 100,000 residents and 50,000 jobs. The WELRT will also provide improved transit options to the Central Waterfront, Lower Yonge, East Bayfront, Quayside, Keating Precinct, Lower Don Lands, and the Port Lands communities and is an integral part of the future development of new communities on Villiers Island and the eastern waterfront. The WELRT is a substantial and critical project within the City’s broader 2018 Waterfront Transit Network Plan (EX30.1).

City staff last reported to City Council in 2022 under EX33.2 – Advancing City Priority Transit Expansion Projects – Eglinton East Light Rail Transit and Waterfront East Light Rail Transit and received direction to undertake a constructability review of the WELRT; report back on a recommended alignment and scope; and to provide an updated cost estimate along with a funding, financing and implementation strategy, including a phasing plan. City staff, in partnership with Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Waterfront Toronto (WT) staff, have advanced the project to 30% design and completed a preliminary design business case, constructability assessment, phasing plan and cost estimate.

As part of the design process and the constructability review, City staff are working to coordinate construction planning with adjacent civil work, including, but not limited to:

- GO Expansion;

- Ontario Line;

- Inner Harbour West Tunnel;

- Villiers Island development;

- Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard East Reconfiguration; and

- Quayside Infrastructure and Public Realm.

Balancing the City’s current financial pressures with City Council’s direction to expedite WELRT construction, the recommendations in this report provide an approach to advance the project while reducing immediate costs by phasing segments. To achieve this, City staff in consultation with the TTC and WT are recommending advancing design to 60% for the Queens Quay, Chery Street and Villiers Island segments of the alignment, as well as the Yonge Street Infill and Queens Quay East Extension early works. This report is also seeking authority to advance additional work, including a traffic management study, and design and scope coordination with other major infrastructure projects in the vicinity of the WELRT.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council receive the Board of Directors of the Good Roads Association Quarterly Committee meetings and Board meeting update on Thursday September 28 and Friday September 29, 2023 for information.

As an appointee by the City of Toronto the Board of Directors of the Good Roads Association, I attended the quarterly Committee meetings and Board meeting on Thursday September 28 and Friday September 29, 2023.

Annual Conference

The 130th year 2024 Good Roads Conference will take place from April 21 – April 24 in Toronto, at the Fairmont Royal York. Conference - Good Roads.  Every year, the Good Roads Annual Conference brings together members and affiliated enterprises for an intensive three-day summit of road-forward thinking. There are a range of Study Tours delegates can take part in across Toronto.

The Executive Committee forwards the Item to City Council without recommendations.

The Executive Committee directed the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, in consultation with Transportation Services and Economic Development and Culture, to report directly to the November 8, 9 and 10, 2023 meeting of City Council with the required bylaw amendments specific to flankage patios, to re-introduce provisions deleted by City Council in 2021 from Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafes and Marketing Displays, which included a process for notice and the authority for the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to refuse an application for a sidewalk café based on receiving objections and an appeal process to community council, where conditions could be added to the permit.

On November 9th 2021, City Council approved item EX27.10 including the direction:

21. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back on options that would permit Community Councils to continue to apply conditions to CaféTO licences for flankage patios.

This has not happened to date and an emerging situation has brought it forward again.

In my ward, which has many fantastic patios, there is one which was an ongoing problem when it was previously open. They have now obtained new AGCO clearance and I am concerned that there is no recourse for reasonable concerns to be expressed. For context, this location had ongoing noise issues and, more concerning, made a lot of women feel unsafe because of ongoing and serious harassment by patrons.

Having no ability for the local community, who are supportive of patios and CafeTO, to be able to express their concern, place conditions, or advocate for a license to be withdrawn in the face of ongoing serious issues.

On October 17, 2023, Councillor Paula Fletcher wrote to the Executive Committee requesting the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division (MLS) to report directly to the November 8, 2023 meeting of City Council with an update on allowing Community Councils to continue to apply conditions and oversee the issuances of flankage patio permits.

Staff have previously addressed this issue in the CaféTO 2023 and Beyond report, which explains how staff issue sidewalk café permits in accordance with delegated authority in Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays. This process does not require a report to Community Council, except for a few instances. In the report, staff did not recommend further requirements to report to Community Council during the café application process and had determined that such a requirement would significantly extend the timeline between applications and permit issuance for businesses and require additional staff resources to manage.

This report reconfirms the recommendations in the CaféTO 2023 and Beyond report to not establish further requirements to report to Community Council during the café application process.

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Federal Government to take urgent action to address the refugee crisis including funding and operationalizing emergency accommodation at federal sites, including federal armouries, and funding and operationalizing a regional refugee reception centre.

2. City Council request the Federal Government to share with the City of Toronto the federal response plan for providing appropriate support services for refugee claimants and reimbursing the City for the full costs incurred supporting refugee claimants.

3. City Council request the Federal Government to ensure that funding through the Interim Housing Assistance Program is allocated based on the number of refugee claimants requiring support in each municipality or region.

4. City Council reiterate to the Federal Government the City of Toronto’s request to the Federal Government to increase the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit allocations across Ontario, including matching recent provincial and municipal program increases with $6.67m in funding for 2023. 

5. City Council forward the Item to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Big City Mayors’ Caucus.

Rema Jamous Imseis, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Canada, gave a presentation on Asylum Claims in a Global Context.

According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), by the end of 2022 at least 108.4 million people around the world had been forced to flee their homes. The impacts of this unprecedented global situation are felt in Canada and here in Toronto, where a growing number of people are arriving daily in search of safety and a new home. To provide more information on this matter, UNHCR Representative Rema Jamous Imseis is available to present to Executive Committee. I am requesting that Executive Committee receive her presentation as the first item on the meeting agenda.

This year, more refugee claims have been made in Ontario than in any other province. By July 2023, the number of claims already surpassed the total made in all of 2022. This increase has placed enormous pressures on City of Toronto programs and services, as well as community agencies. In Toronto's emergency shelter system, refugee claimants now account for 40% of all shelter occupants. With shelters over capacity, an average of 320 people, including 133 refugee claimants, are turned away from Toronto's shelter intake each night due to lack of space.

The Federal Government has failed to implement a systemic, coordinated approach to respond to increase in arrivals of refugee claimants. Instead, and with no alternative, a system designed to respond to local homelessness is being called upon to respond to a national immigration and humanitarian issue. Local governments are doing everything we can to respond to this surge in need. But the situation is unsustainable, and the recent Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) transfers of refugee claimants to other locations outside of Toronto have not substantially alleviated the ongoing pressures on local systems, as new arrivals immediately fill any available spaces.

This situation stands in stark contrast to the Federal Government’s approach to welcoming resettled refugees and Ukrainian arrivals to Canada, where there are organized reception services at entry, followed by comprehensive federally and provincially-funded settlement services. This is also different from the Federal Government's approach in Quebec, where until recently those arriving through Roxham Road were immediately able to access reception and other services at entry.

Reception centres for asylum seekers are a common, best-practice approach around the world. In a recent staff-level meeting with UNHCR Canada, the Agency expressed their strong support for the establishment of a regional reception centre for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Toronto City Council, supported by our community and regional partners, has called on the Federal Government to establish and fund a regional reception centre for refugee claimants arriving at Pearson Airport. We have also advocated for a system-level approach to be created and implemented to ensure a more coordinated, compassionate, and efficient response to future large-scale refugee claimant arrivals.

Based on global trends, this is not a short-term situation. We should expect that the arrivals of asylum seekers in large numbers will continue. Proactive investments from the Federal Government for refugee-specific shelter infrastructure will ensure a more comprehensive support system for refugee claimants, as well as consistent funding for local governments on a fair allocation basis, through the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP).

This will also allow municipalities to focus their efforts on addressing local homelessness and the need for shelter, rather than assuming responsibility for an area that is fundamentally under federal jurisdiction. It is also critical that the Federal Government expand eligibility for federally-funded settlement services to include refugee claimants.

Systemic intervention, including the creation of a reception centre and consistent federal funding for shelter and housing, will not only facilitate a coordinated and effective response, but will ensure that people arriving to Canada looking for safety receive the dignity and support that they deserve.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the General Managers, Economic Development and Culture and Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to form a Toronto Public Markets working group – with representatives from Toronto Public Health; Municipal Licensing and Standards; Corporate Real Estate Management; Transportation Services; Social Development, Finance and Administration; Solid Waste Management Services; and community partners – and develop a Public Markets Action Plan for City Council’s consideration by 2025.

2. City Council authorize the City Manager, or Division Heads designated by the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to negotiate, approve, and execute agreements, including amendments, to receive funds from the Government of Canada or the Government of Ontario or other third parties, in support of Public Markets in Toronto, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3. City Council authorize the City Manager, or Division Heads designated by the City Manager, to negotiate, approve, and execute agreements, including amendments, for the provision of services or activities supporting Public Markets in Toronto, using funds from the approved City Budget or new funding received by the City from third parties per Recommendation 2, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Marina Queirolo, Urban Regional Planning, York University gave a presentation to the Economic and Community Development Committee on Strengthening Toronto's Public Markets and Mid-Size Food Retail Infrastructure.

From June 8-10, 2023, the City of Toronto hosted the 11th International Public Market (IPM) Conference. This event attracted 376 global leaders from 130 cities and 23 countries and showcased Toronto's potential as a "Market City" – a dynamic urban centre with strong networks for the distribution of healthy, regionally produced food and other goods. Toronto’s existing network of 105 public food markets support more than 3,000 urban and rural entrepreneurs (2019 data). This presentation by Marina Queirolo, BA, MES PI., Urban Regional Planning, York University, will highlight insights from the IPM Conference and identify opportunities to strengthen the City’s support for Public Markets and mid-size food retail infrastructure.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the Black-Mandated Funding Framework in Appendix 1 of the report (October 24, 2023) from the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration.

2. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to report back to City Council, through the Economic and Community Development Committee, on the progress and implementation of the Black-Mandated Funding Framework, as part of the annual reporting on Community Funding grants.

3. City Council request the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to provide the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee with an annual report on the progress and implementation of the Black-Mandated Funding Framework.

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving communities with health and socio-economic impacts further amplifying longstanding disparities in access and resources. These circumstances accelerated the modernization of grant making practices long advocated for by community leaders. To respond with nimbleness and urgency, long-standing processes that often resulted in underfunding, specifically for Indigenous and Black communities, were amended to enhance access for community initiatives and innovation efforts. 

This report responds to the need to address the exacerbated inequities intensified during the pandemic. By leveraging the City's Community Funding resources, and more formally adopting the responsive grant making practices that emerged during the pandemic, this report moves the needle on the City's reconciliation and equity commitments. The Indigenous and Black-Mandated Funding Frameworks have been co-designed, respectively, with community to ensure funding is fully inclusive and accessible in a way that deepens equity, removes systemic barriers, and cultivates a long-term commitment to Indigenous and Black communities.

This work builds on the concept of targeted universalism, which is central to the work of Social Development, Finance and Administration. As an equity-centred approach, targeted universalism focuses on developing targeted response measures and interventions that remove systemic barriers for communities who experience disproportionate inequity. By doing so, targeted actions improve standards that benefit all Torontonians, especially other equity-deserving communities that also face significant barriers.

The grant funding provided by Social Development, Finance and Administration under the Community Partnership Investment Program (CPIP) to not-for-profit, grassroots and resident-led groups to deliver social services fuels upstream and prevention initiatives that reduce the financial burden for other orders of government.  The 2023 Operating Budget includes $27.787 million (net) in property tax funding to support these investments.

This report also provides an update on the path Social Development, Finance and Administration has been on since 2018 to increase demonstrable impact within the 171 organizations and 325 programs funded by the Community Service Partnerships grant program. Often considered core or backbone funding for a diverse group of Toronto not-for-profit organizations, the stability of funding and services for Torontonians has been prioritized since the beginning of the pandemic. As we move into a post-pandemic environment, City staff are working with key internal and external stakeholders to envision what a funding portfolio reflective of the City's goals and priorities will look like moving into the mid 2020's.

Finally, this report provides an overview of all grants approved with delegated authority between April 2022 and August 2023. These grants include initiatives to support youth violence prevention programs, grants to support communities as they heal in the aftermath of violent incidents, as well as those designed to support youth and resident leaders to implement initiatives to support their communities.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, or its designate, to negotiate and sign on behalf of the City of Toronto, use of space agreements with those Not-For-Profit organizations - Native Child and Family Resources, Strides Toronto and LAMP Community Health Centre whose space is accessed for the delivery of Enhanced Youth Space Programming as required, for a term of five years, renewable for an additional five-years, at the sole discretion of and with terms and conditions acceptable to the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

This report seeks City Council authority to enter into agreements with three not-for-profit organizations for the joint operation of Enhanced Youth Spaces at various locations across the city. Five of the 22 Enhanced Youth Spaces are located in non-City facilities and operated in connection with Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (2 locations), Strides Toronto (1 location) and LAMP Community Health Centre (2 locations).

Since 2016, Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) has successfully delivered its Enhanced Youth Space program in collaboration with these organizations. The youth served at these locations have been provided the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with peers and staff in order to foster life and social skills that can help lead to employment.

PFR is requesting Council approval to formalize the agreements with each organization in order to continue delivering service within non-City facilities.

Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council, in accordance with the City's Public Appointments Policy, remove the following director from the Uptown Yonge Business Improvement Area (BIA) Board of Management set out below:

          Lokash, Stephen

The purpose of this report is to remove a director from the Uptown Yonge (BIA) Board of Management, in accordance with the requirements of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 19, Business Improvement Areas. The Uptown Yonge BIA falls within two Community Council boundaries.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS) in Attachment 1 to the report (October 10, 2023) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and the Chief Procurement Officer.

2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Chief Building Official, to establish a working group to develop a detailed real estate implementation plan for the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy, including acquisition, leasing, construction and procurement strategies, as well as specific plans to stabilize the existing temporary lease and contract sites expiring in the near term, and report back to Council in the first quarter of 2024 on the plan.

3. City Council approve the proposed Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy 10-Year Plan in Attachment 2 to the report (October 10, 2023) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and the Chief Procurement Officer, and provide authority to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to enter new, or amend existing agreements, as required, to open and operate new shelters and related homelessness services required in alignment with the recommendations in the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

4. City Council request the Mayor to consider the implementation of the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy in proposing the 2024 Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration.

5. City Council approve the 2024 Shelter Infrastructure Plan in Attachment 3 to the report (October 10, 2023) from the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and the Chief Procurement Officer, and provide authority to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to enter new, or amend existing agreements, as required, to open and operate shelters outlined in the 2024 Shelter Infrastructure Plan on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

6. City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration to enter into new or amend existing agreements, other than leases or other property transaction documents for which delegated authority has been granted to Corporate Real Estate Management, to maintain or add required respite spaces and shelter beds and respond to urgent or unanticipated needs to add capacity or relocate shelters, 24-hour respite sites and 24-hour drop-ins on an ongoing basis, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

7. City Council authorize the Chief Procurement Officer to make awards upon the recommendation of the division head who initiated the award recommendation, for competitive and non-competitive procurements with a value exceeding $500,000 for which Bid Award Panel, Standing Committee or City Council approval would normally be required under City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 195, Purchasing, for the provision of construction, legal and/or professional services needed to complete the acquisition of suitable real estate interests and to carry out any necessary pre-development, pre-construction, construction, renovation and conversion of properties for the development of shelter sites to maintain the capacity requirements of the shelter system, and the development of shelter sites under the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy, provided that:

a. the procurement is necessary to meet the goals and timelines of the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy;

b. the procurement is necessary to maintain the short-term capacity requirements of the shelter system;

c. the value of each award is within the funding limits under the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy;

d. the non-competitive or competitive procurement processes were completed in accordance with the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 195, Purchasing, and associated policies and procedures;

e. there are no material risks as to the merits of making any awards;

f. the terms and conditions of any resulting agreements are acceptable to the division head recommending the award and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor; and

g. the term of each resulting agreement does not exceed five (5) years, or the projected term of capital funding under the Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy as approved by Council.

8. City Council request the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario to urgently increase investments in the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) program to meet demand and continue to support newcomers as well as Torontonians in need of housing.

9. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Chief Building Official to conduct an assessment of opportunities for property acquisition of currently leased sites, including motels that are part of the family and refugee shelter program, and to leverage sites for dual purpose of shelter and transitional to permanent housing provision.

10. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Chief Building Official, to explore leveraging City-owned land, including development sites, and to report back to Council in the first quarter of 2024 as part of the Encampment Review Report with an evaluation of opportunities to use City-owned sites for the use of permanent and temporary supportive homes, considering rapid construction techniques including modular and micro-shelter and housing options.

11. City Council request the Government of Ontario to commit to addressing staffing shortages and wage inequality in the shelter and housing sector, and to develop a comprehensive plan for workforce training, support and wage increases for shelter and housing workers.

12. City Council request the Government of Ontario to restore previous cost-share funding agreements for shelter operations.

13. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to explore acquiring school board properties that have been declared surplus and to report back to the appropriate Committee on the findings by the second quarter of 2024.

The shelter system is full, and the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration's (SSHA) existing long-term capital budget is insufficient to meet the needs of the system and those who rely on it. Shelter demand continues to grow at unprecedented rates, and additional pressures on shelter capacity are expected due to the closure of temporary COVID-19 hotel sites as part of the Council approved COVID-19 Transition and Relocation Plan. There is currently no capital funding to replace this lost capacity. SSHA has made efforts to maximize capacity within the shelter system, however demand for shelter space continues to outpace capacity. In addition, SSHA has become increasingly reliant on temporary short-term leases and contracts to address demand and replace lost shelter capacity. This approach is costly and creates significant operational complications. To improve shelter system stability and recovery, maximize resources, and be more responsive to the needs of people experiencing homelessness, a strategic plan for shelter infrastructure in the City of Toronto is needed.

The purpose of this report is to outline a long-term, proactive approach to capital planning through the new Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS). Solutions mobilized during the pandemic, while necessary to support the health and safety of shelter clients and save lives, are becoming more costly and challenging options for the long-term sustainability of Toronto's shelter system. This report seeks approval for a plan to increase the total number of new long-term and permanent spaces in the base shelter system by 1,600 spaces between 2024 and 2033. The majority of these new spaces will be used to replace the temporary spaces expected to be lost through the planned COVID-19 hotel site closures. Funding will also go towards other projects needed to support recovery and stability in the shelter system, including moderately growing shelter capacity in areas where there is significant need (families, youth, and Indigenous peoples), and developing a flex space to help facilitate expected state of good repair (SOGR) projects that necessitate client relocation. SSHA is committed to working collaboratively with shelter operators and other community partners to implement the HSCIS.

This report also provides an update on SSHA's 2024 Shelter Infrastructure Plan as required by the Emergency Shelter Development Process (ESDP), approved by City Council in 2017. The infrastructure plan provides updates on progress on the Housing and Shelter Infrastructure Development project (HSID, formerly 1,000 beds), the George Street Revitalization (GSR) project, and recommends new projects as part of the HSCIS that will begin in 2024.

In addition, this report provides an update on the Council-approved phase two of the COVID-19 Shelter Transition and Relocation Plan, and outlines next steps for phase three. Moving forward, this work will be integrated with the HSCIS approach to transition from the emergency-focused COVID-19 response to a long-term, proactive approach to capital planning for Toronto’s shelter system.

The recommendations in this report will help address infrastructure challenges and create stability within the shelter system until adequate housing solutions are in place. The new spaces will also help address immediate pressures on the shelter system. However, in addition to these new shelter spaces, and in alignment with previously approved approaches, it's essential that the City also continue to invest in supportive housing to help people experiencing homelessness permanently leave the shelter system for housing. It is also critical that the City continue to work with the federal and provincial governments to establish sustainable and collaborative solutions for refugee claimants arriving in Toronto requiring access to shelter spaces. At a time when shelter demand is growing at unprecedented rates, investments in both housing and shelter projects are critical to helping people who are in immediate need of shelter, and helping more people transition out of the shelter system permanently into housing than are entering homelessness.

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Government of Canada to immediately fund and operationalize emergency accommodation sites on federal lands for refugee claimants currently in Toronto, including but not limited to the federal armouries, to provide emergency safe, indoor spaces for this population for the duration of the winter season.

2. City Council request the Government of Canada to immediately fund and operationalize, in partnership with the Red Cross and the Ontario Coalition for Refugee Claimants, a federal Reception Centre for refugee claimants in the vicinity of Pearson Airport, modeled on federally-funded and supported initiatives for Ukrainian arrivals and for refugee claimants at land crossings in Quebec, and to implement a transition plan for all new arrivals at the Reception Centre to IRCC-funded shelter and support services.

3. City Council request the Government of Canada share with the City of Toronto the federal response plan for providing appropriate support services, including housing support, for refugee claimants in order to meet the increased need for such services given the growing number of asylum claims, year-over-year, following the Government of Canada's decision to change eligibility requirements for visitor visas.

4. City Council request, in addition to City Council's previous request in item CC10.2 for the full reimbursement for costs incurred supporting refugee claimants in Toronto's shelter system, that the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario provide additional funding to the City of Toronto for the Winter Services Response for the activation of additional Warming Centres, respite spaces and surge capacity locations for people seeking indoor shelter in the 2023-2024 winter season.

Toronto’s shelter system is full, and demand for shelter services is at an all-time high. Current demand for shelter space is so high that every night the City is unable to provide shelter to hundreds of people requesting a space.

This report provides an update on the City’s Winter Services plan. Expanded services during the winter season (November 15 to April 15) provide warm, indoor space for people experiencing homelessness and protect people from cold and extreme weather during the winter months. Shelter, Support & Housing Administration’s preparation for winter 2023/2024 began at the end of the last winter season in April 2023, and has sited Warming Centres and a 24-hour winter respite, as directed by Council. The added space during the winter is critical to help move people who are sleeping outdoors into indoor space, including those people currently sleeping in encampments and on the transit system. With recent surges in demand, there are undeniable significant pressures on Toronto’s shelter system, and the City expects demand to continue to rise during the winter months and throughout 2024.

The winter spaces that have been secured may not be sufficient to address overall shelter system capacity needs. Demand is far greater than the current system can accommodate. The City is doing everything it can to support the increasing number of refugee claimants that continue to add pressure to the system. The City desperately requires immediate support from the Federal and Provincial governments to avoid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the winter months. The City has communicated its need to the Federal Government, as adopted by City Council in CC10.2, as it relates to responding to the increasing refugee crisis in Toronto. This need for federal support becomes even more critical as we get into the winter months. Although the City continues to reiterate the need for support from the Federal and Provincial Governments, Shelter, Support & Housing Administration is also continuing to identify additional options to respond to the demands during winter, including continuing to work with other City divisions, as part of a City-wide approach, to responding to this crisis. 

The report also provides report backs to Economic and Community Development Committee (ECDC) as requested by previous Council motions, including updates on the frequency of Deaths of Shelter Residents data sharing, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) in the shelter system, audits of shelter-hotel operations examining health and safety, harm reduction practices, food quality, and rules such as bed checks, and the feasibility of obtaining more rent supplements and housing allowances.

The General Government Committee recommend that:

1. City Council grant authority to the General Manager, Fleet Services, to amend the legal agreement with General Motors of Canada Company for the purchase of vehicles and vehicle up-fitting, to increase the value of Purchase Order Number 6050803 by $21,577,224 net of Harmonized Sales Tax and all applicable charges ($21,956,983 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries), and to exercise the final renewal option year from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The increase and the extension were previously adopted under item GL19.17 by City Council at its meeting on December 16, 2020.

The purpose of this report is to seek authority for the General Manager, Fleet Services, to amend the legal agreement with General Motors of Canada Company for the purchase of vehicles and vehicle up-fitting.

Due to logistical and invoice payment changes, General Motors of Canada Company’s name was inadvertently left out of the recommendation included in GL19.17, adopted by City Council on December 16, 2020. GL19.17 which requested an increase to the value of Purchase Order Number 6050803 by $21,577,224 net of Harmonized Sales Tax and all applicable charges ($21,956,983 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries), and to exercise the final renewal option year from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. This amendment is technical in nature and there is no financial impact.

The General Government Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the Chief Procurement Officer to negotiate and execute a non-competitive agreement from the date of award to April 30, 2024, with Bio Nuclear Diagnostics Inc., in the amount of $510,000 net of all taxes and charges ($518,976 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries), on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Procurement Officer, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The purpose of this report is to request authority to enter into a non-competitive contract with Bio Nuclear Diagnostics Inc., for the supply and delivery of Nitrile Gloves for City of Toronto Purchasing and Materials Management (Stores) Division. This contract will be for a period of six (6) months, in the total amount of $510,000 net of all taxes and charges ($518,976 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries).

The new contract is requested to continue procurement of nitrile gloves until a new competitive contract is awarded. Bio Nuclear Diagnostics Inc., is the recommended supplier as they meet the specifications and have provided the competitive pricing. Additionally, the supplier was previously able to maintain sufficient inventory to meet the City's high-volume needs.

City Council approval is required in accordance with Municipal Code Chapter 195- Purchasing, where the current request exceeds the Chief Purchasing Officer's authority of the cumulative five-year commitment for each supplier, under Article 7, Section 195-7.3 (D) of the Purchasing By-Law or exceeds the threshold of $500,000 net of Harmonized Sales Tax allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71- Financial Control, Section 71-11A.

The General Government Committee recommend that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Toronto Water to negotiate and execute a non-competitive agreement from the date of award to July 31, 2025, with Wachs Canada Ltd., for an initial contract period of two (2) years, commencing on the date of award to July 31, 2025, with three (3) separate optional one (1) year renewals in the amount of $1,506,345 net of Harmonized Sales Tax ($1,532,857 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries), on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Toronto Water, in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The purpose of this report is to request City Council authority to enter into a non-competitive contract with Wachs Canada Ltd., for replacement parts and equipment for all water trucks on behalf of Toronto Water Division. The contract will be for an initial period of two (2) years, commencing on the date of award to July 31, 2025, with three (3) separate optional one (1) year renewals, in the total amount of $1,506,345 net of Harmonized Sales Tax ($1,532,857 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries).

The contract was originally awarded to Wachs Canada Ltd., on February 28, 2021, where the City entered into the non-competitive Blanket Contract number 47023553 with Wachs Canada Ltd., the exclusive distributor of Wachs equipment.

The new contract is requested to continue procurement of replacement parts and equipment for all trucks which come equipped from Fleet Services with Wachs Canada Ltd., winders equipment installed. Wachs is the sole distributor and exclusive supplier for the repair components for their own equipment. A proprietary letter confirms the exclusive distributorship of Wachs Canada Ltd., for the parts and equipment required.

City Council approval is required in accordance with Municipal Code Chapter 195- Purchasing, where the current request exceeds the Chief Purchasing Officer's authority of the cumulative five year commitment for each supplier, under Article 7, Section 195-7.3 (D) of the Purchasing By-Law or exceeds the threshold of $500,000 net of Harmonized Sales Tax allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71- Financial Control, Section 71-11A.

The General Government Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the City to enter into lease extension agreements (the “Extension Agreements”) with 51 commercial tenants, as listed in Appendix A, for the use of approximately 37,390 square feet of area within the building known municipally as St. Lawrence Market South building located at 91-95 Front Street (the “Leased Premises”) for a further term of five years (the "Extension Term") from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2024, substantially on the terms and conditions set out in Appendix B, and on such other terms and conditions as approved or amended by the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management or their designate, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the City to enter into a licence and a lease agreement with 8803552 Canada Inc. (operating as "ChocoSol Traders") (the “ChocoSol Agreements”), substantially on the terms and conditions set out in Appendix C, and on such other terms and conditions as approved or amended by the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, or their designate, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

3. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, to negotiate, approve and enter into an interest-free rent deferral agreement with 8803552 Canada Inc., to defer rent payable from July 1, 2020, to October 31, 2022 (the “ChocoSol Rent Deferral Agreement”), and such agreement to be in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

4. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to further extend the initial rent deferral period from April 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020 (authorized under Item Number CC24.02), as extended until June 30, 2021 (authorized under Item Number EX21.2) until October 31, 2022, provided that such qualifying tenant or licensee had a lease or a licence that was in good standing prior to April 1, 2020.

5. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management and the Director, Property Management Services severally to execute and deliver the Extension Agreements, the ChocoSol Agreements, the ChocoSol Rent Deferral Agreement, the rent deferral agreements, and any related documents contemplated thereunder on behalf of the City.

6. City Council authorize the Director, Property Management Services, or their designate, to administer and manage the Extension Agreements, the ChocoSol Agreements, the ChocoSol Rent Deferral Agreement, the rent deferral agreements, and amendments, including the provision of any consents, approvals, waivers, notices, and notices of termination, provided that the Director, Property Management Services, may, at any time, refer consideration of such matters to City Council for its determination and direction.

The purpose of this report is to obtain City Council authority to enter into numerous real estate related agreements in connection with the operation of St. Lawrence Market (South) (the "South Market") to ensure the financial sustainability of the South Market and continued success of its tenants. This report specifically seeks Council authority to:

 - Enter into lease extension agreements (the "Extension Agreements") with 51 commercial tenants for the use of approximately 37,390 square feet of space at the building municipally known as St. Lawrence Market South Market Building located at 91-95 Front Street East (the "Leased Premises") for a further term of five years (the "Extension Term");

- Enter into a licence and a lease agreement with 8803552 Canada Inc. (operating as "ChocoSol Traders") (the “ChocoSol Agreements”);

- Negotiate, approve, and enter into an interest-free rent deferral agreement with 8803552 Canada Inc., to defer rent payable from July 1, 2020, to October 31, 2022 (the “ChocoSol Rent Deferral Agreement”); and

- Further extend the initial rent deferral period until October 31, 2022.

The tenants within the South Market have been occupying the Leased Premises on a month-to-month basis under lease agreements that have been in overhold since January 1, 2020. Although the City had initially planned to negotiate the extension of various leases during 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an indefinite postponement and instead, focused on supporting tenants through the pandemic to stimulate business recovery and avoid vacancy loss. With the pandemic concluding and the recovery of both the retail and tourism sectors having substantially occurred, Corporate Real Estate Management ("CREM") engaged with South Market tenants throughout 2023 to negotiate and extend the lease agreements. The Extension Term aligns with the implementation of the recently finalized five-year strategic plan for the St. Lawrence Market District, developed in partnership with the St. Lawrence Market Precinct Advisory Committee ("SLMPAC), a civic committee that is an advocate for the Market Precinct and that assists the City in making key management decisions so that the Precinct maximizes its excellence as a vital, dynamic, and beautiful space that celebrates its heritage.

The General Government Committee recommend that:  

1. City Council authorize the City and the Board to enter into a licence agreement (the "New Licence Agreement") with Astral Media Outdoor L.P. substantially on the terms and conditions set out in Appendix C and in Confidential Attachment 1, and such other and amended terms and conditions as may be satisfactory to the Interim Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services and Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place, or their designates, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the Director, Transaction Services to execute the New Licence Agreement set out in Recommendation 1, and any related or ancillary agreements, on behalf of the City.

3. City Council authorize the Director, Transaction Services to administer and manage the New Licence Agreement, including the provision of any consents, approvals, waivers and notices, provided that the Director, Transaction Services may, at any time, refer consideration of such matters to City Council for direction and determination.

4. City Council direct that the information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 remain confidential in its entirety, as it contains financial information that belongs to the City and Board and has monetary value or potential monetary value.

The purpose of this report is to seek Council authority to enter into a new licence agreement (the "New Licence Agreement") between the City (the "Licensor") and Astral Media Outdoor, L.P. ("Astral" or "Licensee"), for the continued operation of an existing outdoor digital billboard sign (the "Sign") located at Toronto Parking Authority Lot 854 of Exhibition Place, based on the negotiated terms and conditions included in this report under Appendix C and Confidential Attachment 1. The Board approved the New Licence Agreement by adoption of Item EP5.7 at its meeting of September 15, 2023 and will be a signatory, along with the City, to the New Licence Agreement.

Astral is party to an existing 15-year agreement (the "Existing Licence Agreement") with the Board for operation of the Sign which expires on December 31, 2023. Astral contacted Exhibition Place in May 2023 and met with staff from both Exhibition Place and Corporate Real Estate Management ("CREM"), City of Toronto to indicate its desire to continue its operation of the Sign and subsequently provided a financial proposal and terms. Given the specialized nature of the billboard sign industry, Corporate Real Estate Management engaged an industry consultant to assist with the negotiations with Astral.

The General Government Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the initiation of expropriation proceedings for temporary easements over parts of 2333 Dundas Street West and 2295 Dundas Street West, as set out in Attachment A (the "Property Requirements") for the purposes of facilitating the renovation of the adjacent City-owned building at 2299 Dundas Street West (the "City Building").

2. City Council grant authority to serve and publish the Notices of Application for Approval to Expropriate for the Property Requirements, to forward to the Ontario Land Tribunal any requests for hearings received, to attend the hearing(s) to present the City's position, and to report the Ontario Land Tribunal's recommendations to City Council for its consideration.

This report seeks authority to initiate expropriation proceedings for temporary easement interests over parts of 2295 Dundas Street West and 2333 Dundas Street West (the "Property Requirements") required to facilitate renovations of an adjacent City-owned building at 2299 Dundas Street West (the "City Building") to accommodate residents and clients from Shelter, Support and Housing Administration's Seaton House.

In January 2020, City Council approved the initiation of expropriation proceedings to acquire the original property requirements with two separate property owners: 1) 2295 Dundas Street West ("Property Owner A"); 2) 2333 Dundas Street West ("Property Owner B"). As a result of negotiations in 2020, Property Owner A agreed to enter into an amicable agreement to register a temporary easement against the property (the "Amicable Easement"). This would have allowed the City to carry out the necessary work with respect to 2295 Dundas Street West. Unfortunately, a negotiated agreement with Property Owner B could not be finalized and consequently the work was not completed. As the Amicable Easement is due to expire on December 31, 2023, City staff are recommending that Stage 1 expropriation proceeding be initiated to protect project timelines, should the ongoing negotiations to extend the duration of the Amicable Easement be unsuccessful.

This is Stage 1 of the expropriation process. Should City Council adopt the recommendations in this report, staff will serve and publish the Notice of Application for Approval to Expropriate in accordance with the Expropriations Act (the "Act"). Owners will have 30 days to request a hearing into whether the City's proposed taking is fair, sound and reasonably necessary.

Staff will report back to City Council with a Stage 2 report, providing details on property values and other costs, and if a hearing is requested, the report of the Ontario Land Tribunal. The proposed expropriation would only be affected after adoption by City Council (as approving authority) of the Stage 2 report, and by registration of an expropriation plan, which would then be followed by the service of further notices as required by the Act.

Before the City could take possession of the expropriated property, offers of compensation based on appraisal reports must be served on each Registered Owner as defined in the Act.

The General Government Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 213, Real Property, by deleting General Condition (H) in Appendix B and replacing it with the following:

(H) Authority to acquire property in fee simple is conditional upon provision being made to bring the property into compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations and policies, such that it will be fit for its intended municipal purpose, except in the case of: (i) acquisitions of 50 square metres or less for transit shelter purposes; and (ii) acquisitions which, if the property was instead being conveyed to the City pursuant to a development application approval, would be exempt from the peer review process pursuant to the City's "Policy for Accepting Potentially Contaminated Lands to be Conveyed to the City under the Planning Act", as amended from time to time.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to submit the necessary bill(s) to amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 213, Real Property, to give effect to City Council's decision.

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council authority to amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 213, Real Property in order to provide staff authority to approve the acquisition of certain small parcels of land that present reduced environmental risk to the City, without carrying out environmental due diligence, consistent with the exemptions from the peer review process that are set out in the City's Policy for Accepting Potentially Contaminated Lands to be Conveyed to the City under the Planning Act.

As part of the City's modernization efforts, delegating this authority to staff will bring several benefits including reduced reporting burden, property acquisition cost savings and a streamlined property acquisition process. These benefits will ultimately allow City projects requiring property acquisitions that pose a reduced environmental risk to the City, to proceed in more expeditious manner. Staff are still required to satisfy all other General Conditions set out in the Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 213, Real Property, including consultation with the local ward Councillor prior to the exercise of delegated authority and transacting at an amount no less than the appraised market value.

The General Government Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council adopt the confidential recommendations contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 13, 2023) from the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the public release of the confidential recommendations contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 13, 2023) from the City Solicitor, if adopted by City Council.

3. City Council direct that the balance of Confidential Attachment 1 to this report (October 13, 2023) from the City Solicitor remain confidential as it contains advice about litigation or potential litigation that affects the City of Toronto and contains advice or communications that are subject to solicitor-client and litigation privilege.

The General Government Committee recessed its public session to meet in closed session to consider this item, as it relates to the receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

This report is about two separate legal claims the City has commenced in respect of City-owned sewers that the City claims were damaged by adjacent construction work.

In respect of 45 Bulwer Street, the City is claiming damages against the owners and parties who performed work for a construction project at 45 Bulwer Street.

In respect of 160 Front Street West, the City is claiming damages against the owners, contractors, and consultants for a construction project at 160 Front Street West.

Confidential Attachment 1 contains legal advice from the City Solicitor regarding the litigation.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to enter into a nominal license agreement with Toronto Cultural Advisory Corporation operating as the Toronto Arts Council for the use of parks by various artists to be selected by Toronto Arts Council for the "Arts in the Parks" program for a term of five years, renewable for an additional five-year term at the sole discretion of the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

Parks, Forestry and Recreation has been collaborating with the Toronto Cultural Advisory Corporation operating as the Toronto Arts Council (TAC) to deliver the Arts in the Parks program since the summer of 2016. The program has been renewed on an annual basis since then. The program has provided accessible opportunities for artists and free access to view installations and participate in programming to residents and visitors.

This report seeks authority to enter into a renewed five-year agreement, in order to formalize the licence agreement with Toronto Arts Council and grant licensee authority to continue operating the Arts in the Parks program for a term of five years across 26 select City park locations and one property managed by Toronto Regional Conservation Authority.

 The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend Appendix C: Construction Hubs to the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use Of, to include new construction hubs in wards 3, 8 and 19 and the expansion of four (4) existing construction hubs generally as set out in Appendix 1 to the report (October 11, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor or General Manager, Transportation Services, in order to give effect to City Council's decision.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to negotiate, enter into and execute an agreement with Toronto Police Services Board for the use of callback police officers and special constables to expand the Traffic Agent Program as required, generally upon such terms and conditions as described in the report (October 11, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, and upon such other terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services.

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to take all reasonable measures to recruit and train Traffic Agents to the extent necessary to expand the Traffic Agent Program as generally as described in the report (October 11, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, and upon such other terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services.

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to propose where feasible, in the first quarter of 2024, a fee increase for road encroachment permits that slow vehicular traffic on Toronto Transit Commission bus routes, to take into full account the measures necessary to overcome their adverse impacts on the timeliness and reliability of Toronto Transit Commission service, as well as on the safety of vulnerable road users.

5. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to ensure that Traffic Agents are trained and instructed, throughout the course of their duties on giving priority emphasis to vulnerable road users, with specific focus on accessibility needs, and on transit vehicles when implementing the Traffic Agent program.

6. City Council request the Toronto Parking Authority to relocate any electric vehicle charging infrastructure that is located in a “rush hour no parking” zone to a nearby location that is not located in a “rush hour no parking” zone.

7. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report to the January 9, 2024 Infrastructure and Environment Committee with:

a. Measures that can be implemented to improve way-finding on long term road closures, including but not limited to pavement markings and better signage, reducing the need for temporary measures on sidewalks such as displaceable pylons.
 

8. City Council request that the General Manager, Transportation Services, report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, semi-annually, beginning on January 9, 2024, on the status of congestion in the City of Toronto and the implementation of the Congestion Management Plan.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, provide a supplementary report directly to the November 8, 9 and 10, 2023 City Council meeting covering:

a. The status of work regarding MM5.26 "Don't Block the Box," requesting increased fines and best practices for "don’t block the box" solutions beyond an increased fine, including the feasibility of expanding the red light camera program;

b. The structure of the dedicated event management team and construction coordination teams; and

c. The relationship with the Province of Ontario around events coordination and congestion management.

The General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Director, Traffic Management, gave a presentation on Congestion Management Plan 2023-2026.

The City is facing an unprecedented amount of construction road closures creating congestion issues for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians and surface street transit. There has also been a significant demand for special events in the City post-pandemic with the needs for road closures and more comprehensive traffic management strategies to minimize the impacts. This situation emphasizes the demand for better coordination of access to the right-of-way and the need for improved traffic management overall to help mitigate the impacts of congestion while maintaining safety for all road users.

The Congestion Management Plan was originally adopted by City Council in 2013 and was updated in November of 2015 to cover the period 2016 through 2020. In 2020 City Council adopted Congestion Management Plan 2021-25 Interim Action Plan.

This report serves as an update to the Congestion Management Plan and refocuses on four (4) key target objectives to address the current congestion issues facing the City:

-  Leveraging Technology to Better Coordinate Construction on City Streets and expanding the Construction Hub program

-  Establishing a dedicated traffic management team that will work with stakeholders such as Toronto Police Services, Toronto Parking Authority, Toronto Transit Commission, Metrolinx GO, the Office of Emergency Management and City Councillors to improve traffic management planning efforts around major events while also coordinating with ongoing construction

-  Providing increased traffic management support for surface street transit for both Toronto Transit Commission and Metrolinx GO to help mitigate the impacts of construction related route diversions

-  Investigating Intelligent Transportation Systems, including Artificial Intelligence and Internet-of-Things technology to better optimize traffic signal operations to help all modes move more efficiently and safely with less delay around the City. 

The report outlines each of the measures and programs as well as the required Council actions to advance specific aspects of the plan.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize up to 1000 Free-Floating Car-Share parking permits be issued to a car-share organization / company on a first-come, first-serve basis.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 925, Permit Parking, as follows:

a. by deleting from Section 925-5.1 A(2) the number "500" and inserting the number "1000"; and

b. by deleting from Section 925-5.1 B(5) the number "500" and inserting the number "1000".

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor or General Manager, Transportation Services, in order to give effect to Recommendations 1 and 2, above.

4. City Council direct the General Manager of Transportation Services to evaluate opportunities to make free floating shared cars available to people throughout the city.

5. City Council request that the General Manager, Transportation Services, inform all car-share organizations applying for City of Toronto permits under the Free-Floating Car-Share or Car-Share Vehicle Parking Area programs, of the City’s climate goal of being net-zero by 2040 and the need to reduce the number of gas-powered vehicles on Toronto’s streets.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council approval to increase the number of free-floating car-share permits an individual car-share organization / company can acquire under the free-floating car-share program. The current program allows individual companies to purchase a maximum of five hundred (500) free-floating car-share permits out of the total two thousand (2000) permits made available by the City of Toronto. If approved, individual companies would be able to acquire up to one thousand (1000) free-floating car-share permits each on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1.  City Council adopt the updated 2023 Traffic Calming Policy as detailed in Attachment 2 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

2.  City Council amend §27-18.4B(9), Traffic Calming, of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, as follows:

a.  by deleting from subsection (a)[3] the phrase: “Chicanes” and inserting the phrase: "Speed cushions";

b.  by deleting from subsection (b) the phrase: "that do not have an established Toronto Transit Commission route"; and

c.  by deleting subsection (c):

"Despite Subsection B(9)(b), the authority to waive petition and polling requirements under the City's Traffic Calming Policy for traffic calming proposals."

3.  City Council adopt the 'Framework and Expanded Criteria for Establishing Community Safety Zones', detailed in Attachment 3 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services for creating Community Safety Zones outside of School Zones.

4.  City Council rescind the Community Safety Zone designations and / or designate the Community Safety Zones and authorize the amendments to Schedule XXXIII to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, generally as set out in Attachment 4, as amended by Infrastructure and Environment Committee, to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

5.  City Council designate the school locations as Community Safety Zones and authorize the amendments to Schedule XXXIII to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, generally as set out in the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

6.  City Council renew the previous request to the Ontario Minister of Transportation to change the maximum Blood Alcohol Concentration for all licensed motorcycle drivers to 0 percent.

7.  City Council request that the Ontario Minister of Transportation create a provincial Impaired-Driving Task Force to support the prevention, awareness, enforcement and treatment of impaired driving and to generate more collaboration and consensus for effective solutions to address impaired driving across Ontario.

8.  City Council amend the Zebra Crosswalk Policy to include zebra crosswalks at mid-block school crossing guard locations with active guards.

9.  City Council authorize the inclusion of collector roads within designated areas with a speed limit of 30 kilometre per hour under Section 950-701 of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, subject to listed exclusions.

10.  City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor or General Manager, Transportation Services, in order to give effect to Recommendations 1 through 9, above.

11. City Council request the Toronto Police Services Board and Toronto Parking Authority in partnership with Transportation Services to improve the safety of vulnerable road users by following the lead of Calgary and Montreal and acquiring at least 10 mobile automated licence plate readers for use, as a pilot project, primarily in enforcing parking offences that adversely affect the safety of vulnerable road users, such as obstructing bike lanes and blocking visibility at intersections, and to include an evaluation of the effectiveness of this pilot project in the overall parking strategy report scheduled for 2024.

12. City Council direct Financial Services to earmark, where feasible, the revenue from the parking tickets collected through the pilot automated licence plate reader project to the pilot project, to the extent necessary to recover the cost of the project.

13. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to report, at least once a year, on how Toronto’s lack of safe infrastructure for vulnerable road users is affecting Toronto’s air quality, climate, public health and congestion goals.

14. City Council affirm the importance of safety in construction zones whereby staff:

a. Manage construction zones with priority emphasis to emergency vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, while also ensuring worker safety;

b. Ensure safe, accessible and well-marked paths of travel for pedestrians in all construction zones; and

c. Maintain protected cyclist infrastructure to the greatest extent possible with well-marked signage and leveraging best practices from other jurisdictions.

The General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Director, Project Design and Management, gave a presentation on Updates on Vision Zero Road Safety Initiatives - New Traffic Calming Policy, Community Safety Zone Criteria, Zebra Marking Policy, Approach to Area-Based Speed Limit Reductions and Related Council Requests.

The City Council adopted Vision Zero Road Safety Plan is a comprehensive action plan focused on eliminating traffic related fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto's streets. Since the inception of the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan in 2017, the City's investment in and delivery of the plan is making a difference - the number of fatalities and serious injuries have been on the decline. No loss of life as a result of traffic collisions is acceptable - Transportation Services is committed to working with City Council and the public in continuing to build on progress made to date, to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto's roadways.

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan as well as several requests made by City Council of the General Manager, Transportation Services. This report is divided into four sections, covering the following initiatives:

1.  Overall update on the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan

2.  Proposed update to the Traffic Calming Policy

3.  Update on Automated Enforcement and Community Safety Zones

-  Proposed framework guiding the creation of Community Safety Zones outside of school zones

-  New and revised Community Safety Zone designations within school zones to support Automated Speed Enforcement

-  Update on Automated Enforcement Programs

4.  Report back on other Vision Zero Tools and related City Council requests

-  Report back on impaired driving in consultation with Toronto Police Service

-  Minor update to the Zebra Marking Policy to add mid-block school crossing guard locations

-  Updates on area-based speed limit reductions

-  Report Back on Traffic Control Warrants and Complete and Safe Street Design Considerations

1. Overall update on the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan: The Vision Zero 2.0 Road Safety Plan adopted by Council in 2019 recommended a set of extensive, proactive and targeted initiatives, informed by data and aimed at eliminating serious injury and fatalities on Toronto’s roads. This report provides an update on key accomplishments to date and a summary of recent data trends on safety outcomes.

2. Proposed update to the Traffic Calming Policy: Requests from Council to review the existing 2002 Traffic Calming Policy provided an opportunity to propose updates to the policy in alignment with the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan with the objective of delivering more traffic calming measures (speed humps and speed cushions) because they are a cost-efficient, effective, and quick tool to improve safety of neighbourhood streets, as well as to propose  process changes to more effectively support other speed management measures like local road speed limit reductions.

3. Update on Automated Enforcement and Community Safety Zones: these sections all address different tools associated with Automated Enforcement as well as the establishment of Community Safety Zones

Proposed Framework Guiding the Creation of Community Safety Zones Outside of School Zones:  Staff was directed to develop a framework to evaluate requests for Community Safety Zone designations in order to implement Automated Speed Enforcement outside of school zones. This report seeks approval on a framework for expanding Community Safety Zones beyond school frontages to areas across the community to enable the expansion of Automated Speed Enforcement.

New and Revised Community Safety Zone Designations within School Zones to Support Automated Speed Enforcement: Staff is recommending updates to some existing Community Safety Zones as well as adding new ones in school zones to support Automated Speed Enforcement for particular locations.

Update on Automated Enforcement Programs: This report includes an update on the City's Automated Enforcement efforts including Automated Speed Enforcement evaluation and options for possible program expansion.

4. Report back on other Vision Zero Tools and related City Council requests: these sections all address different tools to support the continued delivery of the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, some of which are City Council-directed

Report Back on Impaired Driving in Consultation with Toronto Police Service: As directed by City Council, staff have reviewed statistics related to impaired driving as well as outlining approaches taken to address this ongoing concern to road safety.

Minor Update to the City's Zebra Marking Policy to Add Mid-block School Crossing Guard Locations: Staff have identified that mid-block locations with active school crossing guards are currently not eligible for zebra markings and propose to add these locations to improve visibility.

Updates on Area-Based Speed Limit Reductions: Staff have received feedback from Councillors and residents that, as part of the ongoing 30 kilometres per hour speed limit reductions, the exclusion of 30 kilometres per hour collector roads in speed limit areas has resulted in confusion and extra signage. This change will allow the modification of the speed limit areas to reduce the number of signs.

Report Back on Traffic Control Warrants and Complete and Safe Street Design Considerations: These sections include a report back on updated warrants to evaluate all-way stop control, pedestrian crossovers and traffic control signals as well as a summary of efforts taken to date to ensure that Complete and Safe Street designs are considered for every major road rehabilitation project.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council grant an exemption to section 3.6 of the Street Naming Policy, which states, "Streets that have been named, renamed, or assigned a Ceremonial Name or whose names have been reviewed within the previous ten years will generally not be renamed or reviewed” and direct staff to report in 2024 regarding a name for the existing Cherry Street and renaming “New Cherry Street” to “Cherry Street” as part of a broader engagement on place names in Villiers Island with Treaty partners and urban Indigenous communities.

2. City Council authorize the temporary full closure to all road users of Villiers Street from a point 144 metres east of Munition Street to Don Roadway, from November 30, 2023 to December 31, 2024, inclusive, to facilitate ongoing construction activities within the Port Lands.

3. City Council authorize the temporary full closure to all road users of Villiers Street from Don Roadway to Saulter Street South, from November 30, 2023 to December 31, 2024, inclusive, to facilitate ongoing construction activities within the Port Lands.

4. City Council authorize the temporary full closure to all road users of Old Cherry Street from Lake Shore Boulevard East to Villiers Street, from November 30, 2023 to December 31, 2024, inclusive, to facilitate ongoing construction activities within the Port Lands.

5. City Council authorize a northerly westbound cycle track on Commissioners Street, between a point 176 metres east of Don Roadway and Saulter Street, from November 30, 2023 to December 31, 2024, inclusive.

6. City Council authorize a southerly eastbound cycle track on Commissioners Street, between a point 176 metres east of Don Roadway and Saulter Street, from November 30, 2023 to December 31, 2024, inclusive.

7. City Council authorize the installation of temporary bicycle lanes on Cherry Street, between Mill Street and a point 134.5 metres south on the easterly northbound lanes and westerly southbound lanes, in effect at all times, to December 31, 2024, inclusive.

8. City Council continue to authorize the installation of temporary traffic control signals at the intersection of Commissioners Street and Cherry Street to December 31, 2024, inclusive.

9. City Council authorize a temporary westerly northbound and southbound cycle track on Cherry Street, between a point 23 metres south of Polson Street and a point 104 metres further south to April 30, 2024, inclusive.

10. City Council authorize to December 31, 2024, inclusive, temporary cycle tracks on the following sections of roadway,

a. Cherry Street from a point 134.5 metres south of Mill Street to Lake Shore Boulevard East;

b. Saulter Street South from Villiers Street to Commissioners Street; and 

c. Commissioners Street from Saulter Street South to Carlaw Avenue.

and amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 886, Footpaths, Pedestrian Ways, Bicycle Paths, Bicycle Lanes and Cycle Tracks, generally as described in Attachment 10 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.  

11. City Council authorize a temporary westerly northbound and southbound cycle track on Cherry Street, between a point 23 metres south of Polson Street and a point 104 metres further south, to April 30, 2024, inclusive.

12. City Council authorize public highway designation for the lands set out in Attachment 11 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to be dedicated in name as either Cherry Street or New Cherry Street, to take effect on the date that the last of the interest in lands in Attachment 11 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, is conveyed to the City.

13. City Council authorize public highway designation for the lands set out in Attachment 12 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to be dedicated in name as Commissioners Street, to take effect on the date that notice of a lease authorizing their use as a public highway is registered on title to the last of the lands in Attachment 12 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

14. City Council authorize public highway designation for the lands set out in Attachment 13 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to be dedicated in name as Villiers Street, to take effect on the date that the lands in Attachment 13 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, are conveyed to the City.

15. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, for Cherry Street and New Cherry Street, generally as described in Attachment 7 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to take effect upon dedication of Cherry Street and New Cherry Street in accordance with Recommendation 12.

16. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, for Commissioners Street, generally as described in Attachment 8 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to take effect upon dedication of Commissioners Street in accordance with Recommendation 13.                 

17. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, for Villiers Street, generally as described in Attachment 9 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to take effect upon dedication of Villiers Street in accordance with Recommendation 14.                  

18. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take all steps necessary to implement each of the proposed dedications referred to in Recommendations 12, 13, and 14 above, including requesting the City Solicitor to prepare and submit the relevant bills and to pay any costs necessary to register the resultant by-laws, if required.

19. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to negotiate, enter into and execute an agreement with Waterfront Toronto on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services, in relation to, among other things, street and pedestrian lighting on, as well as the construction, maintenance and warranty work of, the Interim Commissioners Street and the Commissioners Street bridge; as well as to negotiate, enter into, and execute any other necessary agreements or documents, on behalf of the City, to temporarily exercise the City's authority.

20. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, in issuing any requisite permits as delegated in Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of, to include additional permit terms as the General Manager of Transportation Services deems necessary and appropriate in the interim.

21. City Council direct that Waterfront Toronto be responsible for all costs incurred with respect to road repairs, traffic signage modifications, installation of traffic control set-up, and installation of traffic control signals for the Interim Commissioners Street.

22. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to submit directly to Council at the appropriate time any necessary bills to amend the appropriate City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapters, and any Schedules to the Chapters, to reinstate the traffic and parking regulations to what they were immediately prior to the by-law amendments made in connection with the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

23. City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to submit directly to Council at the appropriate time any necessary bills to amend the effective date of any dedication by-law(s) and / or traffic and parking regulation by-law(s) made in connection with the report (October 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to, among other things, insert a specific effective date.

24. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision, including the necessary bills to amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 886, Footpaths, Pedestrian Ways, Bicycle Paths, Bicycle Lanes and Cycle Tracks, and City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor or General Manager, Transportation Services, in order to give effect to Recommendations 1 to 23, inclusive.

This report recommends the following roadway openings and temporary closures as part of a larger package of openings and temporary closures required as construction of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project progresses toward completion, anticipated by the end of 2024:

- Dedication and opening of the fully completed, realigned portion of Cherry Street, including new cycling infrastructure and new bridge crossings over the Keating Channel from Lake Shore Boulevard East to Commissioners Street;

- The interim naming of the portion of the realigned Cherry Street between the Keating Channel and Commissioners Street to "New Cherry Street" and the naming of the portion between Lake Shore Boulevard and Keating Channel as "Cherry Street";

- Designation of the lands which contain the travelled lanes, trails, and sidewalks as public highways and to implement traffic and parking by-laws for each of the final opening of Cherry Street north of Commissioners Street and the interim opening of Commissioners Street, east of existing Cherry Street to Don Roadway (including Commissioners Street Bridge), also known as the "Interim Commissioners Street" and Villiers Street, from Cherry Street and a point 359 metres. Each designation its respective associated traffic and parking by-law amendments are to take effect in respect of has been constructed to the satisfaction of the City and accepted and commissioned by the City and after all property rights allowing its use as a public highway have been granted to the City by the relevant landowner and registered on title;

- Re-opening of Commissioners Street, between Cherry Street and Don Roadway, in an interim condition, in order to accommodate the on-going construction of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project;

- Temporary closure of existing Cherry Street from Lake Shore Boulevard East to Villiers Street to accommodate the planned demolition of the former lift bridge over the Keating Channel. A staff report will be submitted at a later date to close the subject section of existing Cherry Street permanently;

- Temporary closure of Villiers Street to all road users, between a point 144 metres east of Munition Street and Don Roadway, from November 30, 2023, to December 31, 2024, inclusive, to allow for the continued construction of the river valley north to the Keating Channel. A staff report will be submitted at a later date to close the subject section of Villiers Street permanently; and

- Temporary full closure of Villiers Street to all road users, between Don Roadway and Saulter Street South, from November 30, 2023, to December 31, 2024, inclusive, to accommodate construction staging operations.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, to explore the feasibility of, and optimal alignment for, a year-round trail connection between Earl Bales Park and York Mills Station that will achieve the following goals:

a. Not interfere with regular golf operations within the Don Valley Golf Course;

b. Maximize connectivity and safety for trail users and adjacent residential areas through formalizing existing improvised trails that may be substandard; and,

c. Minimize impact on important habitat and hydrogeological features of the ravine.

2. City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to explore opportunities for public trail access through this section of the Don Valley on an interim basis in accordance with the Toronto Municipal Code and the goals in recommendation 1 above, while long-term trail designs are being evaluated and implemented.

3. City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back with a recommended work plan for advancing both interim and long-term year-round trail connections resulting from recommendations 1 and 2 above, as well as a preliminary capital and operating cost estimates, to the Committee by the second quarter of 2024.

Toronto’s ravine systems are vital to the city. They provide for storm water management, healthy ecosystems, as well as beautiful green spaces that are universally appreciated. In many communities, Toronto’s ravines also provide for critical connectivity, allowing for residents to walk, bike, or otherwise get to parks and community centres, public transit stations, or into nature without requiring the use or expense of a car and to cross under highways like the 401 that otherwise divide neighbourhoods. Where year-round trail connections do not exist in Toronto, such as between Earl Bales Park and York Mills Station, it is incumbent upon the City to explore the ways they can be created to achieve these benefits.

In 2022, City Council passed IE27.6 – Review of City of Toronto Golf Courses and directed staff to advance the implementation of strategies that would improve ravine access and trail connections. With the conclusion of the Negotiated Request for Proposal Process for the management of City-owned golf courses (GG7.17), it is the appropriate time to explore how year-round trail access can be created around the Don Valley Golf Course, connecting Earl Bales Park to Yonge Street and providing access to and from adjacent residential communities without impacting regular golf operations. Today, the only formal trails that connect these areas pass through the middle of the golf course and are closed to the community between April and November.

Access to greenspace is also an important equity consideration, particularly where there are opportunities to improve mobility. With many purpose-built affordable apartment buildings along Sheppard and close to this ravine, a connection could materially benefit many individuals and families into the foreseeable future.

With capital plans for some 10,000 trees and shrubs to be planted in 2025 in this section of the Don Valley ravine, now is the time to advance a plan that improves accessibility, while complementing golf course operations and supporting ravine habitat and conservation efforts.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Federal government consider developing and implementing motor vehicle and motor carrier safety regulations and standards that require the use of new and enhanced vehicle safety technology including sensors for heavy trucks to support public safety.

2. City Council request the General Manager, Fleet Services, report to City Council by the third quarter of 2024 on the feasibility of requiring side guards on heavy trucks operating in the City of Toronto, including the City's fleet.

On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, a man died of injuries after being struck by a dump truck while crossing Lawrence Avenue, between Allen Road and Marlee Avenue and on Tuesday, September 10, 2019, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a cement truck at the intersection of Yonge Street and Erskine Avenue.

I subsequently moved motion NY8.50 on September 16, 2019 requesting City Staff to develop a comprehensive Construction Traffic Safety Management Plan in the Yonge-Eglinton Area that became known as the "Construction Hub".

Despite these efforts and due to the unprecedented level of construction activity that has only increased in the four years since, once again and tragically on Monday, October 16, 2023, another fatality occurred when a pedestrian was struck by a dump truck making a turn at Davisville Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road.

Heavy vehicles present a significant hazard on our City streets and are often involved in serious collisions with Vulnerable Road Users such as pedestrians and cyclists. The reduced visibility of Vulnerable Road Users and for the drivers themselves due to the design of heavy vehicles puts the Vulnerable Road Users at a higher risk of injury or fatality.

Greater action must be taken to prioritize the safety of our Vulnerable Road Users in the face of a growing number of heavy trucks on our urban streets as a result of the ever increasing construction activity within our City.

The federal government is responsible for regulations that pertain to the manufacturing and importation of motor vehicles or equipment under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as well as the safety fitness of interprovincial and international motor carriers under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act.

Addressing this issue by regulating and encouraging the use of proven vehicle safety technologies, including design optimization for front-end and side-impact protection, and sensors for collision detection and prevention already commonplace in passenger vehicles would help reduce injuries and fatalities of Vulnerable Road Users around heavy vehicles on our busy City streets.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation to conduct a site / project inspection of the corner of Chesswood Drive and Sheppard Avenue West and work with the local contractor to accelerate remaining work and open that intersection to two-way traffic to Finch Avenue.

2. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, to facilitate the opening of two way traffic from Chesswood Drive and Sheppard Avenue to at least Steeprock Drive, while facilitating turns to and from Steeprock Drive, until the work described above is completed. 

City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation to conduct a site / project inspection of the corner of Chesswood Drive and Sheppard Avenue West and work with the local contractor to accelerate remaining work and open that intersection to two way traffic to Finch Avenue.  Alternatively, the General Manager should facilitate the opening of two way traffic from Chesswood Drive and Sheppard Avenue to at least Steeprock Drive, while facilitating turns to and from Steeprock Drive. 

The Road Resurfacing of Chesswood Drive from Sheppard Avenue to Finch Avenue West (21ECS-TI07MR) has been a fiasco.  It has been marked by unjustified lane closures, the abandonment of the construction site for weeks on end, the unannounced closure of commercial driveways, general lack of communication with local businesses and a great drain of resources on the local Councillor's office. 

Two meetings including one town hall with local businesses had to be organized by the local Councillor and repeated requests to reopen the right hand turn lane at Chesswood Drive and Sheppard Avenue have been ignored.  Numerous requests to accelerate curb work at Chesswood and Sheppard Avenue and to open two way traffic from Sheppard Avenue to Steeprock Drive have also been ignored. Local businesses, notably small retail and food and beverage, restaurants and other large trucking companies have been seriously compromised.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 140 Merton Street substantially in accordance with the recommended Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 5 to the report (October 6, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the recommended Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on October 26, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report recommends approval of the City-initiated Zoning By-law Amendment to Zoning By-law 569-2013, as amended by By-law 1779-2019, to permit a 29-storey, 294 unit development, with community agency space, new pedestrian connections and publicly accessible open space and heritage conservation, at 140 Merton Street. The site is a City-owned property that is part of the Housing Now Initiative.

Following Council's direction to develop a Housing Action Plan for the 2022-2026 term of Council, staff have advanced this City-initiated proposal to permit an increase in the zoning permissions of 5,487 square metres, resulting in an additional 11 storeys, and 114 units than what was presented to Council in 2019. The addition of these units will support the project's delivery of 94-142 new affordable rental units, secured for a 99-year term of affordability through the Housing Now Initiative.

The recommended Zoning By-law Amendment is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020), conforms with the Growth Plan (2020), and represents an appropriate form and scale of development.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend the relevant sections of the Proposed Amendment to City-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013 for Outdoor Patios and the Proposed Stand-alone Amendment to the Former General Zoning By-laws for Outdoor Patios, in Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (October 6, 2023) from Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, so it reads:
               

“May be used to provide entertainment such as performances, music and dancing, provided the outdoor patio is not located above the first storey of the building and the entertainment area does not exceed the greater of 10% of the outdoor patio area or 5 square metres.”

2. City Council enact Zoning By-law amendments with respect to permanent city-wide and site-specific zoning permission for outdoor patios substantially in accordance with Attachments 1 to 6 to the report (October 6, 2023) from Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, as amended by Recommendation 1, above.

3. City Council enact the Zoning By-law amendment with respect to an extension of the temporary use of 229 Richmond Street West as an outdoor patio substantially in accordance with Attachment 7 to the report (October 6, 2023) from Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

4. City Council direct the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to each Zoning By-law amendment as may be required.

The Manager, Zoning Section, City Planning and the Planner, Zoning Section, City Planning gave a presentation to the Planning and Housing Committee.

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on October 26, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report recommends the adoption of Zoning By-law amendments to permanently expand a range of permissions for outdoor patios on private property. The proposed Zoning By-law amendments are intended to assist businesses with economic recovery during and after the COVID pandemic, increase dining options, provide greater activation of the public realm and increase opportunities for people to socialize, while setting conditions and regulations that manage the potential impacts of outdoor patios on nearby properties.

The recommended Zoning By-law amendments reflect feedback received through public consultations, discussions with relevant City Divisions, and research across other municipalities. The proposed Zoning By-law amendments respond to the City Council request to report back to the Planning and Housing Committee on permanent modifications to the Zoning By-law for outdoor patios on private property to replace the existing temporary use by-laws that will expire on December 31, 2023. The proposed Zoning By-law amendments are for outdoor patios on private property only and complement the CaféTO program which allows expanded patios on City boulevards and rights-of-way.

Two permanent City-wide by-laws are proposed to replace the existing temporary by-laws. One by-law is an amendment to City-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013, and the other by-law will address properties that remain subject to the Former General Zoning By-laws.

The City-wide by-laws will propose to maintain permissions granted on a temporary basis and include expanding the permitted maximum outdoor patio area, permitting outdoor patios in the Commercial Local (CL) Zone, expanded Industrial Zone category permissions and permitting outdoor patios in parking lots. The City-wide by-laws also propose new permissions, and these include permitting outdoor patios in the Residential Apartment Commercial (RAC) Zone, permitting limited entertainment, a reduced distance requirement from the Residential and Residential Apartment Zone categories for certain zones, permitting a retail store as a permitted combined use and technical amendments as required.

The proposed amendments address potential noise and visual privacy impacts by maintaining appropriate distances from the Residential and Residential Apartment Zone categories and requiring the installation of a fence parallel to these areas, maintaining a size restriction based on the indoor premises it is combined with and by continuing to prohibit entertainment on lands that are designated Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhoods where outdoor patios will be introduced as a new use (the RAC Zone) and where the temporary permission will be made permanent (the CL Zone).

In addition to the two City-wide by-laws, site-specific by-laws are proposed where relief from the requirements of the Zoning By-law, including proposed amendments, are still required.

The proposed Zoning By-law amendments conform with the Official Plan, are consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019).

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend the City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013, the former City of Toronto Zoning By-law 438-86, as amended by Recommendation 2 below, and former North York By-law 7625 substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendments in Attachments 1, 2 and 3 to the report (September 13, 2023) from Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, for the lands at:

• 20, 26 and 28 Overlea Boulevard;
• 36 Overlea Boulevard;
• 891, 885 and 897 Pape Avenue;
• 1012-1052 Pape Avenue;
• 240 and 242 First Avenue;
• 495 and 497 Pape Avenue;
• 716 Pape Avenue;
• 676-692 Danforth Avenue;
• 5-11 Gertrude Place;
• 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, and 13 Lipton Avenue;
• 855 Gerrard Street East;
• 15 and 17 Minton Place and 156 and 158 Hopedale Avenue;
• 215 Wicksteed Avenue and 50 Beth Nealson Drive;
• 766 and 770 Don Mills Road;
• 825 and 817 Don Mills Road;
• 449 Carlaw Avenue;
• Part of 10 Ordnance Street; and,
• Part of 130 Queen Street West.

2. City Council amend former City of Toronto Zoning By-law 438-86 for the lands located at 130 Queen Street West, substantially in accordance with Attachment 2 to the report (September 13, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Division, with the following changes to be made to Schedule 1:
 

a. the north-south dimension within the property at 130 Queen Street West should be shown as 40.9 metres; and
b. the north-south dimensions of the area outlined in the heavy black line should be shown as 46.9m on the west side and 47.9m on the east side of the area.

3. City Council determine that no further notice is to be given in respect of the proposed by-law amendment pursuant section 34(17) of the Planning Act.

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

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on October 26, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report proposes a series of zoning by-law amendments to facilitate the delivery of Metrolinx’s Ontario Line (OL) project. The purpose of these amendments is to provide relief from certain zoning by-law provisions related to transportation uses for lands to be acquired by Metrolinx to accommodate OL project elements.

The zoning by-law amendments affect lands which will accommodate transit facilities such as emergency exit buildings, emergency service buildings, traction power substations, operations and maintenance storage facilities, ventilation shaft buildings, transit station entrance buildings and temporary facilities required for construction.

The amendments would apply to transportation uses only and are consistent with Official Plan and zoning policies. None of the proposed amendments reduce zoning permissions on abutting lands, nor will the amendments impact other uses permitted on properties affected by the amendments.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 2 and 80 Union Street substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 6 to the report (October 5, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

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

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on October 26, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This City-initiated Zoning By-law Amendment for the property at 2 and 80 Union Street (the "site") will permit the construction of the St. Clair-Old Weston SmartTrack/GO Transit station. The station is a critical piece of infrastructure required for a planned transformation of the surrounding area from a primarily industrial employment area to a mixed-use complete community as envisioned by the City Council-approved Keele-St. Clair Secondary Plan.

The proposal for the site consists of two new station entrance buildings, tunnel access to platforms within the adjacent rail corridor, a new bus driveway loop with bus bays for six TTC buses and one Wheel-Trans bus stop, new bicycle parking facilities and landscaping.

This report provides information and comments regarding the proposed rezoning and provides design details for the development of St. Clair-Old Weston SmartTrack/GO Transit station, which is being reviewed through an associated Site Plan Control application and the City's transit design review process.

The proposed station development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). The proposal is also consistent with the current and planned policies and land use designations in the City of Toronto Official Plan.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment. The proposed rezoning will support the City's SmartTrack Stations Program and Metrolinx's GO Expansion program that will provide all-day, two-way service with 15-minute headways, faster electric trains, and fully accessible stations across the GO Transit network.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that: 

1. City Council amend the Official Plan, for the lands at 1337 and 1345 Queen Street West, substantially in accordance with the recommended Official Plan Amendment attached as Attachment 4 to the report (October 10, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013, for the lands at 1303, 1313, 1325, 1337, 1345 Queen Street West and 212, 220, 224 Cowan Avenue ("Parkdale Hub") substantially in accordance with the recommended Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 5 to the report (October 10, 2023) from  the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

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

4. City Council request the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor, to engage City Divisions, Agencies, and Corporations and the development partner(s) to advance the detailed design of development requirements identified in Attachment 6 to the report (October 10, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor, and to secure the delivery of development requirements on terms, including details and timing, in a Lease Agreement with the non-profit development partner(s). 

5. City Council endorse the Parkdale Hub Design Brief (August 31, 2023) and direct that future planning applications for the Parkdale Hub, including applications for Site Plan Control, be prepared, and reviewed in the context of the Parkdale Hub Design Brief, provided as Attachment 7 to the report (October 10, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning. 

6. City Council approve the Rental Housing Demolition Application File No. 23 107855 STE 04 RH in accordance with Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code and pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 which allows for the demolition of 9 existing rental dwelling units located at 1313 Queen Street West, subject to the developer partner entering into a Lease with the City of Toronto that requires the following:

a. The development partner shall provide and maintain at least nine replacement rental dwelling units on the subject site, in the West Block for a period of at least 20 years beginning from the date that each replacement rental dwelling unit is first occupied and, during which time, no application may be submitted to the City for condominium registration, or for any other conversion to a non-rental housing purpose or for demolition without providing for replacement. The replacement rental dwelling units shall collectively have a total gross floor area of at least 682 square metres and be comprised of at least five one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units as generally illustrated on the plans submitted to the City Planning Division dated July 7, 2023. Any revisions to these plans shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

b. The development partner shall, as part of the nine replacement rental dwelling units required in Recommendation 6 a. above, provide at least five one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units at affordable rents, as currently defined in the City's Official Plan, for a period of at least 10 years beginning from the date of first occupancy of each unit; 

c. The development partner shall provide tenants of all nine replacement rental dwelling units with access to, and use of, all indoor and outdoor amenities in the new mixed-use building on the West Block at no extra charge. Access to, and use of, these amenities shall be on the same terms and conditions as any other resident of the building without the need to pre-book or pay a fee, unless specifically required as a customary practice for private bookings; 

d. The development partner shall provide ensuite laundry in each replacement rental dwelling unit within the proposed mixed-use building on the West Block at no additional cost to tenants;

e. The development partner shall provide central air conditioning in each replacement rental dwelling unit at no additional cost to tenants; 

f. The development partner shall provide tenants of the nine replacement rental dwelling units with access to all bicycle and visitor parking on the same terms and conditions as any other resident of the proposed residential building; 

g. The development partner shall provide nine storage locker to tenants of the replacement rental dwelling units; and

h. The nine replacement rental units shall be made ready and available for occupancy no later than the date by which seventy percent (70 percent) of the new dwelling units in the proposed building on the West Block, exclusive of the replacement rental units, are made available and ready for occupancy, subject to any revisions to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning. 

7. City Council direct the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with, and to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to provide an acceptable Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan for all Eligible Tenants of the nine existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished at 1313 Queen Street West, addressing the right to return to occupy one of the replacement rental dwelling units at similar rents and other assistance to mitigate hardship.

8. City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to issue Preliminary Approval of the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code for the demolition of nine existing rental dwelling units located at 1313 Queen Street West after:

a. All conditions in Recommendations 6 and 7 above have been fully satisfied or secured; 

b. The nine replacement rental units on the West Block are ready and available for occupancy; and

c. The owner has confirmed, in writing, that all existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished are vacant.

9. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has given Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 8 above.

10. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a Residential Demolition Permit under Section 33 of the Planning Act and Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code for 1313 Queen Street West after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning has given Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 8 above, which may be included in the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 pursuant to Section 6.2 of Chapter 363 on condition that the existing rental units have been replaced in the West Block.

11. City Council authorize the appropriate City Officials to take such actions as necessary to implement City Council's decision, included execution of an agreement to secure rental replacement matters and other related agreements. 

12. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation, and Director Branch Operation and Customer Experience, Toronto Public Library to undertake community consultation and engagement with community-agencies currently located within the affected properties to develop an integrated approach to service delivery and programming for the Parkdale Hub.

13. City Council approve an amendment to Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 1303,1325, 1337 and 1345 Queen Street West from Permit Parking Area 2.

14. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to permit, where applicable, entering into licenses or other arrangements at nominal value in respect of new or existing parkland, or to waive in full the following fees, for the site located at 1303, 1313, 1325, 1337 and 1345 Queen Street West and 212, 220 and 224 Cowan Avenue ("Parkdale Hub"): 

a. all fees related to tieback encumbrances and construction staging which impact new or existing parkland; and 

b. crane swing agreements over any new or existing parkland. 

15. City Council waive in full all application and permit fees required under City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of, and City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees, and Charges, for Street Work Permits and Temporary Street Occupation Permits for 1303, 1313, 1325, 1337 and 1345 Queen Street West and 212, 220 and 224 Cowan Avenue ("Parkdale Hub").

16. City Council request the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, in consultation with the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to engage the City Divisions, Agencies and Corporations involved with the construction and operation of the Parkdale Hub to develop a governance structure to support the delivery, planning, management and operation of the facility based on the Council direction and vision for the Parkdale Hub as set out in item number 2021.RA27.6 “Parkdale Hub Project – Completion of Phase 2 Feasibility Study, Advancing to Phase 3".

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on October 26, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

The Parkdale Hub is the improvement and expansion of important City-owned facilities and community agency space located at the intersection of Queen Street West and Cowan Avenue. The Parkdale Hub was considered by City Council in 2017 as an opportunity to integrate and improve service provision and unlock City-owned lands for new affordable rental housing. In May of 2023, City Council approved the site to be included as part of the Housing Now Initiative to advance the affordable rental housing component of the project. This report recommends approval of the City-initiated Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments, and the Rental Housing Demolition application to permit the proposed development concept.

The recommended Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments relate to three blocks: the West Block as a 16-storey mixed-use building, the Centre Block as the location of the renovated and expanded Masaryk-Cowan Community Recreation Centre integrated with the relocated Toronto Public Library Parkdale branch, and the East Block as a six-storey mixed-use building. The mixed-use buildings are proposed to provide a minimum of 231 rental housing units, with a minimum of one-third of all units secured as affordable rental housing operated by a non-profit housing partner(s). Community agencies will be relocated within the blocks of the Parkdale Hub, as a core component of the overall redevelopment of the City properties.

Nine existing rental dwelling units located in 1313 Queen Street West are proposed for demolition and would be replaced in the West Block. The proposal also includes a Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan that addresses the right for existing tenants to return to a replacement rental dwelling unit at a similar rent as well as financial compensation to lessen hardship. 

The proposed development concept is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). 

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Government of Ontario to create a provincial grant or other incentive program that provides incentives to promote affordability directly to homeowners, renters or developers, instead of exemptions to development charges, community benefit charges and parkland dedication fees, which provides a different level of incentive in municipalities across the province depending on the level of fees imposed.

2. City Council express to the Government of Ontario its support in principle of the direction in Bill 134 to adopt an income-based approach for the definition of affordable housing which is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, provided that the Government: 

a. rely on publicly accessible, reliable and objective data for determining the income-based affordable rent and affordable purchase price to develop the “Affordable Residential Units bulletin”, such as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rental Market Survey and Census information published by Statistics Canada;

b. ensure provincial income-based affordable rents and purchase prices take into consideration the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s National Occupancy Standard and different household incomes and sizes for different bedroom types;

c. not publish the “Affordable Residential Units bulletin” until meaningful consultation with the City and stakeholders has taken place on data sources and the detailed methodology for determining average market rent, income-based affordable rent, income-based affordable purchase price and average purchase price;

d. following further consultation with the City and stakeholders, the Province publish the “Affordable Residential Units bulletin” on an annual basis on a set date;

e. enact legislation to ensure legal mechanisms exist to secure units created under this definition are registered on title, including securing the affordability term, depth of affordability, and tenure;

f. ensure there is a process put in place to guarantee fair and equitable access to the affordable rental and ownership units and require the use of any existing municipal process;

g. update Bill 23 amendments to further amend the Development Charges Act, 1997 to specify that affordable rental and ownership units that receive exemptions from municipal fees and charges must remain affordable for a minimum 50-year period, instead of 25 years as currently outlined;

h. update Bill 23 amendments to further amend the Development Charges Act, 1997 and Planning Act, 1990 to provide that where an owner does not provide affordable units for the required duration or otherwise breaches its obligations, to authorize the City to add the amounts plus interest to the tax roll and to give such amounts priority lien status;

i. update Bill 23 amendments to further amend the Development Charges Act,1997 to eliminate municipal development charge exemptions for “attainable residential units”, and alternatively create a direct provincial grant or other Provincial incentive program for developers, renters or homeowners; and

j. ensure that the proposed Provincial Planning Statement and any future provincial legislation, regulation and policy, includes an income-based definition of “affordable” consistent with the proposed definition under Bill 134.

3. City Council request the Government of Ontario to make the City whole respecting Bill 23 impacts, for all of the impacts that came into effect starting on November 28, 2022, that reimbursement include both operating impacts as well as the value of the fee reductions and exemptions provided through Bills 23 and 134, and that reimbursement commence in 2024, and continue annually thereafter.

4. City Council direct Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to report to the Planning and Housing Committee, with any recommended changes to the Open Door Affordable Rental Housing and Home Ownership Assistance programs following Bill 134 coming into effect, by the first quater of  2024.

On September 28, 2023 the Ontario government introduced Bill 134, the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023 and posted proposed amendments on the Ontario Regulatory Registry for a 30-day consultation, with comments due by October 28, 2023. As part of Bill 134, amendments to the Development Charges Act, 1997 are proposed to update the definition of 'affordable residential unit' for the purposes of exemptions from municipal development charges. Bill 134 was debated in Second Reading on October 3 and 4, 2023 and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy. City staff are currently undertaking a review of the proposed amendments. A complete report with staff comments on the proposed amendments will be available at the Planning and Housing Committee meeting on October 26, 2023.

On September 28, 2023 the Ontario government introduced Bill 134, the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023 (Bill 134) and posted proposed amendments on the Ontario Regulatory Registry for a 30-day consultation, with comments due by October 28, 2023. As part of Bill 134, amendments to the Development Charges Act, 1997 (DCA) are proposed to update the definition of 'affordable residential unit' that were introduced through Bill 23 on November 28, 2022 but are not yet in effect. The proposed definitions would impact which units qualify for the statutory exemption from municipal development charges under the DCA, and the community benefits charge and parkland dedication requirements under the Planning Act.

This report outlines staff comments on the proposed definition of 'affordable residential unit' under the DCA. The proposed changes incorporate an income-based approach to the definition of affordable rental and ownership housing and modifies the market-based approach in the current definition. The proposed definition aligns with the current definition of 'affordable' in the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020. Overall, staff are supportive of incorporating an income-based approach, as it aligns with the City’s own efforts to improve housing affordability for residents, recognizing that market rents and ownership costs continue to increase at a much higher rate than incomes. To this effect, the City itself has in-force Official Plan affordable definitions which reflect the City’s commitment to taking a rights-based approach to housing, as outlined in the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan. Further, the proposed amendments respond to the City’s previous requests to the Government of Ontario as they relate to Bill 23, which include the request to add an income indicator into the definition.

Despite these positive aspects, Bill 134 will have negative impacts to municipalities if enacted without offsetting financial compensation, and there is limited information on the methodology for determining income-based affordable rents and prices to fully assess the impacts, with many of the details to be determined based on “the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s opinion”. To help mitigate these potential impacts, staff are recommending that the Government of Ontario include a number of key principles in its approach for determining income-based affordable rents. These include: using transparent, reliable and publicly accessible data to determine the rents or prices that households can afford; providing incentives to encourage the development of affordable units and ensure they remain affordable long term; ensuring the City’s financial interests are protected and that there are no additional financial burdens placed on the City as a result of the province’s new definition; and ensuring that incentives given to developers are passed on to renters and homebuyers.

Second reading of Bill 134 took place on October 3 and 4th, 2023 and has been referred to the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy. The recommendations contained in this report address concerns and comments raised by City staff, including City Planning, the Housing Secretariat, and Finance and Treasury. Following Planning and Housing Committee’ consideration of this report, staff will submit the recommendations from Committee to the Ontario’s Regulatory Registry, as comments are due by October 28, 2023, and will submit any additional comments received at City Council’s meeting on November 8, 2023 as supplementary information to the recommendations contained in this report.

The Planning and Housing Committee forwards the item to City Council without recommendations.

The Planning and Housing Committee:

1. Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report to the November 8, 9 and 10, 2023 meeting of City Council with a recommended process for City Council to follow when requesting a Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator Order, including any necessary changes to Municipal Code, Chapter 162, Notices to ensure that the public is provided with appropriate notice and the opportunity to speak prior to the adoption of any Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator Order requests, as well as a recommended approach to monitor and report back on the use of the tool after Council has approved at least three requests for an Order.

This report recommends a framework for the use of the Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator ("CIHA") tool. The CIHA provides municipalities the opportunity to request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to issue a zoning order. The proposed framework builds on the draft framework considered by the Planning and Housing Committee in April 2023 (2023.PH3.9) and incorporates input from engagement activities undertaken with City and agency staff, non-profit and for-profit residential developers, long term care developers, and other municipalities who have implemented a CIHA Order request.

The proposed framework includes a set of criteria to determine whether a proposed project is eligible for a CIHA Order and identifies types of projects that should be prioritized for the first phase of implementation. The framework also includes a review process for applications where a CIHA Order would be requested.

The CIHA tool provides an opportunity to expedite the development of projects which meet the City's priorities, including affordable rental housing, long term care homes, and other community infrastructure.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to study potential conversion of office space into new housing, consider what zoning and other regulatory or policy relief may be required to enable economically-viable office conversions, evaluate the feasibility of requiring the provision of affordable housing in lieu of the replacement of office space, and report back to Planning and Housing Committee with recommendations in the third quarter of 2024 as part of the ongoing Office Space Needs Study.

2. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning review the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program for any lessons learned that can be applied to the City of Toronto, including efforts to expedite reviews and provide financial incentives. 

3. City Council request the Government of Canada follow through on a commitment to create a federal grant program to support the conversion of empty office and retail space into residential housing in municipalities across Canada, especially when there are opportunities to increase the supply of affordable housing.

As of September 2023, occupancy rates within the downtown core remain at approximately 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels. While some employers are mandating a return to work, others are embracing hybrid and work from home policies. Given the changing nature of work and the ongoing housing crisis, it is time to reevaluate the need for office space.

The City of Toronto must remove barriers to the creation of new housing at every opportunity. That includes making it easier – where possible – to convert older office buildings into housing. This will require that we ensure relief from guidelines and other rules that make it difficult to convert office floor plates into housing. This will also mean modernizing office replacement policies to unlock new housing supply and identify opportunities to secure affordable housing.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the alterations to the heritage properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West, in accordance with Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act to allow for the construction of the Parkdale Hub, on the lands known municipally in the year 2023 as 1303, 1313, 1325, 1337 and 1345 Queen Street West and 220 and 224 Cowan Avenue, with such alterations substantially in accordance with the plans and drawings dated July 7, 2023, prepared by DTAH Architects Limited and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and the Heritage Impact Assessment prepared by ERA Architects Inc., dated August 3, 2023, and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, all subject to and in accordance with the Conservation Plan satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and subject to the following additional conditions:

a. That the related site-specific Zoning By-law Amendment permitting the proposed alterations has been enacted by City Council and has come into full force and effect in a form and with content acceptable to City Council, as determined by the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

b. That prior to the introduction of the bills for such Zoning By-law Amendment by City Council, the owner, being the City Divisions and Agencies responsible for the alterations and restoration, shall:

1. Provide a detailed Conservation Plan, prepared by a qualified heritage consultant that is substantially in accordance with the conservation strategy set out in the Heritage Impact Assessment for the properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West prepared by ERA Architects Inc., dated August 3, 2023, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

c. That prior to Site Plan approval for the proposed redevelopment for the properties located at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West, the owner, being the City Divisions and Agencies responsible for the alterations and restoration, shall:

1. Provide final Site Plan drawings substantially in accordance with the approved Conservation Plan required in Recommendation 1.b.1 above to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

2. Provide a Heritage Lighting Plan that describes how the exterior of the heritage properties will be sensitively illuminated to enhance their heritage character to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

3. Provide a detailed Landscape Plan for the subject properties, satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

4. Provide an Interpretation Plan for the subject properties, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

5. Provide a Signage Plan for the subject properties, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

d. That prior to the issuance of any permit for all or any part of the properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West, including a heritage permit or a building permit, but excluding permits for repairs and maintenance and usual and minor works for the existing heritage buildings as are acceptable to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning the owner, being the City Divisions and Agencies responsible for the alterations and restorations, shall:

1. Provide building permit drawings, including notes and specifications for the conservation and protective measures keyed to the approved Conservation Plan required in Recommendation 1.b.1 above, including a description of materials and finishes, to be prepared by the project architect and a qualified heritage consultant to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

This report recommends that City Council approve the alterations proposed for the designated heritage properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act in connection with a proposed development of the subject properties as part of the City-led Parkdale Hub project.

The subject heritage properties are located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Queen Street West and Cowan Avenue within the Parkdale Main Street Heritage Conservation District (the "HCD"). The HCD was approved by City Council but is currently under appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and is not in effect.

The City-led Parkdale Hub project is a strategic city-building initiative that aims to revitalize and expand upon an existing cluster of City-owned facilities and community services located at Queen Street West and Cowan Avenue, including the Toronto Public Library Parkdale Branch and the Masaryk-Cowan Community Recreation Centre. The Parkdale Hub involves three blocks: a West Block, Centre Block and East Block. The proposed alterations to the heritage properties are associated with the development of the Centre Block of the Parkdale Hub, of which the City will retain ownership. The West and East Blocks will deliver new rental homes as part of the City's Housing Now Initiative and are adjacent to heritage properties but do not contain heritage properties. The Centre Block involves proposed alterations to the heritage properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West.

The designated heritage properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West consist of the former Parkdale Curling Club (built in 1898), the former Fire Hall No. 18 (built in 1905) and former Police Station No. 6 (built in 1931-32). These heritage buildings are proposed to be conserved and incorporated into the new building complex, which will be four storeys tall. The former Parkdale Curling Club and Fire Hall No. 18 will be retained as whole buildings with minor alterations to accommodate the new programming and the former Police Station No. 6 will be substantially retained as a  whole building, with minor alterations proposed to ensure universal accessibility and to integrate the building into the new complex. The proposed design also involves the removal and/or relocation of the iron gate on the west side of the property.

The impacts of the proposed development on the heritage properties are appropriately mitigated through the overall conservation strategy and the compatible design of the new construction. In addition, the proposal will serve the public interest by providing at least 231 new rental housing units, of which between 30-50 percent will be new affordable rental housing units in accordance with the City's Housing Now Initiative. Staff are satisfied the proposal meets the intent of the Planning Act, the Provincial Policy Statement (2020), the Growth Plan (2020), the City of Toronto's Official Plan heritage policies and the Council-approved Parkdale Main Street Heritage Conservation District Plan (the "HCD Plan").   

At its meeting on October 10, 2023 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB10.3 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (September 18, 2023) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council approve the alterations proposed for the designated heritage properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act in connection with a proposed development of the subject properties as part of the City-led Parkdale Hub project.

The subject heritage properties are located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Queen Street West and Cowan Avenue within the Parkdale Main Street Heritage Conservation District (the "HCD"). The HCD was approved by City Council but is currently under appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and is not in effect.

The City-led Parkdale Hub project is a strategic city-building initiative that aims to revitalize and expand upon an existing cluster of City-owned facilities and community services located at Queen Street West and Cowan Avenue, including the Toronto Public Library Parkdale Branch and the Masaryk-Cowan Community Recreation Centre. The Parkdale Hub involves three blocks: a West Block, Centre Block and East Block. The proposed alterations to the heritage properties are associated with the development of the Centre Block of the Parkdale Hub, of which the City will retain ownership. The West and East Blocks will deliver new rental homes as part of the City's Housing Now Initiative and are adjacent to heritage properties but do not contain heritage properties. The Centre Block involves proposed alterations to the heritage properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West.

The designated heritage properties at 220 Cowan Avenue and 1313 Queen Street West consist of the former Parkdale Curling Club (built in 1898), the former Fire Hall No. 18 (built in 1905) and former Police Station No. 6 (built in 1931-32). These heritage buildings are proposed to be conserved and incorporated into the new building complex, which will be four storeys tall. The former Parkdale Curling Club and Fire Hall No. 18 will be retained as whole buildings with minor alterations to accommodate the new programming and the former Police Station No. 6 will be substantially retained as a  whole building, with minor alterations proposed to ensure universal accessibility and to integrate the building into the new complex. The proposed design also involves the removal and/or relocation of the iron gate on the west side of the property.

The impacts of the proposed development on the heritage properties are appropriately mitigated through the overall conservation strategy and the compatible design of the new construction. In addition, the proposal will serve the public interest by providing at least 231 new rental housing units, of which between 30-50 percent will be new affordable rental housing units in accordance with the City's Housing Now Initiative. Staff are satisfied the proposal meets the intent of the Planning Act, the Provincial Policy Statement (2020), the Growth Plan (2020), the City of Toronto's Official Plan heritage policies and the Council-approved Parkdale Main Street Heritage Conservation District Plan (the "HCD Plan").   

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council state its intention to designate the property at 570 Sherbourne Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance: 570 Sherbourne Street (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 3 to the report (September 26, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2.  City Council state its intention to designate the property at 572 and 574 Sherbourne Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance: 572 and 574 Sherbourne Street (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 4 to the report (September 26, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

3.  City Council state its intention to designate the property at 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance: 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 5 to the report (September 26, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

4.  City Council state its intention to designate the property at 29 Linden Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance: 29 Linden Street (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 6 to the report (September 26, 2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

5.  If there are no objections to the designation, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the Bill in Council designating the property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the properties at 570, 572, 574 and 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street and 29 Linden Street and under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for their cultural heritage value.

Located on the west side of Sherbourne Street at the southwest corner of Linden Street, the properties at 570, 572, 574, 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street were originally constructed by City of Toronto Alderman and land developer, Edward Hewitt. Constructed between 1888 and 1889 as a row of large brick-clad three-storey attached house-form buildings in a mix of the Richardson Romanesque and Queen Anne styles, the row has the appearance of large houses to match the scale of the Upper Jarvis area mansions along Sherbourne Street that define the neighbourhood character, including the James Cooper and Charles Gooderham (Selby Hotel) mansions immediately to the north of the subject properties. 576 Sherbourne Street is associated with acclaimed Toronto author Shirley Faessler (1921–1997) as it was her residence from the late 1940s until the early 1990s. She owned the property and operated a boarding house catering to artists and performers.

Further west, on the south side of Linden Street, the property at 29 Linden Street consists of a two-and-a-half storey red-brick residential structure that was constructed in 1882. Designed in the Second Empire style, the building features a Mansard roof and contrasting buff-coloured decorative brickwork. The property forms part of a large collection of late-nineteenth century residential structures located along Linden Street and in the area bounded by Sherbourne, Selby, Huntley, and Isabella Streets.

Staff have determined that the properties at 570, 572, 574 and 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street, which is a row of five attached house-form buildings built together, and 29 Linden Street meet Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act under the categories of Design/Physical and Contextual value. Staff have determined that the property at 576 Sherbourne Street also has Historical/Associative value.

A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria.

As of January 1, 2023, should a property be subject to an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and/or Draft Plan of Subdivision Application that would trigger a Prescribed Event, the property must be listed in the heritage register prior to the Prescribed Event occurring to designate a property under Section 29(1.2)1 of the Ontario Heritage Act. This requirement does not apply to a Prescribed Event that has occurred prior to January 1, 2023.

The properties at 572, 574, 576, and 37 Linden Street (formerly known as 578 Sherbourne Street) were listed on the City's Heritage Register on August 18, 1976.

The properties at 570 Sherbourne Street and 29 and 31 Linden Street were listed on the City's Heritage Register on February 7, 2023.

On April 27, 2023, the City received Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Site Plan Approval applications related to the proposed redevelopment of the subject properties that would retain the front elevation and portions of the return walls of 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street. The listed properties at 29 and 31 Linden Street and 570-574 Sherbourne Street are proposed to be demolished.

A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is required for all development applications that affect listed and designated properties and will be considered when determining how a heritage property is to be conserved. An HIA has been prepared by GBCA - Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd. Architects and was submitted on June 15, 2023.

The City Clerk issued a complete application notice on June 30, 2023. Council must make its decision at or before its December 13-15, 2023 meeting to provide sufficient time for the City Clerk to issue a notice of intention to designate before the waiver provided by the owner expires on January 1, 2024.

Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the properties and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.

At its meeting on October 10, 2023 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB10.1 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (September 26, 2023) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the properties at 570, 572, 574 and 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street and 29 Linden Street and under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for their cultural heritage value.

Located on the west side of Sherbourne Street at the southwest corner of Linden Street, the properties at 570, 572, 574, 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street were originally constructed by City of Toronto Alderman and land developer, Edward Hewitt. Constructed between 1888 and 1889 as a row of large brick-clad three-storey attached house-form buildings in a mix of the Richardson Romanesque and Queen Anne styles, the row has the appearance of large houses to match the scale of the Upper Jarvis area mansions along Sherbourne Street that define the neighbourhood character, including the James Cooper and Charles Gooderham (Selby Hotel) mansions immediately to the north of the subject properties. 576 Sherbourne Street is associated with acclaimed Toronto author Shirley Faessler (1921–1997) as it was her residence from the late 1940s until the early 1990s. She owned the property and operated a boarding house catering to artists and performers.

Further west, on the south side of Linden Street, the property at 29 Linden Street consists of a two-and-a-half storey red-brick residential structure that was constructed in 1882. Designed in the Second Empire style, the building features a Mansard roof and contrasting buff-coloured decorative brickwork. The property forms part of a large collection of late-nineteenth century residential structures located along Linden Street and in the area bounded by Sherbourne, Selby, Huntley, and Isabella Streets.

Staff have determined that the properties at 570, 572, 574 and 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street, which is a row of five attached house-form buildings built together, and 29 Linden Street meet Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act under the categories of Design/Physical and Contextual value. Staff have determined that the property at 576 Sherbourne Street also has Historical/Associative value.

A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria.

As of January 1, 2023, should a property be subject to an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and/or Draft Plan of Subdivision Application that would trigger a Prescribed Event, the property must be listed in the heritage register prior to the Prescribed Event occurring to designate a property under Section 29(1.2)1 of the Ontario Heritage Act. This requirement does not apply to a Prescribed Event that has occurred prior to January 1, 2023.

The properties at 572, 574, 576, and 37 Linden Street (formerly known as 578 Sherbourne Street) were listed on the City's Heritage Register on August 18, 1976. 

The properties at 570 Sherbourne Street and 29 and 31 Linden Street were listed on the City's Heritage Register on February 7, 2023.

On April 27, 2023, the City received Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Site Plan Approval applications related to the proposed redevelopment of the subject properties that would retain the front elevation and portions of the return walls of 576 Sherbourne Street and 37 Linden Street. The listed properties at 29 and 31 Linden Street and 570-574 Sherbourne Street are proposed to be demolished.

A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is required for all development applications that affect listed and designated properties and will be considered when determining how a heritage property is to be conserved. An HIA has been prepared by GBCA - Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd. Architects and was submitted on June 15, 2023.

The City Clerk issued a complete application notice on June 30, 2023. Council must make its decision at or before its December 13-15, 2023 meeting to provide sufficient time for the City Clerk to issue a notice of intention to designate before the waiver provided by the owner expires on January 1, 2024.

Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the properties and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the application to amend Chapter 694, Signs, General as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the Acting Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, including adding new regulations for property municipally known as 195 Galaxy Boulevard, allowing for one third party electronic ground sign to Schedule B, Signage Master Plans and Area-Specific Amendments of Chapter 694, Signs, General; and altering the sign district designation applicable to a portion of 195 Galaxy Boulevard from Open Space ("OS") to Employment (“E”) by amending the Schedule A, Maps, of Chapter 694 by replacing the current Sign District Map Ward 2: Etobicoke North, with a map substantially similar to the map in Attachment 2 to the report (October 12, 2023) from the Acting Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

Toronto's Sign By-law is a harmonized, City-wide set of regulations governing signs which was adopted in 2010. The Sign By-law contains a process for any member of the public to apply to City Council to amend the Sign By-law to implement significant changes to the sign regulations for a specific property or area. Applications are commonly made requesting amendments to the Sign By-law to allow signs that are prohibited, to remove permissions for signs in an area, or to modify the administrative requirements of the Sign By-law. The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building,  ("CBO") brings applications to amend the Sign By-law together on an annual basis for City Council consideration, so that that City Council can more easily assess the overall and cumulative impact of these applications on the city's built environment, and the Sign By-law itself.

Sanford Outdoor Inc. (the "Applicant") is requesting an amendment to the Sign By-law (the "Proposed Amendment") to both redesignate a portion of the property municipally known as 195 Galaxy Boulevard (the Royal Woodbine Golf Club) from an Open Space ("OS")  Sign District to an Employment ("E") Sign District, for purposes of the Sign By-law; as well as, to replace the existing regulations for this portion of 195 Galaxy Boulevard (the "Subject Premises") with regulations which would allow the property to display a third party electronic ground sign (the "Proposed Sign"). The Proposed Amendment would establish regulations for the Proposed Sign, which do not comply with numerous provisions of the Sign By-law concerning third party electronic ground signs, where such signs would otherwise be permitted.

The Proposed Amendment qualifies for consideration by City Council as an amendment to the Sign By-law as it would alter the sign district designation of a premises, specifically the portion of Subject Premises 55 metres to the north and 70 metres to the south of the limits of Dixon Road where it passes through the Subject Premises (the "Subject Area").

Toronto Building, in consultation with City Planning, conducted a thorough review of the application, and does not believe that the proposed area-specific amendment is consistent with the objectives of the Official Plan, the applicable Zoning By-law or Sign By-law for the Subject Premises. Therefore, Toronto Building does not recommend approval of this amendment.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council refuse the application to amend the Sign By-law to add an area- specific amendment to Schedule 'B' of Chapter 694, Signage Master Plans and Area-Specific Amendments, to replace the existing Sign By-law regulations concerning third party signs applicable to the premises municipally known as 2075 Lawrence Avenue East with regulations to allow for, and regulate, a single third party electronic ground sign, as described in Attachment 1 of the report (October 12, 2023) from the Acting Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

Toronto's Sign By-law is a harmonized, City-wide set of regulations governing signs which was adopted in 2010. The Sign By-law contains a process for any member of the public to apply to City Council to amend the Sign By-law to implement significant changes to the sign regulations for a specific property or area. Applications are commonly made requesting amendments to the Sign By-law to allow signs that are prohibited, to remove permissions for signs in an area, or to modify the administrative requirements of the Sign By-law. The Chief Building Official ("CBO") brings applications to amend the Sign By-law together on an annual basis for City Council consideration, so that that City Council can more easily assess the overall and cumulative impact of these applications on the city's built environment, and the Sign By-law itself.

In 2018, Pattison Outdoor Advertising (the “Applicant”) made an application requesting that City Council amend the Sign By-law (“the Previous Proposal”). This amendment would have allowed for the replacement of the existing regulations concerning third-party signs at 2075 Lawrence Avenue East (the “Subject Premises”), located in a Commercial Residential (“CR”) Sign District, with new regulations. The Planning and Housing Committee considered the Previous Proposal at its May 2019 meeting and referred it back to the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building for further discussions with the Applicant.

Subsequently, the Applicant revised the Previous Proposal and is now applying for a similar amendment to replace the third-party sign regulations applicable to the Subject Premises with new regulations. The new regulations would allow for, and regulate, a third-party electronic ground sign in a CR Sign District, where it is not a permitted sign type (the “Current Amendment Proposal”).

The Current Amendment Proposal would allow for and regulate the Proposed Sign, a third-party electronic ground sign containing two sign faces in a back-to-back configuration. Each side would display electronic static copy with a sign face area of 18.6 square meters, which is more than six times larger than permitted by the Sign By-law. The maximum height of the Proposed Sign would not be more than 7.65 meters.

The Current Amendment Proposal would have the Proposed Sign be limited to a maximum illumination level of 150 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise. It also contains provisions which would require the removal of multiple existing third-party ground signs erected under the Sign By-law (the “Existing Signs”); require the removal of various temporary signs; and the revocation of all associated permits. The Current Amendment Proposal also modifies the initial sign permit term for the Proposed Sign to 10 years from the usual 5 years.

The Current Amendment Proposal contains regulations allowing for, and regulating, the Proposed Sign. These regulations would be a significant departure from the regulations enacted by City Council concerning third-party electronic ground signs, the Subject Premises, and other premises within the City in the following ways:

· The Sign By-law mandates that the maximum term of a sign permit be 5 years rather than the 10 years sought by the Current Amendment Proposal.

· The Sign By-law generally prohibits third-party electronic ground signs in CR Sign Districts.

· A sign face area of 18.6 square meters is more than six times larger than permitted for a third-party sign in a CR Sign District, such as the Subject Premises, by the Sign By-law.

· The Proposed Sign would be allowed to be erected within 40-60 meters of and facing an Institutional (I) Sign District, Open Space (OS) Sign District, Residential (“R”) Sign District, and a Residential Apartment (“RA”) Sign District, where the Sign By-law generally prohibits third-party electronic signs from being closer than 250 meters to and facing these Sign Districts.

Toronto Building does not recommend approval of the Current Amendment Proposal to replace the existing regulations for 2075 Lawrence Avenue East.

In the opinion of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building (“CBO”), the Applicant has provided an insufficient basis as to why the existing regulations for the Subject Premises are not suitable for the current and long-term uses of the Subject Premises, the surrounding area, and the City as a whole. Furthermore, it is the CBO’s opinion that the third-party electronic sign that would be allowed under the Current Amendment Proposal is not compatible with the Sign District, Zoning By-law, and Official Plan designations for the property. In addition, CBO believes that the Proposed Sign would also add to sign clutter in the area and would conflict with existing and future first-party signs on the Subject Premises and surrounding area.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council refuse the application to amend the Sign By-law to add an area- specific amendment to Schedule 'B' of Chapter 694, Signage Master Plans and Area-Specific Amendments, to replace the existing Sign By-law regulations concerning third party signs applicable to the premises municipally known as 2378-2410 Eglinton Avenue East with regulations to allow for, and regulate, a single third party electronic ground sign, as described in Attachment 1 of the report (October 16, 2023) from the Acting Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

Toronto's Sign By-law is a harmonized, City-wide set of regulations governing signs which was adopted in 2010. The Sign By-law contains a process for any member of the public to apply to City Council to amend the Sign By-law to implement significant changes to the sign regulations for a specific property or area. Applications are commonly made requesting amendments to the Sign By-law to allow signs that are prohibited, to remove permissions for signs in an area, or to modify the administrative requirements of the Sign By-law. The Chief Building Official ("CBO") brings applications to amend the Sign By-law together on an annual basis for City Council consideration, so that that City Council can more easily assess the overall and cumulative impact of these applications on the city's built environment, and the Sign By-law itself.

In 2018, Pattison Outdoor Advertising (the “Applicant”) applied to City Council to amend the Sign By-law. The aim was to replace the existing regulations concerning third-party signs with new regulations for the premises at 2378-2410 Eglinton Avenue East (“The Subject Premises”), designated as a Commercial Residential (“CR”) Sign District. The Applicant initially proposed the Previous Proposal, which the Planning and Housing Committee considered at its May 2019 meeting. The committee referred it back to the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, for further discussions with the Applicant. The Applicant subsequently revised the Previous Proposal and is now applying for an amendment to replace the existing third-party sign regulations applicable to the Subject Premises with new regulations (“The Current Amendment Proposal”).

The Current Amendment Proposal would allow for and regulate the Proposed Sign, a third-party electronic ground sign. The Proposed Sign would contain two sign faces in a “V-shaped” configuration, displaying static copy on one side and electronic copy on the other. Each side would have a sign face area of 18.6 square metres, with a height of not more than 7.62 metres. The Proposed Sign would face and be in close proximity to various forms of “Residential Sign Districts,” as well as being in close proximity to multiple other third-party signs. The Current Amendment Proposal would have the Proposed Sign be limited to a maximum illumination level of 150 nits during the period between sunset and sunrise. The proposal would also require the removal of an existing third-party ground sign erected under the provisions of a Sign by-law of a former area municipality (the “Existing Sign”). Additionally, the initial permit term would be modified to 10 years from the usual 5 years.

The Current Amendment Proposal contains regulations that allow for and regulate the Proposed Sign. These regulations would be a significant departure from the regulations enacted by City Council concerning third-party electronic ground signs, the Subject Premises, and other premises within the City in the following ways:

• The Sign By-law mandates the maximum term of a sign permit to be 5 years rather than the 10 years sought by the Current Proposed Amendment.

• The Sign By-law typically prohibits third-party signs from having sign faces displayed in a “V-shaped” configuration.

• A sign face area of 18.6 square metres is more than six times larger than permitted for a third-party sign in a CR Sign District, such as the Subject Premises, by the Sign By-law.

• The Proposed Sign would be allowed to be erected within 60-135 metres of, and facing a CR Sign District, Residential (“R”) Sign District, and a Residential Apartment (“RA”) Sign District, where the Sign By-law generally prohibits third-party electronic signs from being closer than 250 metres to or facing these types of Sign Districts.

• The Proposed Sign would be allowed to be erected within 90 metres of another third-party sign, where the Sign By-law generally prohibits third-party electronic signs from being within 150 metres of another third-party sign.

Toronto Building does not recommend approval of the Current Amendment Proposal to replace the existing regulations for 2378-2410 Eglinton Avenue East.

It is the opinion of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, that the Applicant has not provided sufficient justification for why the existing regulations for the Subject Premises are unsuitable for the current and long-term uses of the Subject Premises, the surrounding area, and the City as a whole. Furthermore, it is the CBO’s opinion that the third-party electronic sign that would be allowed under the Current Amendment Proposal is not compatible with the Sign District, Zoning By-law, and Official Plan designations for the property. In addition, CBO believes that the Proposed Sign would also add to sign clutter in the area and would conflict with existing and future first-party signs on the Subject Premises and surrounding area.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council refuse the application to amend the Sign By-law to add an area-specific amendment to Schedule 'B' of Chapter 694, Signage Master Plans and Area-Specific Amendments, to replace the existing Sign By-law regulations concerning third party signs applicable to the premises municipally known as 496 Evans Avenue with regulations to allow for, and regulate, a single third party electronic ground sign, as described in Attachment 1 of the report (September 28, 2023) from the Acting Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

Toronto's Sign By-law is a harmonized, City-wide set of regulations governing signs which was adopted in 2010. The Sign By-law contains a process for any member of the public to apply to City Council to amend the Sign By-law to implement significant changes to the sign regulations for a specific property or area. Applications are commonly made requesting amendments to the Sign By-law to allow signs that are prohibited, to remove permissions for signs in an area, or to modify the administrative requirements of the Sign By-law. The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building ("CBO") brings applications to amend the Sign By-law together on an annual basis for City Council consideration, so that that City Council can more easily assess the overall and cumulative impact of these applications on the city's built environment, and the Sign By-law itself.

496 Evans Avenue (the “Subject Premises”) is located within one of 84 areas throughout the city where City Council has determined that no third-party signs should be permitted, and that signage should be restricted to first-party signs only. The Bader Group Inc (the “Applicant”) has been authorized by the property owner, Mersen Canada DN Ltd, to make an application (the “Proposed Amendment”) asking City Council to replace the current regulations applicable to the Subject Premises, which prohibit any third-party signs from being erected and displayed, with regulations to allow for, and regulate, a third-party electronic sign (the “Proposed Sign”).

The Proposed Amendment would not only allow for a third-party sign in an area where City Council has specifically enacted a regulation stating no third-party signs would be appropriate but would establish unique regulations for the Proposed Sign. These regulations would allow it to be more than three times larger than what is generally allowed for third-party ground signs and to have a height exceeding, by more than fifty percent, the height that electronic ground signs are generally permitted to have by the Sign By-law.

The Proposed Amendment would further alter the regulations in the Sign By-law concerning the sign permit term to allow the Proposed Sign to be issued a sign permit with an initial term of ten years, which is double the permit length for other third-party signs set out in the Sign By-law. Additionally, it would allow the Proposed Sign to have faces displayed in a “v-shaped” configuration, rather than the generally permitted “back-to-back” configuration.

Not only would the Proposed Amendment allow the Proposed Sign to be located within an area where City Council has determined that no third-party signs should be displayed, but it would also allow for a third-party electronic ground sign to face Open Space (“OS”) and Residential (“R”) sign districts located within 250 meters. This is contrary to the minimum separation distances required by the Sign By-law.

Toronto Building, in consultation with City Planning and Transportation Services, conducted a thorough review of the Application, and the supporting material. It is the opinion of the CBO that the Proposed Amendment, which would allow for and regulate the Proposed Sign, is not consistent with the objectives of the Sign By-law, or the specific regulations enacted for the Subject Premises and surrounding area. Therefore, CBO does not support Council approval of the Proposed Amendment.

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council refuse the application to amend the Sign By-law to add an area-specific amendment to Schedule 'B' of Chapter 694, Signage Master Plans and Area-Specific Amendments, to replace the existing Sign By-law regulations concerning third party signs applicable to the premises municipally known as 82 Queen Elizabeth Boulevard with regulations to allow for, and regulate, a single third party electronic ground sign, as described in Attachment 1 of the report (October 12, 2023) from the Acting Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building.

Toronto's Sign By-law is a harmonized, City-wide set of regulations governing signs which was adopted in 2010. The Sign By-law contains a process for any member of the public to apply to City Council to amend the Sign By-law to implement significant changes to the sign regulations for a specific property or area. Applications are commonly made requesting amendments to the Sign By-law to allow signs that are prohibited, to remove permissions for signs in an area, or to modify the administrative requirements of the Sign By-law. The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building ("CBO") brings applications to amend the Sign By-law together on an annual basis for City Council consideration, so that that City Council can more easily assess the overall and cumulative impact of these applications on the city's built environment, and the Sign By-law itself.

82 Queen Elizabeth Boulevard (the “Premises”) is located within one of 84 areas throughout the city where City Council has determined that third-party signs should not be permitted and where signage should be restricted to first-party signs only. On behalf of 2034038 Ontario Limited (the “Property Owner”), Pattison Outdoor Advertising (the “Applicant”) is making an application (the “Proposed Amendment”) to City Council. The purpose of this application is to replace the existing regulations applicable to the Premises with area-specific regulations.

These new regulations would not only allow for a third-party sign in an area where City Council has specifically enacted a regulation stating no third-party signs would be appropriate ("the Proposed Sign"), but they would also establish unique regulations for the Proposed Sign. If approved, the Proposed Sign would be more than three times larger than what is generally allowed for third-party ground signs. Additionally, it would have a height approximately fifty percent taller than the maximum height typically permitted where such signs are allowed to be erected and displayed by the Sign By-law. The Proposed Amendment would also establish regulations to allow the Proposed Sign to have faces displayed in the generally prohibited “v-shaped” configuration. This is contrary to the generally permitted “back-to-back” configuration. Furthermore, the Proposed Sign would face the Open Space (“OS”) and Residential (“R”) sign districts within 250 meters of its location. This is contrary to the minimum separation distances generally required by the Sign By-law.

The Proposed Amendment would also alter the Sign By-law's administrative provisions concerning sign permit term to allow the Proposed Sign to be issued a sign permit which would have a ten-year duration, double the permit length for other third party signs set out in the Sign By-law; and, as well as establishing a further condition on the issuance a sign permit for the Proposed Sign, that the existing single-sided third party electronic ground sign *the "Existing Sign") be removed from the Premises and all associated permits revoked.

Toronto Building, in consultation with City Planning and Transportation Services, conducted a thorough review of the application, and does not believe that the proposed site-specific amendment is consistent with the objectives of the Sign By-law. Therefore, Toronto Building does not recommend approval of this amendment.

The Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 596 Renforth Drive substantially-in-accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 5 to the report (September 27, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking in order to exclude residents or visitors to or tradespersons at 596 Renforth Drive from obtaining a parking permit.

3. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to include the following as a post-approval condition of site plan:

a. the Owner shall insert an advisory clause that residents of the development will be ineligible for on-street parking permits, substantially in the form of the advisory clause in Attachment 4 to the report (November 10, 2021) contained in item 2021.PH29.3 from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, into all purchases, agreements of purchase and sale or agreements to lease and condominium declaration document(s) for each affected residential unit within the development.

Purchasers acknowledge and agree that purchasers or residents of the Development will not be eligible for on street-parking permits under the City of Toronto Municipal Code. Purchasers agree that, despite the status or availability of on-street parking permits for residents in the development area as of the date of this document, the availability of on-street parking permits in the development area for the purchasers or residents of the Development may, at the discretion of City of Toronto Council, be modified, amended or removed at any time in accordance with the City of Toronto Act, 2006, as amended from time to time and its successors, and the City of Toronto Municipal Code.

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, that notwithstanding the content of the report dated September 27, 2023 from the Director, Community Planning, no designs have been determined for improvements to the right of way on Centennial Park Gate, and that any future design be determined through consultation with the Community and the Local Councillor.

5. City Council direct the Director, Engineering Review, Engineering and Construction Services, and the Director, Community Planning, consult with the Local Councillor on the construction management plan to ensure that it meets the needs of the local residents, institutions and park users.

6. City Council request the Director, Urban Forestry, to plant one or two city trees if feasible, on the East side boulevard of Renforth Road at the intersection of Centennial Park Gate, and behind 49 Oxenden Crescent.

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

The Etobicoke York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 16, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This application proposes to amend the Zoning By-law to permit the development of 140 residential units in five stacked, back-to-back, three-storey apartment buildings. The proposed development has a building height of 10.3 metres and a floor space index of 1.6 times the area of the lot.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law. The proposal conforms with the Official Plan and is consistent with the City’s urban design guidelines. The proposed development represents an appropriate level of intensification and infill housing that is compatible with the surrounding context.

The Etobicoke Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of North Queen Street and Medulla Avenue/Private Access.

As the Toronto Transit Commission operates a transit service on North Queen Street, City Council approval of this report is required.

Transportation Services has reviewed the need for pedestrian crossing protection on North Queen Street, in the area near Medulla Avenue. Based on the assessment undertaken, Transportation Services is requesting approval to install traffic control signals at the intersection of North Queen Street and Medulla Avenue/Private Access. Traffic control signals will provide enhanced safety for vulnerable road users.

The Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend the paragraph on page 8 of Attachment 2 to the report (October 5, 2023) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning, titled "Updated Reasons for Inclusion on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register" by deleting the words "an important" so that the last sentence in the paragraph reads as follows:

"In 2005, the Marian Shrine of Gratitude was created in the rear gardens and became a place of spiritual meaning, as well as a space for peaceful reflection and solace in the community."

2. City Council amend the Listing Statement for the property at 3100 Weston Road on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register in accordance with the Listing Statement (Reasons for Inclusion), attached as Attachment 2 to the report (October 5, 2023) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning, as amended by Recommendation 1 above.

This report recommends that City Council adopt an amended Listing Statement (October 2023) for 3100 Weston Road to inform the property's cultural heritage value and interest with new information that has arisen since the original listing was adopted by City of North York Council in 1997.

Located on the west side of Weston Road at the intersection of Weston Road and Sheppard Avenue West, the property at 3100 Weston Road comprises a Tudor Revival estate home with garage and surrounding landscape, set on a large lot that extends into the Humber River Valley. The subject property straddles the boundary of the Humbermede and Pelmo Park-Humberlea neighbourhoods in Etobicoke York Community Council area. The house on the property was designed for stockbroker Percy Ryerson Gardiner by architect Jocelyn Davidson, and the estate was named, "Rivermede". Overtime the property has evolved to include a red brick, Modernist style former school and chapel building complex built for the Order of Saint Basil the Great, which currently is the location of the Carmine Stefano Community Centre. In 2005, the Marian Shrine of Gratitude was constructed in the rear gardens.      

The property at 3100 Weston Road was included on the North York Inventory of Heritage Properties by North York Council on October 6, 1997. Following revisions to the Ontario Heritage Act in 2005, 3100 Weston Road and many other properties on pre-amalgamation municipal inventories were included on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register as listed properties on September 27, 2006.   

Following the sale of the property in August 2023, Staff have reviewed the Listing Statement (1997) and have determined that the property continues to meet criteria related to design, historical association, and context, as adopted by the former North York Council. Given new information about the site that has arisen since 1997, however, Staff have amended the Listing Statement (October 2023) to reflect the values of the property more comprehensively.

A municipal heritage register may include properties that have not been designated but Council believes to be of "cultural heritage value or interest", and that meet one or more of the provincial criteria for determining whether they are of cultural heritage value or interest. The Ontario Heritage Act (the Act) now also limits listing to a period of two years.

Properties on the Heritage Register will be conserved and maintained in accordance with the Official Plan's Heritage Policies. The listing of non-designated properties on the municipal heritage register also extends interim protection from demolition and provides an opportunity for City Council to determine whether the property warrants conservation through designation under the Act should a development or demolition application be submitted.

On January 1, 2023, amendments to the Act through the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (Bill 23) came into effect. Under the Act, should a property be subject to an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and/or Draft Plan of Subdivision Application, properties must be listed on the Heritage Register prior to Part IV designation and before the occurrence of a "Prescribed Event". Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) are required for development applications that affect listed properties

At its meeting on October 10, 2023 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB10.8 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (October 5, 2023) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council adopt an amended Listing Statement (October 2023) for 3100 Weston Road to inform the property's cultural heritage value and interest with new information that has arisen since the original listing was adopted by City of North York Council in 1997.

Located on the west side of Weston Road at the intersection of Weston Road and Sheppard Avenue West, the property at 3100 Weston Road comprises a Tudor Revival estate home with garage and surrounding landscape, set on a large lot that extends into the Humber River Valley. The subject property straddles the boundary of the Humbermede and Pelmo Park-Humberlea neighbourhoods in Etobicoke York Community Council area. The house on the property was designed for stockbroker Percy Ryerson Gardiner by architect Jocelyn Davidson, and the estate was named, "Rivermede". Overtime the property has evolved to include a red brick, Modernist style former school and chapel building complex built for the Order of Saint Basil the Great, which currently is the location of the Carmine Stefano Community Centre. In 2005, the Marian Shrine of Gratitude was constructed in the rear gardens.      

The property at 3100 Weston Road was included on the North York Inventory of Heritage Properties by North York Council on October 6, 1997. Following revisions to the Ontario Heritage Act in 2005, 3100 Weston Road and many other properties on pre-amalgamation municipal inventories were included on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register as listed properties on September 27, 2006.   

Following the sale of the property in August 2023, Staff have reviewed the Listing Statement (1997) and have determined that the property continues to meet criteria related to design, historical association, and context, as adopted by the former North York Council. Given new information about the site that has arisen since 1997, however, Staff have amended the Listing Statement (October 2023) to reflect the values of the property more comprehensively.

A municipal heritage register may include properties that have not been designated but Council believes to be of "cultural heritage value or interest", and that meet one or more of the provincial criteria for determining whether they are of cultural heritage value or interest. The Ontario Heritage Act (the Act) now also limits listing to a period of two years.

Properties on the Heritage Register will be conserved and maintained in accordance with the Official Plan's Heritage Policies. The listing of non-designated properties on the municipal heritage register also extends interim protection from demolition and provides an opportunity for City Council to determine whether the property warrants conservation through designation under the Act should a development or demolition application be submitted.

On January 1, 2023, amendments to the Act through the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 (Bill 23) came into effect. Under the Act, should a property be subject to an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and/or Draft Plan of Subdivision Application, properties must be listed on the Heritage Register prior to Part IV designation and before the occurrence of a "Prescribed Event". Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) are required for development applications that affect listed properties

North 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 applicant regarding the Zoning By-law Amendment appeal for the lands at 1265 Wilson Avenue, and to continue discussions with the applicant in an attempt to resolve the outstanding issues detailed in this report.

2. In the event that the Ontario Land Tribunal allows the appeal in whole or in part, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to request that the issuance of any final Order be withheld until such time as the City Solicitor advises that:

a. the final form and content of the draft Zoning By-laws are to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

b. the Owner has submitted a revised Functional Servicing Report, including a Stormwater Management Report and Hydrogeological Report, to determine whether there is adequate capacity in the existing municipal infrastructure to accommodate the proposed development, and to address all the matters in the Engineering and Construction Services Memorandum dated January 16, 2023, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and  Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and the General Manager, Transportation Services;

c. the Owner has made satisfactory arrangements with Engineering and Construction Services and entered into the appropriate agreement with the City for the design and construction of any improvements to the municipal infrastructure, should it be determined that upgrades are required to the infrastructure to support this development, according to the accepted Functional Servicing Report accepted by the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services;

d. the Owner has submitted a revised Transportation Demand Management Plan to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Transportation Services, and that such matters arising from this Plan be secured, if required;

e. the Owner has addressed matters from the Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Analysis Section of City Planning Memorandum dated February 8, 2023, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

f. the Owner has addressed matters from the Urban Forestry Memorandum dated January 9, 2023 to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and  Recreation;

g. the Owner has submitted an updated complete Toronto Green Standards Checklist and Statistics Template, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

h. the Owner has provided space within the development for the installation of maintenance access holes and sampling ports on the private side, as close to the property line as possible, for both the storm and sanitary service connections, in accordance with the Sewers By-law chapter 681.10.b;

i. the Owner has secured replacement of the existing rental housing, including the same number of units, bedroom type and size and with similar rents;

j. the Owner has secured an acceptable Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan addressing the right for existing tenants to return to a replacement rental unit on the lands at similar rents, the provision of alternative accommodation at similar rents, and other assistance to lessen hardship, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and

k. City Council has approved the Rental Housing Demolition Application Number 21 219452 NNY 06 RH in accordance with Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 which allows for the demolition of the sixty-one (61) existing rental dwelling units at 1265 Wilson Avenue and the Owner has entered into, and registered on title to the lands, one or more agreements with the City to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor, securing all rental housing-related matters necessary to implement City Council’s decision.

3. City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to request that a Holding provision (H) be included in the final form of the site-specific Zoning By-law Amendment, not to be lifted until such time as the owner has made satisfactory arrangements, including entering into appropriate agreements(s) with the City for required mitigation, as well as the design and construction of any improvements to the municipal infrastructure and the provision of financial securities to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and General Manager, Transportation Services.

4. City Council authorizes the City Solicitor and City staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.

On November 1, 2021, a Zoning By-law Amendment application was submitted to permit a residential  building with 12-storeys (38.2 metres without a mechanical penthouse) along the Wilson Avenue frontage and a 25-storey (78.8 meter) residential building (plus a 6.0 metre mechanical penthouse) at the south end of the site. The 12-storey element on Wilson Avenue would be connected with the tower at the south end with other building elements of varying heights.

There is a 4-storey rental building on the site containing 61 residential rental units which would be demolished and are proposed to be replaced within the new development. This is subject to the related Rental Housing Demolition application 21 219452 NNY 06 RH.

A Preliminary Report dated November 30, 2021 was considered by North York Community Council on January 6, 2022 and adopted with amendments. The motion indicated that staff would not schedule a community consultation meeting for the application until the applicant had an opportunity to modify their application in keeping with initial guidance from Community Planning while considering the adjacent active development application at 1277 Wilson Avenue and striving for better adherence to the Mid-Rise Building guidelines and conducting additional discussions with both staff and the local councillor.

On December 9, 2022, a revised proposal was submitted which proposed 11-storeys (35.285 metres without a mechanical penthouse) along the Wilson Avenue frontage with a 27-storey (85.485 metre) building plus a 6.0 metre mechanical penthouse at the south end of the site. The 11-storey element on Wilson Avenue would be connected with the tower at the south end with three other building elements of varying heights (12-storeys plus mechanical penthouse (44.985 metre), 12-storeys (39.785 metre) and 5-storeys (16.785 metre). The revised proposal would have an overall gross floor area of 45,745 square metres above grade and 3 levels of a below-grade parking structure. A total of 559 residential units would be proposed in the revised proposal, with 61 of those units being rental replacement units.

On June 30, 2023, the Applicant appealed the Zoning By-law Amendment application to the Ontario Land Tribunal due to City Council not making a decision within the 120-day time frame in the Planning Act. A Case Management Conference has been scheduled for September 27, 2023.

This report provides an update on the proposal and the outstanding issues. The report recommends that the City Solicitor along with the appropriate City Staff attend the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing and continues to oppose the application in its current form and to continue discussions with the Applicant to resolve outstanding issues.

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council refuse the application for an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications (23 176474 NNY 08 OZ) in their current form, for the lands municipally known as 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 327, 39, and 41 Henning Avenue.

2. In the event the applications are appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, City Council, pursuant to subsections 22(8.1) and 34(11.0.0.1) of the Planning Act, use mediation, conciliation or other dispute resolution techniques in an attempt to resolve the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and City Solicitor.

3. City Council direct the City Clerk, should an appeal be filed, to notify all persons or public bodies who may have filed an appeal to this decision of City Council’s intention to rely on subsections 22(8.1) and 34(11.0.0.1) of the Planning Act and the City Clerk shall provide notice to all prescribed persons or public bodies under subsections 22(8.2) and 34(11.0.0.2) of the Planning Act. 

4. City Council direct the City Clerk, should an appeal be filed, to notify the Ontario Land Tribunal of City Council’s intention pursuant to subsections 22(8.1) and 34(11.0.0.1) of the Planning Act, and that the Ontario Land Tribunal shall receive the record, the notice of appeal and other prescribed documents and materials seventy-five (75) days after the last day for filing a notice of appeal for these matters.

5. Should the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications be resolved, and there is no appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal or the appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal has been withdrawn, City Council direct the Director, North York District, Community Planning to bring forward an Approval Report to North York Community Council for a statutory public meeting as required under the Planning Act.

6. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and other appropriate staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.

The application proposes to amend the Official Plan to redesignate the lands from Neighbourhoods to Mixed Use Areas for the properties known as 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, and 41 Henning Avenue and to introduce a Site and Area Specific Policy for the lands known as 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35 Henning Avenue to permit a 34-storey (112 metres excluding mechanical (119 metres with mechanical)) residential building.

The application to amend the Zoning By-law applies to 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33 and 35 Henning Avenue. It proposes development standards to implement the proposed building which would be 25,490 square metres, containing 390 dwelling units, and 45 vehicular parking spaces in a 1.5 level below-grade parking structure for the properties.  The proposed Floor space index is also 15.14 times the lot area.

The proposed development is not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and does not conform with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). The proposal is not consistent with the Official Plan and the Yonge Eglinton Secondary Plan (YESP).

This report reviews and recommends refusal of the application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law, particularly as it relates to the intensity of the proposed development, transition to the existing and planned context, provision of adequate amenity space, lack of visitor parking, inadequate soil volumes and servicing upgrade requirements.

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 2654, 2656, 2660 and 2668 Bayview Avenue substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 5 to the report (September 22, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District.

2. City Council authorizes the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.

The North York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 17, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This Zoning By-law Amendment application proposes to permit the development of 12 townhouse units fronting onto Bayview Avenue and 5 detached houses to the rear of the site accessed via a new public street on the lands municipally addressed as 2654, 2656, 2660 and 2668 Bayview Avenue. The four existing detached houses on the site would be demolished.

The proposed townhouses would be separated into two blocks of 6 units each. The townhouses would be 3 storeys with an additional roof vestibule providing access to an exterior amenity space, and measure 11 metres tall (14 metres to top of roof access vestibule). Each townhouse unit would have a width of approximately 5.8 metres and a depth of 16 metres.

The five detached lots would be rezoned to have minimum lot frontages ranging between 13.3 metres to 18.8 metres and minimum lot areas ranging between 667 square metres and 1,022 square metres. The lots would also permit a detached house with a maximum height of 2-storeys and 11 metres.

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020).

The proposal provides for appropriate townhouse infill development along a major street and 5 detached dwellings which are compatible with the surrounding neighbourhood. The proposal conforms to the City of Toronto's Official Plan and meets the intent of the Bayview Townhouse Guidelines.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application. The recommended Zoning By-law includes a Holding (H) provision on the lands to ensure that preliminary infrastructure matters are identified and addressed.

North 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 Application regarding the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment appeal for the lands at 589-595 Eglinton Avenue East and 61-67 Mann Avenue.

2. In the event that the Ontario Land Tribunal allows the appeals in whole or in part, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to request that the issuance of any final Orders be withheld until such time as the City Solicitor advises that:

a. the final form and content of the draft Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment are to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

b. the owner has satisfactorily addressed the Engineering and Construction Services matters in the Engineering and Construction Services Memorandum dated August 21, 2023, or as may be updated, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services;

c. the owner has submitted a revised Transportation Demand Management Plan acceptable to, and to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Transportation Services and that matters arising from such Plan be secured, if required;

d. the owner has submitted a Subsurface Investigation for the possible presence of methane gas on the property and any required mitigation measures are to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services;

e. the owner has submitted a revised Pedestrian Level Wind Study, including wind tunnel testing and mitigation measures, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

f. the owner has satisfactorily addressed matters from the Urban Forestry memorandum dated August 18, 2023, or as may be updated in response to further submissions filed by the Owner, all to the satisfaction of Urban Forestry;

g. the owner has submitted an updated complete Toronto Green Standards (TGS) Checklist and Statistics Template, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

h. the owner has secured an acceptable Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan for tenants of the four (4) rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished at the time of application, addressing financial compensation and other assistance to lessen hardship. The Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division and implemented prior to the issuance of Notice of Approval Conditions for Site Plan Approval;

i. the owner has provided a legal undertaking to the City, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division, to secure the Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan required in Part 2.h. above.

3. Should it be determined that upgrades are required to the infrastructure to support the development according to the accepted Functional Servicing Report and / or the Transportation Impact Study or that mitigation is required per the Subsurface Investigation, City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to request that a Holding provision (H) be included in the final form of the site-specific Zoning By-law Amendment, not to be lifted until such time as the owner has made satisfactory arrangements, including entering into appropriate agreement(s) with the City for required mitigation, as well as the design and construction of any improvements to the municipal infrastructure and the provision of financial securities to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and General Manager, Transportation Services.

4. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and City staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.

This application proposes a 35-storey (124.75 metres to top of mechanical penthouse) residential building with 26,074 square metres of residential gross floor area for a total of 442 units, and 621 square metres of ground floor retail fronting onto Eglinton Avenue East. The development would have a total gross floor area of 26,695 square metres with a Floor Space Index of 13.47.

On April 14, 2023, the applicant appealed the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (“OLT”) due to Council not making a decision within the time frame prescribed  in the Planning Act. A Case Management Conference took place on August 8, 2023. A second Case Management Conference will take place on November 7, 2023.

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

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council refuse the application for the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment at 155 St. Dennis Drive.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor, together with appropriate staff, to appear before the Ontario Land Tribunal in support of City Council’s decision to refuse the application, in the event that the application is appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

On March 6, 2023, an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application was submitted to the City that proposes to partially redevelop the lands at 155 St. Dennis Drive with four (4) residential towers ranging in height between 42 to 56 storeys linked by a 2-storey base building. The development proposes 2,170 residential units, 135,413 square metres of residential gross floor area, and approximately 348 square metres of non-residential gross floor area. The application proposes that 5 percent of the residential gross floor area (approximately 6,771 square metres) would be allocated to affordable housing. The site has an overall area of 169,361 square metres, of which, the applicant proposes to develop 7,643 square metres of the site with residential towers, and the remainder of the lands, approximately 16 hectares, would  be conveyed to a public agency as open space. A total of 405 vehicle parking spaces are proposed in 4 levels of underground parking. The application was deemed complete as of August 1, 2023.

The Official Plan Amendment seeks to redesignate 7,643 square metres of the site to Apartment Neighbourhoods to facilitate the residential development, with the remaining 16 hectares of the site redesignated to Natural Areas.

The proposed development is not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and does not conform with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). Further, the proposal is not in keeping with the intent of the Official Plan, and does not represent good planning.

This report reviews and recommends refusal of the application to amend the

Official Plan and Zoning By-law based on primarily the following:

- The application is proposing residential development in an area that is not envisioned for growth in accordance with the urban structure, land use designations (parks and open space designation), servicing, natural heritage and hazard land policies of the Provincial Policy Statement, Growth Plan and Official Plan.

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 48 Grenoble Drive substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Revised Attachment 5 to the motion by Councillor Jon Burnside.

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

3. City Council require the Owner to enter into an Agreement as follows:

a. securing a privately owned privately owned publicly-accessible spaces ("POPS"), having a minimum total area of 540 square metres at grade at the southern end of the site between the towers, as generally identified on Attachment 6 to this report, with the specific design of the POPS and any associated easements and improvements to be determined as part of the Site Plan Approval process for this site, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning. The privately owned publicly-accessible spaces easement shall include provisions for rights of support, if necessary, and insurance and indemnification of the City by the owner, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the City Solicitor.

4. City Council approve the Rental Housing Demolition application File Number 22 127161 NNY 16 RH in accordance with Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 which allows for the demolition of one hundred nine (109) existing rental dwelling units located at 48 Grenoble Drive, subject to the following conditions:

a. the owner shall provide and maintain at least one hundred ten (110) replacement rental dwelling units on the subject site for a period of at least 20 years beginning from the date that each replacement rental dwelling unit is first occupied. During such 20-year period, no application may be submitted to the City for condominium registration, or for any other conversion to a non-rental housing purpose, or for demolition without providing for replacement. The replacement rental dwelling units shall collectively have a total gross floor area of at least 8,289 square metres (89,222 square feet) and be comprised of at least fifty-one (51) one-bedroom units and fifty-nine (59) two-bedroom units as generally illustrated in the Floor Plans submitted to the City Planning Division dated September 22, 2023. Any revisions to these plans shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division;

b. the Owner shall, as part of the one hundred ten (110) replacement rental dwelling units required in Recommendation 4.a above, provide at least thirty-two (32) one-bedroom units and forty-five (45) two-bedroom units at affordable rents, five (5) one-bedroom units at mid-range (affordable) rents, and up to fourteen (14) one-bedroom units and fourteen (14) two-bedroom units at mid-range (moderate) rents, as currently defined in the City's Official Plan, all for a period of at least ten (10) years beginning from the date of first occupancy of each unit;

c. any replacement rental dwelling units provided in the proposed residential development in addition to the minimum one hundred ten (110) replacement rental dwelling units required in Recommendation 4.a above, shall be secured at affordable rents as currently defined in the Official Plan, for a period of at least ten (10) years beginning from the date of the first occupancy of each unit;

d. the Owner shall provide an acceptable Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan to all Eligible Tenants of the one hundred nine (109) existing rental units proposed to be demolished at 48 Grenoble Drive, addressing the right to return to occupy one of the replacement rental dwelling units at similar rents, the provision of rent gap assistance, and other assistance to lessen hardship. The Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan shall be developed in consultation with, and to the satisfaction of, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division;

e. the Owner shall provide tenant assistance to all Post Application Tenants, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division;

f. the Owner shall provide tenants of all replacement rental dwelling units with access to, and use of, all indoor and outdoor amenities in the proposed residential building on the same terms and conditions as any other resident of the podium and West Tower, without the need to pre-book or pay a fee unless specifically required as a customary practice for private bookings;

g. the Owner shall provide ensuite laundry in each replacement rental dwelling unit within the proposed residential building at no extra charge;

h. the Owner shall provide central air conditioning in each replacement rental dwelling unit within the proposed residential building at no extra charge;

i. the Owner shall provide and make available for rent for tenants of the replacement rental dwelling units nineteen (19) vehicle parking spaces or such number as would reflect the same rate of vehicle parking spaces per dwelling unit as provided for the rest of the dwelling units in the proposed residential building. The terms and conditions for renting vehicle parking spaces to tenants of the replacement rental dwelling units shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division;

j. the Owner shall provide tenants of all replacement rental dwelling units with access to bicycle and visitor parking on the same terms and conditions as any other resident of the proposed residential building, except as otherwise required by the Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan;

k. the replacement rental dwelling units required in recommendation 4.a above shall be made ready and available for occupancy no later than the date by which 70 percent of the new dwelling units in the proposed residential building, exclusive of the replacement rental dwelling units, are made available and ready for occupancy, subject to any revisions to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division; and

l. the Owner shall enter into, and register on title to the lands at 48 Grenoble Drive, an agreement pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to secure the conditions outlined in Recommendations 4.a through 4.k above, all to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division, prior to issuance of Notice of Approval Conditions for site plan approval by the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning or their designate pursuant to Section 114 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

5. City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to issue Preliminary Approval of the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006 for the demolition of one hundred nine (109) rental dwelling units at 48 Grenoble Drive after all the following have occurred:

a. all conditions in Recommendation 4 above have been fully satisfied and secured;

b. the Zoning By-law Amendments have come into full force and effect;

c. the issuance of the Notice of Approval Conditions for site plan approval by the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning or their designate pursuant to Section 114 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006; 

d. the issuance of excavation and shoring permits (conditional or full permits) for the approved development on the site; and

e. the owner has confirmed, in writing, that all existing rental dwelling units proposed to be demolished are vacant.

6. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to issue a Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division has given the Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 5 above.

7. City Council authorize the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building Division to issue a Residential Demolition Permit under Section 33 of the Planning Act and Chapter 363 of the Toronto Municipal Code for 48 Grenoble Drive after the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division has given the Preliminary Approval referred to in Recommendation 5 above, which may be included in the Rental Housing Demolition Permit under Chapter 667 pursuant to section 6.2 of Chapter 363, on condition that:

a. The owner removes all debris and rubble from the site immediately after demolition;

b. The owner erects solid construction hoarding to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building;

c. The owner erects the proposed building no later than three (3) years from the date on which the demolition of the existing rental dwelling units commences, subject to the time frame being extended at the discretion of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and,

d. Should the owner fail to complete the proposed building within the time specified in Recommendation 7.c. above, the City Clerk shall be entitled to enter on the collector’s roll, as with municipal property taxes, an amount equal to the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) per dwelling unit for which a demolition permit is issued, and that such amount shall, until payment, be a lien or charge upon the land for which the Residential Demolition Permit is issued.

8. City Council approve that in accordance with Section 42 of the Planning Act prior to the first above grade building permit, the Owner shall convey to the City, an on-site parkland dedication, having a minimum size of 676 square metres, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation ("PFR") and the City Solicitor.

9. City Council approve the acceptance of on-site parkland dedication, subject to the owner transferring the parkland to the City free and clear, above and below grade, of all easements, encumbrances, and encroachments, in an acceptable environmental condition; the owner may propose the exception of encumbrances of tiebacks, where such an encumbrance is deemed acceptable by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the City Solicitor; and such an encumbrance will be subject to the payment of compensation to the City, in an amount as determined by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management.

10. 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, Forestry 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, Forestry 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.

11. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and any other City staff to take such actions as are necessary to implement City Council's decision, including execution of the Section 111 agreement and other related agreements.

The North York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 17, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

North York Community Council requested the Applicant, in consultation with City Planning Staff, to organize an additional consultation meeting with tenants of 48 Grenoble Drive together with the Ward Councillor prior to the November 8, 2023 City Council meeting and report directly to the November 8, 9 and 10, 2023 City Council meeting on the consultation meeting, if necessary.

This application proposes to amend the Zoning By-law for the lands at 48 Grenoble Drive. The applicant proposes to demolish the existing 9-storey residential building containing 109 rental dwelling units and redevelop the lands with 45 (148.4 metre) and 43-storey (142.4 metre) towers connected by a 6-storey (23.8 metre) podium with on-site public parkland dedication and a privately-owned publicly-accessible space. The proposed development would contain 1,054 residential units of which 110 units would be rental replacement units, with a total gross floor area of 80,224 square metres resulting in a density ("FSI") of 11.9 times the area of the lot. The proposal includes 204 square metres of non-residential use that will service the needs of area residents.

The proposed replacement rental dwelling units will be secured at affordable and mid-range (affordable), and mid-range (moderate) rents. The proposal also includes a Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan that addresses the right of existing eligible tenants to return to a replacement rental dwelling unit at similar rent and financial compensation to lessen hardship.

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). The proposal also conforms to the City of Toronto Official Plan.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law and the Rental Housing Demolition Application at 48 Grenoble Drive. The proposed development represents an appropriate level of intensification on the site and provides for amenity improvements for existing residents and the surrounding community.

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend the Official Plan, for the lands 2135 Sheppard Avenue East, 325 Yorkland Boulevard, 125 Consumers Road, 15 Smooth Rose Court, and 55 Smooth Rose Court substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment attached as Attachment 6 to the report (September 7, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 7625, as amended, for the lands at 2135 Sheppard Avenue East, 325 Yorkland Boulevard, 125 Consumers Road, 15 Smooth Rose Court, and 55 Smooth Rose Court substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 8 to the report (September 7, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District.

3. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 2135 Sheppard Avenue East substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 7 to the report (September 7, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District.

4. City Council authorizes the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments as required, and to take any necessary steps to implement City Council’s decision including execution of the Section 37 Agreement as referenced in Recommendation 5, and any other necessary agreement(s).

5. Before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment, City Council require the owner to enter into an Agreement pursuant Section 37 of the Planning Act, as it read the day before the date section 1 of Schedule 17 of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2020 came into force, to secure the following community benefits:

a. a cash contribution in the amount of $1,350,000.00 dollars (One Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand) be provided towards community and recreational facility improvements, including the Toronto Public Library within the vicinity of the land, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to be paid prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit on the lands municipally known in 2022 as 2135 Sheppard Avenue East;

b. the cash contribution in Part 5.a. above shall be indexed upwardly in accordance with the Statistics Canada Non-Residential, as the case may be, Building Construction Price Index for the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area, reported quarterly by Statistics Canada in Building Construction Price Indexes Table 18-10-0135-01 or its successor, calculated from the date of the Agreement to the date of payment; and,

c. in the event the cash contribution referred to in Part 5.a. above has not been used for the intended purpose within three (3) years of this By-law coming into full force and effect, the cash contribution may be redirected for another purpose, at the discretion of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the local Councillor, provided that the purpose(s) is identified in the Toronto Official Plan and will benefit the community in the vicinity of the land.

6. City Council approve that in accordance with Section 42 of the Planning Act prior to the first above grade building permit, the Owner shall convey to the city, an on-site parkland dedication, having a minimum size of 457 square metres located on the southern portion of the site adjacent to the existing park block, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and the City Solicitor.

7. City Council approve the acceptance of on-site parkland dedication, subject to the owner transferring the parkland to the City free and clear, above and below grade, of all easements, encumbrances, and encroachments, in an acceptable environmental condition.

8. 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, Forestry and Recreation (PFR). 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, Forestry 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.

The North York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 17, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

The Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications will apply to the lands at 2135 Sheppard Avenue East, 325 Yorkland Boulevard, 125 Consumers Road, 15 Smooth Rose Court, and 55 Smooth Rose Court. The applications propose to redevelop the lands at 2135 Sheppard Avenue East with an 11-storey (36 meters) mixed use building containing 279 residential dwelling units, 1,858 square meters of retail space, and 1,221.7 square meters of further non-residential space. A 457 square meter public on-site park is also proposed at the southern edge of the site.

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). The proposal is also consistent with the general intent of the Official Plan.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law. The proposed building represents an appropriate mix of land uses on the site contained in a built form that is respectful of the planned context and encourages a comfortable and attractive pedestrian environment on Sheppard Avenue East.

North York Community Council:

1. Forwarded the item to City Council without recommendations.

The North York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 17, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This application proposes to develop a 10-storey (33.85 metres) residential building at 16-28 Centre Avenue. The building would contain 442 residential units and a gross floor area of 33,296 square metres for a Floor Space Index (“FSI”) of 3.98.

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020).

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-laws. The proposed building represents an appropriate level of intensification on the site and begins to implement the vision of the Council-adopted Yonge Street North Secondary Plan (OPA 615).

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, on the east and south side of The Donway West, between Lawrence Avenue East and a point 128 metres west of Don Mills Road (north intersection).

2. City Council prohibit parking from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the east side of The Donway West, between Lawrence Avenue East and a point 100 metres north.

3. City Council prohibit parking from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the east side of The Donway West, between a point 215 metres north of Lawrence Avenue East and a point 32 metres south of Belton Road.

4. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the east side of The Donway West, between a point 100 metres north of Lawrence Avenue East and a point 115 metres further north..

5. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the east and south side of The Donway West, between a point 32 metres south of Belton Road and a point 128 metres west of Don Mills Road (north intersection).

As the Toronto Transit Commission operates a transit service on The Donway West, City Council approval of this report is required.

Transportation Services is recommending that stopping be prohibited at all times on the east side of the Donway West in the vicinity of 215 and 255 The Donway West. Currently parking is prohibited in these areas from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday and allowed for up to three hours at all other times. The proposed amendment will deter parking and unloading near the driveways to these addresses, which obstruct visibility for exiting drivers.

The Scarborough Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013, as amended, for the lands at 3379 to 3385 Lawrence Avenue East substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 5 to the report (October 2, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, Scarborough District and Executive Director, Housing Secretariat.

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

3. City Council request that the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning explore securing through the Site Plan Control process for the proposed development, pursuant to Section 114 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, the Owner's obligation to:

a. Continue to provide and maintain the existing 48 rental dwelling units at 3379 Lawrence Avenue East as rental housing for a period of at least 20 years commencing from the date the Zoning By-law Amendment comes into full force and effect, with no application for demolition or conversion from residential rental use during the 20-year period, all to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning; and,

b. Undertake improvements to the existing rental building at 3379 Lawrence Avenue East, at its sole expense and at no cost to tenants, with such improvements and related timing for the improvements to be undertaken to be informed by a tenant survey and identified by the Owner to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning prior to Site Plan Approval for the development, including but not limited to a new 136 square metre indoor amenity space on the ground floor of the existing rental building.

c. Workout proper logistics on site during and post development to ensure: Wheel Trans pickup and drop off accessibility for the residents at the existing building and the new development; front lobby wheelchair accessibility; front lobby amenities accessibility; laundry room accessibility; visitors and support staff parking access; and emergency services accessibility, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

4. Prior to Site Plan Approval for the development, City Council require the Owner to develop a Construction Mitigation and Tenant Communication Plan, including an interim parking plan, to mitigate the impacts of construction of the development on tenants of the existing rental building, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

5. Subject to approval of an Open Door Application by the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, City Council exempt up to 37 new affordable housing units, representing a minimum of 30% of the new rental housing dwelling units to be developed on the lands currently known as 3379 to 3385 Lawrence Avenue East from taxation for municipal and school purposes for 40 years from first occupancy under the municipal capital facility agreement (“Contribution Agreement”) for the development.

6. City Council authorize the Controller to cancel or refund any taxes paid after the effective date of the exemption from taxation for municipal and school purposes, as set out in the municipal capital facility agreement (“Contribution Agreement”), referenced in Recommendation 5 above.

7. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to take such actions as are required to implement City Council's decision, including the execution and implementation of appropriate agreements.

The Scarborough Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 19, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This application proposes to amend the Zoning By-law to permit the construction of a 10-storey apartment building at 3385 Lawrence Avenue East.

The new building would contain 123 rental units, of which 30% or approximately 37 dwelling units, would be affordable units. The proposal contemplates the removal of the existing place of worship located at 3385 Lawrence Avenue East while maintaining the existing six-storey apartment building containing 48 rental dwelling units located at 3379 Lawrence Avenue East. Should this redevelopment proposal be approved, new indoor amenity space will be added to the existing six-storey building for the current residents to use. The affordable units would be supported by the City's Open Door Affordable Rental Housing Program.

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). The proposed development will provide much-needed affordable housing and residential intensification on a site adjacent to Cedarbrae Mall on a site with frequent bus service that makes connections to existing (Eglinton GO) and future (Lawrence East Subway) higher order transit stops. The proposal contributes positively to the public realm and is appropriately scaled for its existing and planned context.

This report recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law.

The Scarborough Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council direct the City Solicitor, together with appropriate staff, to attend the Ontario Land Tribunal in support of the Revised Proposal for the Zoning By-law Amendment application substantially in accordance with the revised architectural plans and drawings prepared by BDP Quadrangle dated August 16, 2023 and the soil volume plan prepared by STUDIO tla dated October 3, 2023, subject to the conditions below.

2. In the event that the Ontario Land Tribunal allows the appeals in part, City Council instruct the City Solicitor to request the Ontario Land Tribunal to withhold its Order on the Zoning By-law Amendment until such time as the Ontario Land Tribunal has been advised by the City Solicitor that:
 

a. the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment is in a final content and form satisfactory to the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor;

b. the Owner has at its sole cost and expense:

1. submitted a revised Functional Servicing Report, Stormwater Management Report, and Hydrogeological Review, including Foundation Drainage Report or addendums ("Engineering Reports"), to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Toronto Water;

2. secured the design and provision of financial securities for any upgrades or required improvements to the existing municipal infrastructure identified in the accepted Engineering Reports, to support the development, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and the General Manager, Toronto Water, should it be determined that improvements or upgrades are required to support the development, according to the accepted Engineering Reports, accepted by the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and the General Manager, Toronto Water;

3. ensured the implementation of the accepted Engineering Reports does not require changes to the proposed amending By-laws or any such required changes have been made to the proposed amending By-laws, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor, including the use of a Holding ("H") By-law symbol regarding any new or upgrades to existing municipal servicing infrastructure as may be required;

4. submitted a revised Transportation Impact Study or addendum, acceptable to, and to the satisfaction of, the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and that such matters arising from such study, be secured if required; and

5. submitted a revised Arborist Report or addendum and Tree Protection Plan acceptable and satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation;

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and City Staff to take and necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.

On December 6, 2021, a Zoning By-law Amendment application was submitted to permit the construction of an 11-storey residential building with 187 units at 36-40 Ellesmere Road. The proposed gross floor area was 14,794 square metres resulting in a Floor Space Index of 3.53 times the area of the lot. A total of 220 vehicular parking spaces and 172 bicycle parking spaces were proposed.

On March 16, 2023, the Applicant appealed the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (the "OLT") due to City Council not making a decision within the prescribed timelines under the Planning Act.

Subsequent to the appeal, the applicant submitted a revised proposal on July 16, 2023 ("the Revised Proposal") which addresses the majority of the rezoning issues that were identified by staff during the first circulation. The Revised Proposal contemplates a 12-storey mixed-use building with 14,331 square metres of residential gross floor area for a total of 187 units and 202 square metres of ground floor retail space at 36 to 40 Ellesmere Road. The proposal would have a net Floor Space Index of 3.47 times the area of the lot.

This report recommends that the City Solicitor with the appropriate City staff attend the OLT hearing in support of a settlement on the application based on recommendations and comments contained within this report.

The Scarborough Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council direct the City Solicitor, together with appropriate staff, to attend the Ontario Land Tribunal in opposition to the subject Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control applications in their current form, for the lands at 673 Warden Avenue.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to continue discussions with the applicant to address outstanding issues, including but not limited to those outlined in this report.

3. In the event that the Ontario Land Tribunal allows the subject appeals in part, City Council instruct the City Solicitor to request that the issuance of any final Orders be withheld until such time as the Ontario Land Tribunal has been advised by the City Solicitor that:

a. the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment is of a final content and form satisfactory to the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor;

 b. the Owner has:

1. submitted a revised Functional Servicing Report, Stormwater Management Report, and Hydrogeological Review, including the Foundation Drainage Report or addendums ("Engineering Reports"), to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Toronto Water;

2. secured the design and provision of financial securities for any upgrades or required improvements to the existing municipal infrastructure identified in the accepted Engineering Reports, to support the development, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and the General Manager, Toronto Water;

3. submitted a revised Arborist Report or addendum and Tree Protection Plan to address compliance with the Toronto Green Standard, including the parts of the ecology section, which pertain to existing and proposed trees and soil volume requirements, acceptable and satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation; and

4. submitted an updated complete Toronto Green Standards (TGS) Checklist and Statistics Template, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

4. Should it be determined that upgrades are required to the infrastructure to support the development according to the accepted Functional Servicing Report and/or the Transportation Impact Study or that mitigation is required per the Subsurface Investigation, City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to request that a Holding provision (H) be included in the final form of the site-specific Zoning By-law Amendment, not to be lifted until such time as the owner has made satisfactory arrangements, including entering into appropriate agreement(s) with the City for required mitigation, as well as the design and construction of any improvements to the municipal infrastructure and the provision of financial securities to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and General Manager, Transportation Services.

5. City Council authorizes the City Solicitor and City staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.

On September 14, 2022, applications for Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control approval were submitted to permit the construction of a mixed-use building of 15-storeys plus rooftop amenity space and mechanical penthouse at 673 Warden Avenue. The proposed building would have retail space on the ground floor and 274 residential dwelling units. The total gross floor area (“GFA”) of the proposed development is 18,965 square metres, comprised of 18,759 square metres of residential GFA and 206 square metres of commercial GFA, resulting in a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 6.9 times the area of lot.

On May 1, the applicant appealed the applications to the Ontario Land Tribunal (the "OLT") due to City Council failing to make decisions on them within the time frames prescribed under the Planning Act.

This report recommends that the City Solicitor together with appropriate City staff attend the OLT hearing to oppose the applications in their current form and to continue discussions with the Applicant to resolve outstanding issues.

The Scarborough Community Council recommends that:  

1.  City Council prohibit westbound left turns, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, on Kingston Road at Orchard Park Drive.

2.  City Council prohibit westbound left turns, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, on Kingston Road at West Hill Drive.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Kingston Road, City Council approval of this report is required.

At its meeting of September 8, 2023, Scarborough Community Council referred Item SC7.8 regarding the prohibition of westbound left turns at Kingston Road and Orchard Park Drive and West Hill Drive back to Transportation Services with the request for further investigation.  The proposed turn prohibitions will address cut-through traffic and pedestrian safety concerns on Orchard Park Drive and West Hill Drive during the morning peak hours.  These changes were noted to potentially direct traffic to adjacent residential streets, including Manse Road and Collinsgrove Road.  Further investigation was requested in regards to into the following:

a. recommend additional measures to facilitate proper use of westbound left turn prohibition from Kingston Road to Orchard Park Drive and Kingston Road to West Hill Drive.

b. the status of timeline for local road speed limit reduction on Orchard Park Drive and West Hill Drive, consistent with Vision Zero 2.0 – Road Safety Plan Update, 2019 – IE6.8.

This report provides an update on the requested items.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 64 Prince Arthur Avenue substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 5 to the revised report (October 18, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

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

3. City Council request that the owner make reasonable commercial efforts to convey off-site parkland to the City equal to the value of the on-site parkland dedication, in fulfilment of the parkland dedication requirements pursuant to Section 42 of the Planning Act, with the off-site parkland dedication to be acceptable to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and free and clear of any above or below grade encumbrances, with the exception of any encumbrances as may be otherwise approved by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to be conveyed prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit; and

a. in the event that the off-site parkland dedication is less than the value of the on-site parkland dedication, then the owner will pay cash-in-lieu of parkland to make up for the shortfall in parkland dedication, prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit;

b. in the event that the owner is unable to provide an acceptable off-site parkland dedication to the City, the owner will be required to satisfy the parkland dedication requirement through the payment of cash-in-lieu; and

c. the value of the cash-in-lieu of parkland dedication will be appraised through Real Estate Services and payment will be required prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit.

4. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 64 Prince Arthur Avenue from Permit Parking.

5. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to secure the following as part of the site plan agreement to the satisfaction of Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning:

a. construction diversion:

1. at least 75 percent of waste from demolition and construction will be diverted from landfill;

b. energy efficiency:

1. high ratio of cladding to glazing for the building envelope;

2. low-carbon building heating and cooling;

3. electric-only appliances and fireplaces in suites;

4. energy and water efficient fixtures and appliances; and

5. motion sensor-controlled LED lighting in common areas;

c. reasonable efforts to achieve a carbon payback period of 10-years or less, measured on a per unit basis;

d. zero resident parking; and

e. bicycle parking and maintenance facilities:

1. spaces provided underground for all units and visitors;

2. maintenance room adjacent to bike parking; and

3. 13 E-bike charging stations.

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 18, 2023, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law to permit a 13-storey (43-metre, excluding mechanical penthouse) mixed-use building containing 94 dwelling units, with a minimum of 30 square metres and a maximum of 150 square metres of non-residential gross floor area at 64 Prince Arthur Avenue.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend the Official Plan, for the lands at 214-224 Merton Street substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment included as Attachment 5 to the report (September 29, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013, for the lands at 214-224 Merton Street, substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 6 to the report (September 29, 2023) 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 Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.

4. Before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment, City Council require the owner to:

a. submit a Functional Servicing and Stormwater Management Report for review and acceptance to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services; and

b. enter into a Municipal Infrastructure Agreement to financially secure the construction of any improvements to the municipal infrastructure, should it be determined that upgrades and road improvements are required to support the development according to the transportation report, accepted by the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Functional Servicing Report, accepted by the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services.

5. City Council approve that in accordance with Section 42 of the Planning Act prior to the First Above Grade Building Permit, the owner shall convey to the City, an off-site parkland dedication, having a minimum size of 371.3 square metres, comprised of the properties municipally known in the year 2022 as 6A and 6B Pailton Crescent to satisfy the owner's parkland contribution, all to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and the City Solicitor.

6. City Council approve the acceptance of an off-site parkland dedication, subject to the owner transferring the parkland to the City free and clear, above and below grade, of all easements, encumbrances and encroachments, in an acceptable environmental condition.

7. 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, Forestry 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, Forestry 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.

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 18, 2023 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit a 129.7-metre (40-storey excluding mechanical penthouse) mixed use building at 214-224 Merton Street. The proposed building would have a total gross floor area of 28,700 square metres including 347.1 square metres of non-residential gross floor area. No office space replacement is proposed.

The proposal includes the conveyance of 6A and 6B Pailton Crescent to the City as an off-site parkland dedication.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013 for the lands at 467 and 469 Spadina Road substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 4 to the report (September 29, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

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

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 18, 2023 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report reviews and recommends amending the Zoning By-law to permit an apartment building at 467 and 469 Spadina Road, within the existing building envelope, with the exception of permitting additional height to reflect a previous Committee of Adjustment approval.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council amend the Official Plan, for the lands at 475 Yonge Street substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment included as Attachment 8 to the report (September 29, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2.  City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 and Zoning By-law 1473-2017, as amended and as applicable, for the lands at 475 Yonge Street substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 9 to the report (September 29, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

3.  City Council repeal Zoning By-law 1472-2017 for the lands at 475 Yonge Street.

4.  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.

5.  City Council approve that in accordance with Section 42 of the Planning Act, the owner shall convey to the City, an on-site parkland dedication, having a minimum size of 604 square metres, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the City Solicitor.

6.  City Council approve the acceptance of the on-site park, having a minimum size of 1,218 square metres, subject to the owner transferring the park to the City free and clear, above and below grade, of all easements, encumbrances and encroachments, in an acceptable environmental condition; the owner may propose the exception of encumbrances of tiebacks, where such an encumbrance is deemed acceptable by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with the City Solicitor; and such an encumbrance will be subject to the payment of compensation to the City, in an amount as determined by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management.

7.  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, Forestry 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, Forestry 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.

8.  City Council authorize the City to enter into an Agreement pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act to amend the existing Section 37 Agreement for the lands at 475 Yonge Street (Instrument Number AT4902529) to secure the following community benefits:

a. the owner shall convey to the City, for nominal consideration and at no cost to the City, a minimum of 1,218 square metres of land located on-site at 475 Yonge Street for public parkland purposes, of which 604 square metres shall represent the full parkland dedication requirement pursuant to Section 42 of the Planning Act for the development on the site and 614 square metres shall constitute an over-dedication of land, subject to the following:

i. prior to the first above grade building permit for the first building to be constructed on the site, the owner shall convey to the City a minimum of 916 square metres, consisting of the full parkland dedication requirement and 312 square metres of the 614 square metres over-dedication of land, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the City Solicitor;

ii. prior to the first above grade building permit for the second building to be constructed on the site, the owner shall convey to the City a minimum of 302 square metres, consisting of the balance of the over-dedication of land, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the City Solicitor; and

iii. the owner, any related company, or owner of benefitting development land(s), with the approval of the owner and of City Council, may elect to use up to 302 square metres of the over-dedication of land as credit for the purpose of fulfilling (or partially fulfilling) parkland dedication requirements in relation to other benefitting development land(s), provided that the over-dedication lands are a good physical substitution for any on-site dedication and the value of the over-dedication credit is at least equal to the value of the on-site dedication that would otherwise be required; any benefitting development land(s), which may include 214-230 Sherbourne Street, 595 Bay Street and 306 Yonge Street, 135 Isabella Street, and 646-664 Yonge Street and 2-4 Irwin Avenue, must be located within 2 kilometres of 475 Yonge Street and within the same Ward, with the terms of any credit to be secured in the Section 37 Agreement, to the satisfaction of Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and the City Solicitor; in the event that the issuance of the first above grade building permit for the benefitting development land(s) occurs before the conveyance described in Part 8.a.ii. above, the owner of the benefitting development land(s) or the owner of 475 Yonge Street shall be required to provide the City with a Letter of Credit, in the City's standard form and in an amount satisfactory to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, which will be increased in accordance with the Statistics Canada Non-Residential Construction Price Index for the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area, as reported quarterly by Statistics Canada Table 18-10-0135-01 (formerly CANSIM 327-0058), or its successor, two years from the date it is received by the City and increased on each succeeding anniversary date by the amount of the Construction Price Index for the previous year, all to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the City Solicitor; if the conveyance described in Part 8.a.ii. above has not occurred within six years from the date the Letter of Credit is received by the City, the City may draw upon the Letter of Credit for cash-in-lieu of parkland in fulfilment of the parkland dedication requirements for the benefitting development land(s); and the owner of 475 Yonge Street’s obligation to convey the 302 square metres of over-dedication to the City prior to the first above grade building permit for the second building to be constructed on the 475 Yonge Street site shall remain, even in the event that the Letter of Credit has been drawn on; and

b. prior to the earlier of condominium registration or first residential use of any residential unit on the site, the owner shall design, construct, and convey to the City, in an acceptable environmental condition, for nominal consideration and at no cost to the City, a minimum 596 square metres of community space located on the first and second floors of Building B, subject to the following:

i. the community space shall be delivered to the City in accordance with the City's Community Space Tenancy Policy and finished to Base Building Condition, with the terms and specifications to be secured in the Section 37 Agreement, to the satisfaction of the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor;

ii. prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit for the development, the owner shall provide a letter of credit in the amount sufficient to guarantee 120 percent of the estimated cost of the design, construction, and conveyance of the community space complying with the specifications and requirements of the Section 37 Agreement, to the satisfaction of the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor;

iii. concurrent with or prior to the conveyance of the community space to the City, the owner and the City shall enter into, and register on title to the appropriate lands, an Easement and Cost Sharing Agreement for nominal consideration and at no cost to the City, that is in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor; the Easement and Cost Sharing Agreement shall address and/or provide for the integrated support, use, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement, and reconstruction of certain shared facilities, and the sharing of costs, in respect thereof, of portions of the subject lands to be owned by the City and the owner as they pertain to the community space;

iv. the City may elect to accept a cash contribution of $6,000,000.00, in lieu of the community space, to be allocated toward capital projects in the vicinity of the site in conformity with the City's Official Plan, with such election to occur prior to the issuance of Notice of Approval Conditions for the Site Plan Control application and with payment required prior to the issuance of the first above grade building permit, all to the satisfaction of the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Ward Councillor; and

v. the financial contribution pursuant to Part 8.b.iv. above shall be indexed upwardly in accordance with the Statistics Canada Non-Residential Building Construction Price Index for Toronto, calculated from the date City Council adopts the zoning by-law amendment(s) to the date of payment.

9.  City Council authorize the City to secure the following legal conveniences to support development in the amended Section 37 Agreement:

a. the owner shall construct and maintain a minimum of 653 square metres of privately owned publicly-accessible space located at the ground level between Buildings A and B (with underground garage and utilities below), extending between the Yonge Street frontage and the on-site park, with specific configuration and design and timing for the delivery of the privately owned publicly-accessible space to be determined in the context of Site Plan approval (which will include consideration for delivering the privately owned publicly-accessible space in phases and permitting construction staging prior to public access), all to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor;

b. prior to final Site Plan approval, the owner shall prepare all documents and convey, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor, for nominal consideration, a public access easement, including support rights, in perpetuity in favour of the City over the privately owned publicly-accessible space; and

c. the following matters are to be delivered or secured through the Site Plan Control application:

i. the owner shall prepare all documents and convey a Pedestrian Clearway Easement to the City to secure a 3.7-metre wide pedestrian clearway along Yonge Street, to a minimum height of 3.0 metres above the finished grade, together with rights of support, such lands to be free and clear of all other physical obstructions and encumbrances, and subject to a right-of-way for access and construction purposes in favour of the Grantor until such time as said lands have been laid out and dedicated for public pedestrian clearway purposes, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and the City Solicitor;

ii. the owner shall submit comprehensive Construction Management Plans for each stage of the construction process; these plans must illustrate the location of employee and trades parking, heavy truck access points, material storage, construction site fencing and overhead cranes, and any other matters requested by the General Manager, Transportation Services or the Ward Councillor; and

iii. the owner shall provide and maintain the following Transportation Demand Management measures on-site:

1. one (1) annual bike-share membership per unit, offered for the first year of occupancy;

2. one (1) annual car-share membership per unit, offered for the first year of occupancy;

3. one (1) Presto card per unit, preloaded with the value of a TTC monthly pass, offered for the first year of occupancy; and

4. a minimum of one (1) bike repair station in each building (total two [2] bike repair stations).

10.  Before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment, City Council require the owner to:

a. submit a Functional Servicing and Stormwater Management Report to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services; and

b. enter into one or more agreements with the City requiring the owner, at no cost to the City, to complete any upgrades or required improvements to the existing municipal infrastructure and/or new municipal infrastructure to support the development, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, should it be determined that improvements or upgrades and/or new infrastructure are required to support the development.

11.  City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take such actions as are necessary to implement City Council's decision, including execution of the amending Section 37 Agreement, and any other necessary agreement(s).

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 18, 2023 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit two mixed-use buildings with heights of 75 and 78 storeys (238.5 and 247.3 metres, inclusive of the mechanical penthouse), containing 1,791 dwelling units, 564 square metres of non-residential uses on the first floor, and 596 square metres of community space on the first and second floor. The proposal includes a 1,218 square metre park on the east side of the site linked to a privately owned publicly-accessible open space, approximately 653 square metres, between the two buildings fronting onto Yonge Street.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend Zoning By-law 569-2013, for the lands at 741 Broadview Avenue, substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 5 to the report (September 29, 2023) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

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

3. Before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment, City Council require that the Owner must address all outstanding comments in Section A of the memo from Engineering and Construction Services dated June 19, 2023 in relation to functional servicing and stormwater management matters, and any subsequent memo prepared in response to the applicant resubmission(s) to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services.

4. City Council request the applicant commit to the following measures in addition to the implementation of the standard City of Toronto Construction Management Plan, to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, prior to the commencement of any work:

a. establish a Construction Liaison Committee made up of local residents and businesses, including a representative of the local Residents Associations, to the satisfaction of the local Councillor; the Committee is to meet bi-weekly at the beginning of construction; and notes/action items from the meetings are to be shared with the members and the Councillor’s office in a timely way following each meeting;

b. sweep the construction site daily and nightly, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe;

c. pressure wash the construction site and adjacent sidewalks, laneways and roadways weekly, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe;

d. ensure that the existing sidewalks and all pedestrian walkways have proper lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night;

e. consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local businesses and residents in advance of any physical road modifications;

f. install appropriate signage and converging mirrors where necessary to ensure that pedestrians’, cyclists’ and motorists’ safety is considered at all times;

g. post a 24 hours a day/7 days a week contact number for the site superintendent on the construction hoarding;

h. create a publicly accessible website with regular construction updates and post the website address on the subject site; and

i. include a minimum of 75 percent of advertisement surface area on the construction hoarding to be allocated to artwork at their sole cost; design is to be reviewed and approved by the Ward Councillor.

5. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the Toronto and East York Community Council regarding the realignment of Permit Parking Area 7G and the exclusion of 741 Broadview Avenue and associated addresses, from the permit parking area.

The Toronto and East York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on October 18, 2023 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This application proposes a 3-storey residential addition on top of an existing 3-storey commercial building, along with a 4-storey residential addition at the rear, at 741 Broadview Avenue. The total building height is 24.7 metres, inclusive of the mechanical penthouse. The proposed development would contain 19 new condominium dwelling units.

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020).

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law. The proposal results in an appropriate built form that fits with the existing and planned context of the surrounding area.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to attend before the Ontario Land Tribunal in support of the proposed revised Zoning By-law Amendment for 147 Spadina Avenue, subject to Recommendation 2 below.

2. City Council instruct the City Solicitor to request the Ontario Land Tribunal to withhold its Order on the Zoning By-law Amendment until such time as the Ontario Land Tribunal has been advised by the City Solicitor that:

a. the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment is in a final content and form satisfactory to the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor;

b. the owner has worked with City Planning and Urban Forestry staff to conserve as many of the five existing City trees as possible along the Spadina Avenue frontage; for any trees that do require removal to facilitate construction, the owner has submitted an application to remove City trees together with a Tree Planting Replacement Plan, to the satisfaction of Urban Forestry;

c. the owner has withdrawn their site-specific appeals of the King-Spadina Secondary Plan (Official Plan Amendment 486) and the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District Plan; and

d. the owner has, at its sole cost and expense:  

i. submitted a revised Site Servicing and Stormwater Management Report, a Servicing Report Groundwater Summary, and a Hydrogeological Review Summary, to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Toronto Water;

ii. made satisfactory arrangements for the construction of any improvements to the municipal infrastructure in connection with the Functional Servicing Report, to be resubmitted for review and acceptance by the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, should it be determined that improvements to such infrastructure are required to support this development; and

iii. submitted appropriate documentation to demonstrate that required easements and/or agreements have been entered into to permit vehicular access to the property at 147 Spadina Avenue through the adjacent property at 388 Richmond Street West, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor.  

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and City staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.

The purpose of this report is to seek direction from City Council to endorse a revised proposal for the application to amend the Zoning By-law that has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (the "OLT") due to Council's failure to make a decision within the time frame prescribed in the Planning Act.

Since the time of filing the appeals to the OLT (April 2022), the applicant has worked with City staff and the property owners of the adjacent commercial building to the north at 161 Spadina Avenue as well as the adjacent residential building to the east at 388 Richmond Street West ("District Lofts"), both of whom are parties to the Tribunal proceedings, to address various concerns. Following those meetings, the property owners have submitted a revised application.

The revised proposal is for a 24-storey mixed-use building at a height of 76.8 metres (82.8 including the mechanical penthouse). Revisions from the original application include an improved building setback and public realm along Richmond Street West; increased separation distance from the adjacent residential building to the east at 388 Richmond Street West; increased tower stepbacks from the edge of the base building along both Richmond Street West and Spadina Avenue; a reduced streetwall height; a reduction in overall building height from 25 storeys; and elimination of north-facing windows within the base building.

This report recommends that City Council endorse the revised proposal in accordance with the recommendations included within this Appeal Report.

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 to oppose the appeal made for the current application regarding the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment respecting the land at 295 Jarvis Street and City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate staff to continue discussions with the applicant in an attempt to resolve outstanding issues.  

2. In the event that the Ontario Land Tribunal allows the appeals in whole or in part, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to request that the issuance of any final orders be withheld until such time as the City Solicitor advices that:

a. the final form and content of the draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law are to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

b. the owner has provided confirmation of water, sanitary and stormwater capacity to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, or the determination of whether holding provisions are required in the Zoning By-law amendment; and

c. the owner has entered into a legal agreement binding the owner and successor owners to secure all rental housing related matters, including replacement of existing dwelling rooms and an acceptable Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan, on terms satisfactory to the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor to advance, as part of the appeal on 295 Jarvis Street, a Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan that takes into consideration the unique circumstances of tenants at 295 Jarvis Street when securing tenant assistance, including the right to return to replacement rental housing, in order to minimize hardship on vulnerable tenants. 

4. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and City staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.

On November 15, 2022, an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application was submitted to permit a 60-storey residential building, containing 618 dwelling units with a total of 44,530 square metres of residential gross floor area (GFA).

The site contains a 3-storey licensed rooming house known as the Inglewood Arms, with approximately 95 dwelling-rooms, which is proposed to be demolished. No dwelling-room replacement or tenant assistance is proposed.

On May 16, 2023 the applicant appealed the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) due to Council not making a decision within the time frame in the Planning Act. A 12-day hearing has been scheduled to commence starting May 27, 2024. The applicant and the City have agreed to OLT-led mediation in advance of this date.

On August 2, 2023, the applicant submitted revised application to address technical comments. No changes were made to the overall building height or massing.

This report recommends that the City Solicitor with the appropriate City staff attend the OLT hearing to oppose the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application in its current form and to continue discussions with the applicant to resolve outstanding issues.

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 application regarding the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment application appeal for the lands at 33-37 Maitland Street and to continue discussions with the applicant in an attempt to resolve outstanding issues.

2. In the event that the Ontario Land Tribunal allows the appeal in whole or in part, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to request that the issuance of any final Orders be withheld until such time as the City Solicitor advises that:

a. the final form and content of the draft Official Plan and Zoning By-laws are to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

b. the owner has provided confirmation of water, sanitary and stormwater, and traffic capacity to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, or the determination of whether holding provisions are required in the Zoning By-law amendment;

c. the owner has secured replacement of the existing 36 rental housing units, including the same number of units, bedroom type and size and with similar rents;

d. the owner has secured an acceptable Tenant Relocation and Assistance Plan addressing the right for existing and former tenants to return to a replacement rental unit on the lands at similar rents, the provision of alternative accommodation at similar rents, and other assistance to mitigate hardship, all to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

e. City Council has approved the Rental Housing Demolition Application 22 199096 STE 13 RH under Chapter 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code pursuant to Section 111 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, to permit the demolition of the existing rental dwelling units and the owner has entered into, and registered on title to the lands, one or more agreements with the City, to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor, securing all rental housing-related matters necessary to implement City Council's decision;

f. the owner has, at its sole expense submitted a revised Heritage Impact Assessment that includes a detailed conservation strategy for the properties at 33 and 37 Maitland Street to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, and City Planning; and

g. the owner has provided confirmation that no new construction will be undertaken within 3 metres of existing Toronto Transit Commission infrastructure.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor and City staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.

On March 31, 2023, the applicant appealed the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) due to Council not making a decision within the time frame in the Planning Act. The applicant is requesting to permit a 49-storey residential building containing 439 dwelling units including 36 rental replacement units and 403 new units at 33-37 Maitland Street.

The existing building located at 33 Maitland Street contains 36 rental dwelling units. On September 14, 2022, the applicant submitted a Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion application to demolish and replace the existing rental dwelling units. The proposed rental replacement and tenant relocation and assistance are being reviewed concurrently by the Housing Staff.

On July 19, 2023, Council adopted recommendations to state its intention to designate the properties at 33 Maitland Street and 37 Maitland Street under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The owner has objected to the Notice of Intention to Designate.

The applicant is proposing to demolish the building at 33 Maitland Street and demolish the rear wing of the building at 37 Maitland Street. The remainder of the building at 37 Maitland Street is proposed to be retained and integrated into the base building of the proposed development.

This report recommends that the City Solicitor with the appropriate City staff attend the OLT hearing to oppose the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application in its current form and to continue discussions with the applicant to resolve outstanding issues.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council consent to the application to alter the designated property 137 Bond Street, with conditions, under Part IV, Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act and with such alterations substantially in accordance with the plans and drawings dated July 31, 2023, prepared by Hariri Pontarini Architects and the Heritage Impact Assessment prepared by EVOQ Architecture, dated August 22, 2023, both on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, all subject to and in accordance with the Conservation Plan satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and subject to the following conditions:

a. prior to final Site Plan Approval the owner shall:

1. provide a detailed Conservation Plan, prepared by a qualified heritage consultant that is consistent with the conservation strategy set out in the Heritage Impact Assessment for 137 Bond Street prepared by EVOQ Architecture, dated August 22, 2023, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

2. enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement with the City for the property at 137 Bond Street substantially in accordance with the plans and drawings dated July 31, 2023, prepared by Hariri Pontarini Architects and the Heritage Impact Assessment prepared by EVOQ Architecture, dated August 22, 2023, both on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and subject to and in accordance with the Conservation Plan required in Recommendation 1.a.1. above, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning including execution of such agreement to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor;

3. provide final Site Plan drawings substantially in accordance with the approved Conservation Plan required in Recommendation 1.a.1. above to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

4. provide a Heritage Lighting Plan that describes how the exterior of the heritage property will be sensitively illuminated to enhance its heritage character to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

5. provide a detailed Landscape Plan for the subject property, satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

6. provide an Interpretation Plan for the subject property, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

b. prior to the issuance of any permit for all or any part of the property at 137 Bond Street, including a heritage permit or a building permit, but excluding permits for repairs and maintenance and usual and minor works for the existing heritage building as are acceptable to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning the owner shall:

1. have entered into a Heritage Easement Agreement with the City required in Recommendation 1.a.2. above;

2. provide a detailed Conservation Plan, prepared by a qualified heritage consultant that is consistent with the conservation strategy set out in the Heritage Impact Assessment for 137 Bond Street prepared by EVOQ Architecture, dated August 22, 2023, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

3. provide building permit drawings, including notes and specifications for the conservation and protective measures keyed to the approved Conservation Plan, including a description of materials and finishes, to be prepared by the project architect and a qualified heritage consultant to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

4. provide a Letter of Credit, including provision for upward indexing, in a form and amount and from a bank satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning to secure all work included in the approved Conservation Plan, Heritage Lighting Plan and Interpretation Plan; and

c. prior to the release of the Letter of Credit required in Recommendation 1.b.4. above, the owner shall:

1. provide a letter of substantial completion prepared and signed by a qualified heritage consultant confirming that the required conservation work and the required interpretive work has been completed in accordance with the Conservation Plan, Heritage Lighting Plan and Interpretation Plan and that an appropriate standard of conservation has been maintained, all to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

2. provide replacement Heritage Easement Agreement photographs to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

2. City Council authorize the entering into of a Heritage Easement Agreement under Section 37 of the Ontario Heritage Act with the owner of the property at 137 Bond Street in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bill in City Council authorizing the entering into of a Heritage Easement Agreement for the property at 137 Bond Street.

This report recommends that City Council approve the alterations proposed for the heritage property at 137 Bond Street (designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act) in connection with the development of the subject site.

The property at 137 Bond Street is in Toronto's Downtown Yonge East neighbourhood on the east side of Bond Street, prominently situated on the southeast corner of Bond Street and Gould Street. It contains a three-storey, multi-unit residential detached house form that dates to 1855. Throughout the 1880s, a series of alterations to the building resulted in its current Queen Anne architectural style. The building was originally constructed as a single-unit residence for William Mathers, and it underwent a series of interior alterations to accommodate intermittent periods of commercial use. Since 1963 the property, known as O'Keefe House, has been owned by Toronto Metropolitan University and operated as a student residence (1964-2018) that supported the student community of the surrounding, institutional neighbourhood. The subject property is designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act and has design and physical, historical and associative, and contextual values.

The proposed development involves the construction of an eight-storey building on the southern portion of the site to serve as the Toronto Metropolitan University's Student Centre for Wellbeing with the integration of the rehabilitated heritage resource. The selective removal of the house's south elevation and alterations to its other elevations is proposed.  While some interior floors and walls will be removed, most the heritage building's exterior walls and roof are proposed to be retained in situ.

The proposed alterations conserve the heritage property and are consistent with the existing policy framework. The heritage impacts of the development proposal are appropriately mitigated through the overall conservation strategy.

At its meeting on October 10, 2023 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB10.4 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (September 18, 2023) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council approve the alterations proposed for the heritage property at 137 Bond Street (designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act) in connection with the development of the subject site.

The property at 137 Bond Street is in Toronto's Downtown Yonge East neighbourhood on the east side of Bond Street, prominently situated on the southeast corner of Bond Street and Gould Street. It contains a three-storey, multi-unit residential detached house form that dates to 1855. Throughout the 1880s, a series of alterations to the building resulted in its current Queen Anne architectural style. The building was originally constructed as a single-unit residence for William Mathers, and it underwent a series of interior alterations to accommodate intermittent periods of commercial use. Since 1963 the property, known as O'Keefe House, has been owned by Toronto Metropolitan University and operated as a student residence (1964-2018) that supported the student community of the surrounding, institutional neighbourhood. The subject property is designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act and has design and physical, historical and associative, and contextual values.

The proposed development involves the construction of an eight-storey building on the southern portion of the site to serve as the Toronto Metropolitan University's Student Centre for Wellbeing with the integration of the rehabilitated heritage resource. The selective removal of the house's south elevation and alterations to its other elevations is proposed.  While some interior floors and walls will be removed, most the heritage building's exterior walls and roof are proposed to be retained in situ.

The proposed alterations conserve the heritage property and are consistent with the existing policy framework. The heritage impacts of the development proposal are appropriately mitigated through the overall conservation strategy.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council approve the alterations to the heritage properties at 516 Yonge Street and 526 Yonge Street, in accordance with Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act, to allow for the construction of a new 59-storey building on the lands known municipally as 510-528 Yonge Street and 7 Breadalbane Street, with such alterations substantially in accordance with plans and drawings dated October 27, 2022, prepared by Quadrangle Architects Ltd., and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and the Heritage Impact Assessment, prepared by ERA Architects Inc., dated January 4, 2021, and revised December 13, 2022, and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, all subject to and in accordance with a Conservation Plan satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and subject to the following additional conditions:

a. prior to final Site Plan approval for the proposal, for the property located at 510-528 Yonge Street and 7 Breadalbane Street the owners shall:

1. provide final Site Plan drawings substantially in accordance with the approved Conservation Plans required in Recommendation 1.b.2. below to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

2. provide Heritage Lighting Plans that describe how the exterior of the heritage properties will be sensitively illuminated to enhance their heritage character to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plans to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager Heritage Planning;

3. provide detailed landscape plans for the subject properties, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

4. provide Interpretation Plans for the subject properties, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plans to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

5. submit Signage Plans for the subject properties, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

b. prior to the issuance of any permit for the work described in the Site Plan application, including a heritage permit or a building permit, but excluding permits for repairs and maintenance and usual and minor works for the existing heritage buildings as are acceptable to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, the owners shall:

1. enter into Heritage Easement Agreements with the City of Toronto for the properties at 514-516 Yonge Street and 526-528 Yonge Street, in accordance with the plans and drawings dated October 27, 2022, prepared by Quadrangle Architects Ltd, and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning, the Heritage Impact Assessment prepared ERA Architects Inc., dated January 4, 2021, and revised December 13, 2022, and in accordance with Conservation Plans required in Recommendation 1.b.2. below to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning, including registration on title of such agreements to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor;

2. provide detailed Conservation Plans, prepared by a qualified heritage consultant that are consistent with the conservation strategy set out in the Heritage Impact Assessment for 510-528 Yonge Street and 7 Breadalbane Street prepared by ERA Architects Inc., dated January 4, 2021, and revised December 13, 2022, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning;

3. provide building permit drawings, including notes and specifications for the conservation and protective measures keyed to the approved Conservation Plans required in Recommendation 1.b. 2. above, including a description of materials and finishes, to be prepared by the project architect and a qualified heritage consultant to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

4. provide Letters of Credit, including provision for upwards indexing, in a form and amount and from a bank satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, to secure all work included in the approved Conservation Plans, Heritage Lighting Plan, and Interpretation Plans; and

5. provide full documentation of the existing heritage property, including two (2) printed sets of archival quality 8” x 10” colour photographs with borders in a glossy or semi-gloss finish and one (1) digital set on a USB flash drive in tiff format and 600 dpi resolution keyed to a location map, elevations and measured drawings, and copies of all existing interior floor plans and original drawings as may be available, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

c. prior to the release of the Letter of Credit required in Recommendation 1.b.4. above, the owner shall:

1. provide a letter of substantial completion prepared and signed by a qualified heritage consultant confirming that the required conservation work and the required interpretive work has been completed in accordance with the Conservation Plan, Heritage Lighting Plan and Interpretation Plan and that an appropriate standard of conservation has been maintained, all to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

2. provide replacement Heritage Easement Agreement photographs to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

2. City Council authorize the entering into of a Heritage Easement Agreement under Section 37 of the Ontario Heritage Act with the owner of 516 Yonge Street and 526 Yonge Street in a form and content satisfactory to the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bill in City Council authorizing the entering into of a Heritage Easement Agreement for the properties at 516 Yonge Street and 526 Yonge Street.

This report recommends that City Council approve the alterations proposed for the designated heritage properties at 516 Yonge Street (including the entrance address at 514 Yonge Street) and 526 Yonge Street (including the entrance addresses at 528 Yonge Street and 7 Breadalbane Street), under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act in connection with the development of the subject property. On August 5, 2022, the development was approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal and is now the subject of a Heritage Permit application under the Ontario Heritage Act and an application for Site Plan Approval under the Planning Act.

On October 16, 2020, an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application was made for 510-528 Yonge Street and 7 Breadalbane Street. A Heritage Impact Assessment describing proposed conservation and mitigation measures designed to reduce the impact of the proposed addition was prepared by ERA Architects Inc., dated January 4, 2021, and revised December 13, 2022.

The development site contains two properties that are currently designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (514-516 Yonge Street and 526-528 Yonge Street), and one property that is listed on the Heritage Register (522-524 Yonge Street).

The proposed development application contemplates a 59-storey mixed-use tower set atop a 3-storey podium that incorporates the retained eastern (primary) elevations of 514-516 Yonge Street, 522-524 Yonge Street, and 526-528 Yonge Street. The proposed alterations conserve the onsite and adjacent heritage buildings and are consistent with the policy framework. The heritage impacts of the development proposal are appropriately mitigated through the overall conservation strategy.

At its meeting on October 10, 2023 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB10.5 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (September 18, 2023) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council approve the alterations proposed for the designated heritage properties at 516 Yonge Street (including the entrance address at 514 Yonge Street) and 526 Yonge Street (including the entrance addresses at 528 Yonge Street and 7 Breadalbane Street), under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act in connection with the development of the subject property. On August 5, 2022, the development was approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal and is now the subject of a Heritage Permit application under the Ontario Heritage Act and an application for Site Plan Approval under the Planning Act.

On October 16, 2020, an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application was made for 510-528 Yonge Street and 7 Breadalbane Street. A Heritage Impact Assessment describing proposed conservation and mitigation measures designed to reduce the impact of the proposed addition was prepared by ERA Architects Incorporated, dated January 4, 2021, and revised December 13, 2022.

The development site contains two properties that are currently designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (514-516 Yonge Street and 526-528 Yonge Street), and one property that is listed on the Heritage Register (522-524 Yonge Street).

The proposed development application contemplates a 59-storey mixed-use tower set atop a 3-storey podium that incorporates the retained eastern (primary) elevations of 514-516 Yonge Street, 522-524 Yonge Street, and 526-528 Yonge Street. The proposed alterations conserve the onsite and adjacent heritage buildings and are consistent with the policy framework. The heritage impacts of the development proposal are appropriately mitigated through the overall conservation strategy.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council continue to authorize the closure of the first laneway north of Bloor Street West, east of Riverview Gardens, between Riverview Gardens and the east limit of the laneway from November 30, 2023 to September 30, 2026.

2. City Council authorize the closure of the north sidewalk, and the westbound bike lane on Bloor Street West, between Riverview Gardens and a point 92 metres east and provision of a temporary 1.9 metre wide pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the sidewalk and the westbound curb side bike lane, from November 30, 2023 to September 30, 2026.

3. City Council authorize the closure of the east sidewalk on Riverview Gardens, between Bloor Street West and a point 48 metres north and provision of a temporary 1.8 metre wide pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the sidewalk, from November 30, 2023 to September 30, 2026..

4. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the north side of Bloor Street West between Riverview Gardens and a point 92 metres east.

5. City Council continue to prohibit stopping at all times on the east side of Riverview Garden, between Bloor Street West and a point 46.5 metres northwest.

6. City Council continue to rescind the existing maximum one-hour parking regulation in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, on the east side of Riverview Gardens, between Bloor Street West and a point 46.5 metres northwest.

7. City Council continue to direct the applicant to sweep the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

8. City Council continue to direct the applicant to construct and maintain a fully covered, protected and unobstructed walkway for all pedestrians, including for those with mobility devices, for the entire duration of the construction staging area permit to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and ensure it is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

9. City Council continue to direct the applicant to ensure that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkway have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

10. City Council continue to direct the applicant to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local Business Improvement Areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

11. City Council continue to direct the applicant to install appropriate signage and request the applicant to install converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

12. City Council continue to direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

13. City Council continue to direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

14. City Council continue to direct the applicant to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

15. City Council continue to direct the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

16. City Council continue to direct the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor.

17. City Council direct the applicant, in consultation with Transportation Services, to maintain any bike lanes, and install appropriate signage to inform drivers and cyclists of any changes to the cycling lanes.

18. City Council direct that Bloor Street West and Riverview Gardens be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Bloor Street West, City Council approval of this report is required.

Bloor Riverview Residences Corp is constructing a 12-storey residential condominium building at 2442-2454 Bloor Street West and 1-9 Riverview Gardens. The site is located on the north-east corner of Bloor Street West at Riverview Gardens.

At its meeting on December 2, 2020, Toronto and East York Community Council approved the construction staging areas at 2442-2454 Bloor Street West and 1-9 Riverview Gardens (Phase 1 and 2), from January 4, 2021 to December 31, 2022. The first laneway north of Bloor Street West, east of Riverview Gardens, between Riverview Gardens and the east limit of the laneway was closed to accommodate a construction staging area. Pedestrian operations on the north side of Bloor Street West and east side of Riverview Gardens were maintained in a 2.1-metre-wide covered and protected walkway within the existing sidewalk during Phase 1 (demolition).  During Phase 2, excavation and shoring, the covered walkways was removed and pedestrians were accommodated, within the existing sidewalks.

The developer is now ready to proceed with Phase 3 of the project and will require a larger space to proceed with the construction. Consequently, the recently installed westbound curb side bike lane on Bloor Street West will need to be closed to provide the additional space needed to accommodate the construction staging area.

Transportation Services is requesting approval to close the north sidewalk, and the westbound curb side bike lane on Bloor Street West for a period of 34 months, from November 30, 2023 to September 30, 2026 to facilitate construction staging operations. Pedestrian movements on the north side of Bloor Street West, abutting the site, will be maintained in a 1.9 metre-wide covered and protected walkway. The westbound bike lane will be closed and advance signage will be posted informing approaching cyclists the bike lane ends and shared lane pavement markings will be installed advising cyclists and motorists to merge in to a single traffic lane in the vicinity of the work zone.

Additionally, approval is being requested to close portion of the east sidewalk on Riverview Gardens for a period of 34 months, from November 30, 2023 to September 30, 2026 to facilitate construction staging operations. Pedestrian movements on the east side of Riverview Gardens, abutting the site, will be maintained in a 1.8 metre-wide covered and protected walkway.

Transportation Services is also requesting authorization to continue the closure of the first laneway north of Bloor Street West, east of Riverview Gardens, between Riverview Gardens and the east limit of the laneway, for a period of 34 months, from November 30, 2023 to September 30, 2026 to allow for the construction of the development to be completed.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the closure of the north sidewalk and a 3.9 metre wide portion of the westbound curb lane on Elm Street, between Yonge Street and a point 64 metres west, and provision of a temporary 2.1 metre-wide pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the westbound curb lane, from November 30, 2023 to November 30, 2027.

2. City Council authorize the closure of the west sidewalk and a 3.2 metre wide portion of the southbound curb lane on Yonge Street, between Elm Street and a point 40 metres north, and provision of a temporary 2.1 metre-wide pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the southbound curb lane, from November 30, 2023 to November 30, 2027.

3. City Council rescind the existing parking machine regulation in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, at a rate of $5.00 per hour and for a maximum period of 3 hours, on the north side of Elm Street, between Yonge Street and a point 64 metres west.

4. City Council rescind the existing standing prohibition in effect at all times on the north side of Elm Street, between Yonge Street and a point 20 metres west.

5. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the north side of Elm Street, between Yonge Street and a point 64 metres west.

6. City Council rescind the existing parking machine regulation in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, at a rate of $5.00 per hour and for a maximum period of 3 hours, on the south side of Elm Street, between a point 45 metres west of Yonge Street and a point 34 metres further west.

7. City Council rescind the existing standing prohibition in effect at all times on the south side of Elm Street, between Yonge Street and a point 45 metres west.

8. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the south side of Elm Street, between Yonge Street and a point 79 metres west.

9. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the west side of Yonge Street, between a point 19 metres south of Elm Street and a point 48 metres north of Elm Street.

10. City Council rescind the existing stopping prohibition in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday to Friday except Public Holidays, on the west side of Yonge between, a point 19 metres south of Elm Street and a point 48 metres north of Elm Street.

11. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the west side of Yonge Street, between, a point 19 metres south of Elm Street and a point 48 metres north of Elm Street.

12. City Council direct the applicant to sweep the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

13. City Council direct the applicant to construct and maintain a fully covered, protected and unobstructed walkway for all pedestrians, including for those with mobility devices, for the entire duration of the construction staging area permit to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and ensure it is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

14. City Council direct the applicant to ensure that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkway have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

15. City Council direct the applicant to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local Business Improvement Areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

16. City Council direct the applicant to install appropriate signage and request the applicant to install converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

17. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

18. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

19. City Council direct the applicant to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

20. City Council direct the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

21. City Council direct the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor.

22. City Council direct that Elm Street and Yonge Street be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

23. City Council direct the applicant to provide monthly community meetings, to discuss any concerns raised by the community.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Yonge Street, City Council approval of this report is required.

8Elm Development Limited Partnership is constructing a 69-storey condominium building at 8 Elm Street. The site is located on the north-west corner of Elm Street and Yonge Street.

Transportation Services is requesting approval to close the north sidewalk and a portion of the westbound curb lane on Elm Street for a period of 48 months, from November 30, 2023 to November 30, 2027 to facilitate construction staging operations. Pedestrian movements on the north side of Elm Street, abutting the site, will be maintained in a 2.1 metre-wide covered and protected walkway. The construction staging area will result in the loss of eight on-street parking machine spaces on Elm Street.

Additionally, approval is being requested to close the west sidewalk, and southbound curb lane on Yonge Street for a period of 48 months, from November 30, 2023 to November 30, 2027. Pedestrian movements on the west side of Yonge Street, abutting the site, will be maintained in a 2.1 metre-wide covered and protected walkway.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that: 

1.  City Council authorize the temporary traffic and parking regulations on streets in the vicinity of the Distillery District that are impacted during the Distillery Winter Village, identified in Attachment 2 to the revised report (October 17, 2023) from the Director, Permits and Enforcement, Transportation Services; the temporary parking regulations will override all existing regulations for the duration of this event (November 16, 2023 to December 31, 2023).

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Parliament Street, Mill Street and Front Street East, City Council approval of this report is required.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council's authority to enact temporary traffic and parking amendments required to enhance traffic operations and pedestrian safety during the annual Distillery Winter Village, which takes place from November 16, 2023 to December 31, 2023, inclusive.  

A companion report, "Temporary Adjustments to Parking Regulations for 2023 Distillery Winter Village (Delegated)" outlines the required delegated temporary parking amendments for locations without TTC Service.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize permit parking to be in effect from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., within Permit Parking Area 5C, daily on the odd (east) side of Ossington Avenue from Salvador Allende Court to Marchmount Road.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Ossington Avenue City Council approval of this report is required.

Transportation Services is recommending that overnight on-street permit parking be introduced on the odd (east) side of Ossington Avenue, between Salvador Allende Court and Marchmount Road from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., on an area named basis within Permit Parking Area 5C.

Residents requested the implementation of overnight on-street permit parking on Ossington Avenue to accommodate their long-term parking needs.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend the existing parking prohibition in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays, on the south side of Dundas Street East, between Parliament Street and Sherbourne Street, to be in effect between Parliament Street and Seaton Street.

2. City Council amend the existing maximum one-hour parking regulation in effect from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on the south side of Dundas Street East, between Sherbourne Street and Parliament Street, to be in effect between Seaton Street and Parliament Street.

3. City Council prohibit standing at all times on the south side of Dundas Street East, between Sherbourne Street and Seaton Street.

This amendment comes at the request of the Cabbagetown South Resident’s Association in response to the safety and security issues at the Dundas and Sherbourne intersection. A no-standing zone at this intersection would improve traffic flow and sightlines for the public.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Dundas Street East, City Council approval of this motion is required.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 10 Prince Arthur Avenue from Permit Parking.

2. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 717 Church Street from Permit Parking.

3. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 321 Davenport Road from Permit Parking.

4. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 820 Church Street from Permit Parking.

5. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 1235-1255 Bay Street from Permit Parking.

6. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 1-11 Bloor Street West and 768-784 Yonge Street from Permit Parking.

7. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 17 St. Andrew Street from Permit Parking.

8. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 15 Devonshire Place from Permit Parking.

9. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 500 Dupont Street from Permit Parking.

10. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 287 Davenport Road and 141, 143 and 145 Bedford Road from Permit Parking.

11. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to review and report back on the feasibility of amending Schedule B of the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 925, Permit Parking, to exclude the development located at 316 Bloor Street West from Permit Parking.

Permit parking is in high demand in Ward 11. Developers have a choice whether to build parking stalls for their units, and how many to build. If they choose to provide no or limited parking for their future residents, this should not be permitted to create additional competition for limited street parking.

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council prohibit westbound left-turns from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, at the intersection of Avenue Road and the northern driveway at 281-289 Avenue Road located on the east side of Avenue Road, approximately 45 metres south of Cottingham Street.

2.  City Council prohibit westbound left-turns from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, at the intersection of Avenue Road and the southern driveway at 281-289 Avenue Road located on the east side of Avenue Road, approximately 83 metres south of Cottingham Street.

With occupancy of 281-289 Avenue Road set to begin in November 2023, Transportation Services is recommending the prohibition of westbound left-turns to be in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, at the intersection of Avenue Road and the northern and southern driveways at 281-289 Avenue Road located on the east side of Avenue Road. The proposed traffic amendments will address requirements of the site plan agreement to mitigate conflicts and delays along Avenue Road.

Mayor Olivia Chow recommends that:  

1. City Council formally congratulate the Toronto Youth Cabinet on the occasion of its 25th anniversary and thank current and past Toronto Youth Cabinet members for their contributions to advocating for youth at City Hall. 

2. City Council reaffirm the Toronto Youth Cabinet as Toronto's official youth advocacy body.

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, to create a Youth Poet Laureate program in consultation with the Toronto Youth Cabinet and, if required, refer any budget impact to the Mayor for consideration in the 2024 budget process.

The Toronto Youth Cabinet was established in 1998 as the formal youth advocacy body at City Hall, providing young Torontonians with a forum for working together to build an equitable, accessible and youth-friendly Toronto.

As Children and Youth Advocate on City Council, I had the opportunity to work with inspiring young leaders to champion youth-led solutions to the challenges facing young people in Toronto. Over 25 years, the members of the youth cabinet have won many significant policy achievements, including:

- Successfully advocating for the City of Toronto in 2006 to create an investment fund (Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program) to support grassroots youth-led projects and organizations that enhance opportunities for youth and promote broader community safety.

- Successfully advocating for the Chief of Police in 2005 to create the Chief’s Youth Advisory Committee.

- Successfully advocating to Toronto City Council in 2017 for the creation of “Youth Week Toronto”. A week to celebrate youth engagement and showcase the abilities and talents of youth in the areas of civic engagement, arts and sports in diverse communities across Toronto. Youth Week is celebrated every first week of May.

- Leading the City of Toronto’s Youth Vaccine Engagement Strategy to ensure all young people and their families across Toronto had available the support and resources they needed to access the vaccine. This work ensured Toronto remained a global leader among other world class cities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage.

- Successfully advocating for free menstrual products in all Ontario elementary and secondary schools. As well as successfully advocated for the incorporation of financial literacy into the Ontario education curriculum. Toronto Youth Council also successfully advocated for mandatory mental health literacy in the curriculum and mandatory mental health training for all school staff amongst many other successful provincial advocacy on various issues.

- Holding over a dozen consultations with hundreds of youth across the City to inform the creation of SafeTO: Toronto’s Ten-Year Community Safety and Well-Being Plan to ensure the inclusion of youth perspectives.

- In 2001, after the provincial government cut funding to high school swimming pools, leading an advocacy campaign to urge the City of Toronto to take over funding the pools. This campaign involved community consultations, press releases, a "polar bear swim" demonstration, and press conferences. The cabinet was successful in persuading the city to keep the pools open.

- In the early 2000s Toronto Youth Council was critical in getting the youth outreach worker program expanded. When outreach workers were facing cuts, the Toronto Youth Cabinet successfully led advocacy to draw attention to the fact that many students from low-income households will be some of the hardest hit by a reduction in hours.

These achievements, along with many others, demonstrate the power of young people to bring change to our city. As we recognize the history and achievements of the Toronto Youth Cabinet, we are also committed to continuing to bring youth voices to City Hall.

The Toronto Youth Cabinet has recommended that as we celebrate this anniversary and look forward, City Council take action to create a Youth Poet Laureate program. Since the inauguration of the Toronto Poet Laureate position in 2001, seven poets have written beautiful works that celebrate and highlight themes relevant to Torontonians. Creating a position for a Youth Poet Laureate, in consultation with the Toronto Youth Cabinet, will elevate emerging artists whose perspectives and voices resonate with people young and old across Toronto.

In reaffirming the Toronto Youth Cabinet as Toronto's official advisory body, Council is committing to listening to the advice and priorities advanced by the Toronto Youth Cabinet as partners in building a safer, more affordable, and more caring city.

The City Manager recommends that, subject to the appointment of a permanent Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services:

1. City Council appoint David Jollimore as the Interim Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services for the City of Toronto, for a period effective December 4, 2023 until December 31, 2023, and from January 29, 2024 to February 25, 2024 and appoint Patrick Matozzo as the Interim Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services for the City of Toronto, for a period effective January 1, 2024 until January 28, 2024 and February 26, 2024 to March 24, 2024.

The purpose of this report is to recommend to City Council the continuing rotational appointments to the position of Interim Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services until such time that a permanent appointment is made.

This is a time sensitive matter as the current interim appointments are set to end on December 3, 2023 and must be in place before the next Council meeting, currently scheduled for December 13, 14, 15, 2023.

The City Manager recommends that:  

1. City Council receive this report for information.

The purpose of this report is to bring forward a recommended candidate to City Council for the appointment of a Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

The recruitment process to fill the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer position will conclude in the very near future. The City Manager will submit a supplementary report in advance of the November 8 meeting of City Council with a confidential attachment that recommends the appointment of the candidate for the position of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1. City Council receive this report for information.

City Council designated the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District and adopted the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District Plan under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act at its meeting of October 2, 2017.  The King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District was subsequently appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

The Ontario Land Tribunal has scheduled a 25 day hearing on the merits of the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District commencing on January 15, 2024.  The City Solicitor requires further direction on the matter.

As permitted by the Tribunal's modified procedural order, on October 13, 2023, the remaining appellants to the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District filed proposed modifications to the Heritage Conservation District Plan. The City Solicitor is reviewing the proposed modifications with City staff to determine the further direction that may be needed on this litigation matter.  It is anticipated that a further report will be submitted for the City Council meeting on November 8, 9 and 10, 2023.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the confidential instructions to staff in Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the public release of the confidential instructions to staff in Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor if adopted.

3. City Council direct that the balance of Confidential Attachment 1 remain confidential as it contains advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

On December 23, 2019, Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications were submitted for the property at 1181 Sheppard Avenue East (the "Site") in order to permit a mixed-use development comprised of a 22-storey tower with 39,033 square metres of office space, and a 25-storey residential tower (subsequently revised to 33 storeys) with 452 residential units connected by a 5-storey podium.

The applicant appealed City Council's neglect or failure to make a decision on the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the Ontario Land Tribunal on November 19, 2021 (the "Appeals").  A Site Plan Approval application was subsequently submitted in support of the proposal on March 4, 2022, and was appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal on February 27, 2023. The parties and Ontario Land Tribunal have agreed that the site plan appeal will be held in abeyance pending a determination on the Official Plan and Zoning Appeals.

On July 19 and 20, 2023, City Council accepted a Without Prejudice Settlement Offer in respect of the Appeals dated July 4, 2023 (the "Settlement Offer") and directed the City Solicitor to attend at the Ontario Land Tribunal in support of the Settlement Offer, and to request that the Ontario Land Tribunal withhold its Order until certain pre-conditions had been met. As authorized by City Council, the Settlement Offer and instructions to the City Solicitor have been made public.

Subsequent to the July City Council meeting, the applicant has revised their plans in order to incorporate elements of the Settlement Offer, including the provision of a direct pedestrian connection and limitations of balcony projections requested by City staff.  At the same time, the applicant made further changes to the plans, replacing an area that was previously shown as a potential day care space on the west tower ground floor and mezzanine with residential units, and making minor refinements to floors 35-38 of the east tower.

In light of these recent changes, the City Solicitor requires further direction for the upcoming hearing.  This matter is urgent and cannot be deferred as it is the last opportunity to get instruction from City Council in advance of the anticipated settlement hearing. This report has been prepared with input from City Planning.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the recommendations contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the public release of the confidential recommendations contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 and Confidential Appendices A and B to this report from the City Solicitor, if adopted by City Council.

3. City Council direct that all other information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor is to remain confidential at the discretion of the City Solicitor, as it contains advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

On December 20, 2018, the City received a Zoning By-law Amendment application for 1 Richview Road (the "Site") to permit the construction of one new 21-storey building on a site containing two existing 20-storey rental apartment buildings. Subsequently, the applicant revised the proposal and submitted for review a new 29-storey purpose-built rental apartment building containing a total gross floor area of 23,369 square metres, 306 residential units, indoor and outdoor amenity space, with parking provided through reconfiguration of the existing underground parking garage, new structure, and surface parking. The two existing 20-storey rental apartment buildings will be retained, with enhancements to the existing outdoor amenity space and parking area proposed (the "Application").

The applicant appealed City Council's neglect or failure to make a decision on its Application (the "Appeal") to the Ontario Land Tribunal on June 7, 2023.  On September 27, 2023, the Ontario Land Tribunal held a first Case Management Conference in respect of the Appeal and scheduled a five (5) day hearing to commence on May 6, 2024 and a further Case Management Conference on January 10, 2024, requiring the City and the applicant to file a final Procedural Order with the City's issues with the Ontario Land Tribunal by January 5, 2024.

The City Solicitor requires further directions for the upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal hearing, and related procedural requirements in advance of the January 5, 2023 Case Management Conference.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the recommendations contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the public release of the confidential recommendations contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 and Confidential Appendices A and B to this report from the City Solicitor, if adopted by City Council.

3. City Council direct that all other information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor is to remain confidential at the discretion of the City Solicitor, as it contains advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

On October 18, 2021, the City received an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application for 150-160 Cactus Avenue (the "Site") to permit the construction of a 12-storey (46.05 metres) apartment building, a 15-storey (55.30 metres) apartment building, and two blocks of 4-storey (14.85 metres) back-to-back stacked townhouses.

The applicant appealed City Council's neglect or failure to make a decision on its application for the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment (the "Appeal"), to the Ontario Land Tribunal on May 31, 2023.

The City Solicitor requires further directions for an upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal hearing event scheduled for November 22, 2023. This matter is urgent and cannot be deferred.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the recommendations contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the public release of the confidential recommendations contained in the Confidential Attachment 1 and Confidential Appendices A and B to this report from the City Solicitor, if adopted by City Council.

3. City Council direct that all other information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor is to remain confidential at the discretion of the City Solicitor, as it contains advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

On February 7, 2022, the City received a Zoning By-law Amendment application for 1736-1746 Weston Road (the "Site") to permit a 25-storey mixed-use development containing 253 dwelling units and 472 square metres of non-residential floor area.

On November 24, 2022, the applicant appealed City Council's neglect or failure to make a decision on the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

On February 8, 2023, the applicant provided a With Prejudice resubmission proposing a 40-storey mixed-use development containing 446 residential units and 444 square metres of non-residential floor area.

An Ontario Land Tribunal case management conference took place on March 31, 2023, and a nine-day hearing is scheduled to commence on February 20, 2024.

The City Solicitor requires further direction for the upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal hearing.  This matter is urgent as it is the last opportunity to get instruction from City Council in advance of established procedural exchange dates.

The City Solicitor recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the recommendations contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the public release of the confidential recommendations contained in Confidential Attachment 1 and Confidential Appendix A to this report from the City Solicitor, if adopted by City Council.

3. City Council direct that all other information contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to this report from the City Solicitor is to remain confidential at the discretion of the City Solicitor, as it contains advice which is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

On February 11, 2022, an application to amend the Official Plan, the former City of North York Zoning By-law 7625, and City-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013 was submitted to permit two 14-storey (53.8 metres including mechanical penthouse) mixed use buildings at 6167 Yonge Street, 10 Newton Drive and 9 Madawaska Avenue. The applicant also submitted an application for Site Plan Approval on February 11, 2022.

The proposal would provide 549 residential units and 998 square metres of at-grade retail. The overall proposed gross floor area is 38,810 square metres, which would result in a density of 5.98 times the lot area. Driveways would be provided on the east side of the proposed buildings extending north-south through the lands, with vehicular access provided from Newton Drive and Madawaska Avenue. A total of 273 parking spaces are proposed within two levels of underground parking, along with a total of 550 bicycle spaces.

The City Solicitor requires further direction for the upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal hearing scheduled to commence December 4, 2023 for 5 days. Given this timing, this item is urgent and cannot be deferred.

The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommends that:

1. City Council refuse the issuance of an alteration permit for the heritage property at 200 University Avenue, in accordance with Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

2. City Council refuse the issuance of a demolition permit for the heritage attributes of the heritage property at 200 University Avenue, in accordance with Section 34 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

3. If the owner appeals City Council’s decision to refuse the issuance of an alteration permit under Section 33 or a demolition permit under Section 34 of the Ontario Heritage Act for the heritage property at 200 University Avenue, City Council authorize the City Solicitor and the necessary City staff to attend the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing in opposition to the appeal.

This report recommends that City Council refuse applications under Sections 33 and 34 of the Ontario Heritage Act to alter and demolish heritage attributes of the property at 200 University Avenue.

Located on the southwest corner of Richmond Street West and University Avenue, the property at 200 University Avenue contains the Sun Life Building constructed in 1958-1961 and designed by John C. Parkin of John B. Parkin Associates, Canada's largest architectural firm at the time. The subject property is among the earliest examples of a modernist high rise building in Toronto to be entirely clad in metal and glass, with its glass and metal curtain wall set back from exposed perimeter support columns. It is prominently positioned at the point at which University Avenue becomes a grand ceremonial boulevard and is historically linked to the post-war phase of development along University Avenue. The property at 200 University Avenue was listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register in 1991 and designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act through by-law 744-2023 on July 19, 2023.

Applications under Sections 33 and 34 of the Act have been submitted to alter the property and demolish heritage attributes to allow for a mixed-use development that includes a 35-storey addition above the existing 14-storey heritage building plus a 2-storey mechanical penthouse. A two-storey addition for retail uses is also proposed on the east side of the heritage building, fronting along University Avenue. Staff are recommending refusal of the applications as they have not demonstrated that the cultural heritage value and attributes of the heritage property will be conserved consistent with the heritage planning policy framework, nor that the heritage impacts of the proposal would be appropriately mitigated.

The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommends that:

1. City Council affirm its decision to state its intention to designate the property at 33  Maitland Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act as set out in City Council Decision Item CC8.28 on July 19, 2023.

2. City Council affirm its decision to state its intention to designate the property at 37 Maitland Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act as set out in City Council Decision Item CC8.28 on July 19, 2023.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the bills in City Council designating the properties at 33 and 37 Maitland Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

This report recommends that City Council affirm its decision of July 19, 2023 (Item CC8.28) stating its intention to designate the properties at 33 and 37 Maitland Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act (the "Act"). The City has received an objection to the notice of intention to designate on behalf of the property owner within the required statutory timeframe.

The subject properties are adjacent to each other on the south side of Maitland Street between Yonge Street and Church Street in the Church - Wellesley Village.

33 Maitland Street, known as The Biltmore Apartments, is a three-storey, apartment building designed with a brick exterior and Arts and Crafts influences, completed in 1928. City Council included the properties on the Heritage Register on February 7, 2023.

The objector is of the opinion that 33 Maitland Street is not an appropriate candidate for designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The property immediately to the east at 37 Maitland Street is a rare example in Toronto of a Georgian-style villa with Italianate influences dating from 1858. Characteristic of the Georgian style, the property displays a formal but understated symmetrical, red brick façade as well as a low hipped roof with tall symmetrical chimneys at each end. The property was included on the City of Toronto's Heritage Inventory (now the Heritage Register) in 1974. The objector is of the opinion that that the rear and side extensions and additions are not prominent design features with significant cultural heritage value.

For both 33 and 37 Maitland Street, the objection asserts that the reasons for designation are overly broad and suggests that it is inappropriate to refer to a character area that is informed by other properties beyond the property that is proposed for designation. 

Staff have reviewed the objections raised on behalf of the owner and remain of the opinion that despite these objections, the properties 33 and 37 Maitland Street meet Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Act under all three categories of design and physical, historical and associative, and contextual values.  As such, staff are of the opinion that both properties should be designated.

Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations for the property, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.

City Council has until November 21, 2023, 90 days from the date of the end of the objection period, or 120 days from the issuance of the Notice of Intention to Designate to make a decision on this objection as per the timeline under the Act.

The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommends that:

1. City Council approve the alterations to the heritage property at 350 Bloor Street East, in accordance with Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act, to allow for temporary removal of three precast concrete panels along the north facade of the existing building, with such testing in accordance with a Heritage Memorandum by ERA Architects Inc. dated October 13, 2023 and a Letter from the Facet Group Inc. dated September 25, 2023 prepared by ERA Architects Inc., and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, subject to the following conditions:

a. that the owners shall reinstate concrete panels with either the existing panels or new concrete panels that match the colour, texture, size and finished appearance of the existing original panels to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning by August 31, 2024 or by such time as agreed in writing by the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

b. that the heritage permit for the panel removal is withheld until owner has:

1. provided a Letter of Credit, including provision for upwards indexing, in a form and amount and from a bank satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, to secure all work included related to the reinstallation of the precast concrete panels.

c. that prior to the release of the Letter of Credit required in Recommendation 1.b.1, the owner shall:

1. provide a letter of substantial completion prepared and signed by a qualified heritage consultant confirming that the removal and reinstatement of the precast concrete panels have been completed in accordance with the Heritage Memorandum by ERA Architects Inc. dated October 13, 2023 and a Letter from the Facet Group Inc. dated September 25, 2023 prepared by ERA Architects Inc., to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

This report recommends that City Council approve the alterations proposed for the designated heritage property at 350 Bloor Street East under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act in connection with the development of the subject property.

The building at 350 Bloor Street East was built into the upper portion of the Rosedale Valley Ravine's south embankment in 1968-1970 to the designs of renowned Modernist architect, John C. Parkin. It features an identical expression on its principal (south), west and north elevations with a flat roof and precast concrete cladding that creates wedge-shaped columns and deep inset window openings above a recessed, transparent base. The property is designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act and the precast concrete cladding panels are identified as heritage attributes of the building in the designation by-law 799-2023.

City Planning staff are currently reviewing development applications to permit a 63-storey mixed-use building, containing 806 dwelling units and 600 square metres of non-residential gross floor area at this property. This proposal includes reinstating the existing pre-cast concrete cladding as part of a six-storey podium for the new building. To determine the feasibility of this proposal, the developer proposes to temporarily remove three panels from the north façade, which faces the Rosedale Valley.

The application that is the subject of this report is for approval under the Ontario Heritage Act for the temporary removal of these panels to allow for testing the feasibility of re-using the cladding within the base design of the current development applications. The areas where the panels are removed would be temporarily infilled with timber framing and plywood, and the original panels would be reinstalled by the end of August 2024.

Heritage Planning staff support the proposal but are asking that conditions be attached to the approval under the Ontario Heritage Act that will allow City Council to require the reinstatement of the panels within a reasonable time frame and to an appropriate conservation standard.  

Approvals for the related development application will be reported to the Toronto Preservation Board and Council on at a future date.

The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommends that:

1. City Council receive this report for information.

This report responds to direction from the October 11-13, 2023 City Council meeting on Item CC11.18 Our Plan Toronto: Recommendations on Five Deferred Employment Area Conversion Requests – Final Report. City Council deferred consideration of Conversion Request 104 for 2450 Finch Avenue West, and directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report to the November 8-10, 2023 meeting of City Council with a final recommendation for this conversion request.

Council authorized the commencement of the Municipal Comprehensive Review and Growth Plan Conformity Exercise known as “Our Plan Toronto”, on August 4, 2020. As part of the Municipal Comprehensive Review, the City Planning Division received approximately 150 requests to convert lands designated Core Employment Areas or General Employment Areas in the Official Plan for non-employment uses, including some of which were City-initiated. 

As part of the Municipal Comprehensive Review, City Council has considered over 145 conversion requests in three final reports, which resulted in staff recommending the conversion of over 60 conversion requests. The implementing Official Plan Amendments (OPA 591, OPA 644 and OPA 653) were considered under Section 26 of the Planning Act, where the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is the approval authority. All three Council adopted Official Plan Amendments are with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing for final decisions.

Staff’s recommendation on this conversion request was originally included in PH5.3 Our Plan Toronto: Recommendations on Seventy Employment Area Conversion Requests and Chapter 7 Site and Area Specific Policy Review - Final Report, which was the third in a series of Final Reports that provided staff recommendations on Employment Area conversion requests as part of the Municipal Comprehensive Review of the Official Plan. This site was considered at a Special Public Meeting under Section 26 of the Planning Act regarding the City's phased Official Plan and Municipal Comprehensive Reviews at the July 5, 2023 Planning and Housing Committee.

City Planning is finalizing its recommendations on this deferred conversion request as discussions with the applicant are still advancing. In order to provide accurate and updated information, a supplementary report with additional details and recommendations will be provided.

The Acting General Manager Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning recommend that:

1. City Council receive this report for information.

The purpose of this report is to outline the requirements applicable to the removal of trees within Ontario Place, in particular as they relate to Heritage Impact Assessments and Environmental Assessments for Ontario Place, in advance of City Council making a decision in respect of development applications filed by Infrastructure Ontario for the Ontario Place redevelopment.

Infrastructure Ontario, a crown agency of the Province of Ontario, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Infrastructure, has submitted Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for the redevelopment of the predominantly Provincially-owned lands at Ontario Place at 955 Lake Shore Boulevard West. The Official Plan Amendment is for the entirety of Ontario Place. The Zoning By-law Amendment is for the whole site but proposes specific permissions for the Therme tourism, entertainment and waterpark facilities on the mainland and West Island, as well as the mainland parking structure serving multiple tenants and uses, including LiveNation, science programming at the Cinesphere and Pods and visitors to the public realm across the Island. These applications were initially submitted on November 25, 2022; revised applications were submitted on September 18, 2023.

The applications envision a large scale redevelopment of the public lands and attractions at Ontario Place. The site is a Provincially-significant heritage and tourism attraction used by visitors from across Ontario, Canada and internationally. Ontario Place closed as a fully operating attraction in 2012, and the existing buildings, bridges, servicing infrastructure and shoreline are understood to require reinvestment to ensure the future viability of the site. Ontario Place today also serves as a waterfront public amenity and a cultural heritage landscape of international significance.

The tree removals currently being contemplated (including tree removal on lands that are owned by the City of Toronto) are related to the Provincial-led servicing works, which excludes the West Island. The current scope of tree removal includes the removal of trees from the East Island, including within the Live Nation leased area, and the mainland. Infrastructure Ontario has communicated that these servicing upgrades need to be done regardless of future use as the existing services are beyond their design life. This work is being undertaken in accordance with the completed Category B Public Works Class Environmental Assessment for Ontario Place Site Servicing.

The development applications filed by Infrastructure Ontario indicate that the proposed redevelopment will also require the future removal of trees throughout the Ontario Place site, including tree removal on the West Island and lands that are owned by the City of Toronto.

On October 6, 2023, staff of the Ministry of Infrastructure informed City staff in writing that, per Provincial authorities, the Province will not be formally seeking municipal permits for the removal of trees located on Provincially-owned lands. However, the Province confirmed that it will follow the municipal process with regard to due diligence, tree protection and replacement standards. 

Infrastructure Ontario subsequently confirmed that the Province will seek tree removal permits for bylaw protected trees located on City-owned lands in connection with its site servicing works for the proposed development provided in the License, Permission to Enter and Construct Agreement executed between the City of Toronto and Infrastructure Ontario in April of 2023.

The Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation recommends that: 

1. City Council prohibit alcohol consumption within two metres around artificial and natural ice rinks, as outlined in this report. 

2. City Council amend Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 608, Parks, as detailed in Attachment 1 to prohibit alcohol consumption within two metres around artificial and natural ice rinks, for the Alcohol in Parks pilot extension, subject to such stylistic or minor substantive changes as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the City Solicitor.

At its meeting on October 11, 2023 (2023.MM11.22), City Council approved an extension of the Alcohol in Parks pilot program until March 31, 2024 in the current 27 pilot parks and with the current safety restrictions.

In response to City Council direction and based on consultations with City Councillors who are part of the current pilot program, there are no changes to the pilot parks included in the program for the duration of the Alcohol in Parks pilot program extension.

Further, in response to City Council direction to review additional safety restrictions for winter, this report recommends that the consumption of alcohol be prohibited within two metres around artificial and natural ice rinks.

Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, recommends that:

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Toronto Transit Commission, the Toronto Police Service and the City Solicitor to review and report back to the Executive Committee in the second quarter of 2024 including:

a. an update on streetcar performance over the last five years;

b. suggested improvements to the public realm along King Street until the permanent capital project can be delivered; and

c. the feasibility of implementing automated traffic enforcement on the King Street Transit Priority Corridor, including details on what legislative amendments would be required to provincial legislation including, but not limited to, the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.

Since the King Street Transit Priority Corridor was made permanent in 2019, we have seen inconsistent enforcement of traffic regulations along the corridor. Drivers routinely disregard the regulations put in place, compromising the efficiency of this critical transit route.

The Toronto Police, especially in 51 and 52 Divisions, are challenged with bigger priorities that require their valuable time and effort. We recognize that they are committed to maintaining the safety and welfare of our city and do not have the capacity to monitor traffic on King Street continuously.

It is in this context that I propose the use of automated enforcement. This technology could assist in consistently enforcing our traffic regulations in priority corridors like King Street, without needing to divert police resources. I believe this Motion will significantly enhance both the safety and effectiveness of our transit system, and I look forward to your support in this initiative.

Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll, recommends that:

1. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to ensure that Business Improvement Areas receive notice for all development-related applications within their area boundary.

This Motion addresses a concern that has been raised by several Business Improvement Areas across our city. Currently, Business Improvement Areas are only receiving notices for Rezoning, Official Plan, and Minor Variance Applications for developments that are within 120 metres of the their office addresses.

In my capacity as the Mayor’s Small Business Advocate, I firmly believe that Business Improvement Areas should be informed of any and all development proposals within their boundaries. This is to ensure that they can effectively monitor and communicate pertinent development applications to their membership.

Councillor Chris Moise, seconded by Councillor Paula Fletcher, recommends that:

1. City Council direct that the Civic Appointments Committee screen, interview and recommend candidates to City Council for appointment to the TOLive Board of Directors and the Yonge-Dundas Square Board of Directors.

In 2018, City Council authorized the City Clerk to screen, interview and recommend certain public appointments to City Council through the Civic Appointments Committee. Two boards whose appointments process was delegated in this manner are the Yonge Dundas Square Board and the TOLive Board. I understand the rationale behind this decision and, at first glance, it seemed like a sensible direction to reduce the workload of the Civic Appointments Committee. However, having now served on the TOLive and Yonge-Dundas Square boards for the past year, I have come to appreciate the unique challenges and opportunities these high-profile boards present.

TOLive and Yonge-Dundas Square are not just any City assets - they are intrinsic parts of our city's identity. They are the beating heart of our cultural scene, the vibrant showcases of our community’s collective spirit. They require uniquely dedicated attention, profile, and insight that I believe requires a more hands-on approach through the Civic Appointments Committee.

I am requesting that we reconsider City Council’s past decision and delegate the authority for screening, interviewing, and recommending board members for TOLive and Yonge-Dundas Square to the Civic Appointments Committee. By doing so, I am confident that we can ensure these critical city assets are managed with the precise level of attention and profile they deserve.

Councillor Dianne Saxe, seconded by Councillor Chris Moise, recommends that:

1. City Council request the Federal Government to create a Youth Climate Corps.

2. City Council forward this item to Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien.

The climate mobilization in Canada has yet to feel like a grand societal undertaking. Among the bold initiatives that would send such a signal is a Youth Climate Corps. A Youth Climate Corps would train youth for careers in the well-paying green jobs of the future, and help ensure Canada has a skilled workforce for the new climate economy.

An audacious Youth Climate Corps - an invitation to the country’s youth to mobilize to confront today’s gravest threat - could be a transformative public program, signalling to young people and society at large that we are genuinely in climate emergency mode. It would also help Toronto address many of our other gravest challenges, including inequality, shortages of skilled labour and lack of opportunities for young people.

A Youth Climate Corps would offer two years of training and work to every person under 35 years of age who wants to be part of the solution to this generational challenge. Not a compulsory form of youth service, but an attractive one. A Youth Climate Corps would put thousands of young people to work in rapidly curbing emissions, preparing our infrastructure for its coming impacts, and responding to the emergencies we're locking in. A Youth Climate Corps would train the thousands of skilled workers that Toronto needs to build transit projects, retrofit buildings, install renewable energy, and prepare for the crazy weather to come.

Members and graduates of the Youth Climate Corps could immediately be put to work on many critical tasks needed in Toronto, such as:

1. deep retrofits to older housing;

2. construction of new net-zero buildings;

3. repairing and expanding transit infrastructure, which is being delayed by shortages of skilled labour;

4. renewable energy and storage;

5. caring for parks, street trees and other green spaces;

6. building up resilience to climate emergency events; and

7. conservation and reclamation efforts, including wetland restoration, tree-planting, and our Ravine Strategy.
 

A Youth Climate Corps would be an excellent investment of public funds, providing benefits to program participants, employers, and Canadian society that far outweigh the cost of the program.

Increased earnings for Canadian youth

A Youth Climate Corps would be a highly effective investment in a fairer, more hopeful community that doesn’t leave so many people behind. Canadian youth are understandably concerned about their job prospects. Youth Climate Corps participants would “future proof” themselves by training for careers in the new green economy. Many of these jobs will be high-skilled and well-paying, in industries similar to those that currently require an apprenticeship or trades certificate (e.g., Red Seal trades).

The average annual wage of Canadians with an apprenticeship or trades certificate is $59,285.[1] That amounts to $15,850 more per year compared to someone with a high school diploma. [2] Over a 40-year career, a Youth Climate Corps graduate could make $634,000 more than a person with a high school diploma who did not participate in the Youth Climate Corps.

Youth Climate Corps training would give disadvantaged youth a “way in” to a stable, comfortable, taxpaying future. Enlisting with the Youth Climate Corps could be just the antidote to the anxiety and helplessness that young people experience as climate disasters escalate.

Additional tax revenues

Because graduates of the Youth Climate Corps will earn considerably more, they will also pay considerably more tax to the federal and provincial/territorial governments over their working lives.

Based on the incremental income a Youth Climate Corps graduate would earn compared to a high school graduate ($15,850 per year), the federal government would receive additional income taxes per person of up to $2,700 per year (not including deductions or tax credits). Provincial/territorial governments could receive up to $890 to $2,880 per year (not including deductions or tax credits).[3]

Over a 40-year career, this is up to $108,000 in additional revenue for the federal government, and up to $35,600 to $115,200 for provinces/territories. If the Youth Climate Corps creates 20,000 jobs / year for $1 billion, it would be paid back in roughly 10 to 15 years just in additional income tax revenue.

A “win” for Canadian employers

Productivity is a major challenge for Canadian businesses. Businesses benefit from greater productivity when they have a well-educated, well-trained labour force, which the Youth Climate Corps would help to create. For example, “small, medium and large businesses in every region of the country report an average return of $1.47 for every dollar they spend on apprenticeship training, including wages, journeyperson time, materials and administration. Even better, they report better health and safety records, an easier time recruiting and better retention of their tradespeople.”[4]

Businesses with higher profits also pay more income tax.

A “win” for Canadian society

Research shows that improving education, as the Youth Climate Corps would, results in increased innovation and economic growth; greater civic engagement, volunteerism, and charitable contributions; and reduced income inequality.[5]

In particular, the Youth Climate Corps would improve Canada’s chances in the fight of our lives by improving greenhouse gas mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. A Youth Climate Corps would help address the growing skills-shortage facing many sectors. It would also help keep Canada competitive by preparing our workforce for the new climate economy.

A Youth Climate Corps would also help to keep Canada competitive with the United States. The US government has already announced its own Youth Climate Corps. Now it’s time for Canada to do the same.

Toronto has a number of short term and part time City programs that encourage youth involvement in sustainability, such as Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions. However, none of the existing programs provide the serious upskilling that can launch a new career, as the Youth Climate Corps would.

[1] Data from 2021 Census (Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0412-01  Employment income statistics by occupation, major field of study and highest level of education: Canada) adjusted for inflation using the Bank of Canada calculator (https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/related/inflation-calculator/, accessed October 26, 2023).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Calculated using 2023 personal income tax brackets found at https://www.fidelity.ca/en/insights/articles/2023-canadian-income-tax-brackets/, accessed October 26, 2023.
[4] Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, https://caf-fca.org/apprenticeship/for-employers/, accessed October 27, 2023.
[5] Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement, Regulations Amending the Canada Student Financial Assistance Regulations: SOR/2019-214, June 17, 2019 https://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2019/2019-06-26/html/sor-dors214-eng.html.

Councillor Paul Ainslie, seconded by Councillor Jennifer McKelvie, recommends that: 

1. City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to attend the Toronto Local Appeal Body on the appeal of Committee of Adjustment applications respecting 1 and 21 Lochleven Drive (B0014-22SC, B0015-22SC, B0016-22SC, A0103-22SC, A0104-22SC, A0105-22SC, and A0106-22S) to request that, in the event the Toronto Local Appeal Body approves the applications, it impose the conditions in the report (June 1, 2023) from the Manager, Development Engineering, Scarborough District, Engineering and Construction Services and the report (July 19, 2023) from the Supervisor, Tree Protection and Plan Review, Urban Forestry - East District.

On July 26, 2023, the Committee of Adjustment (the "Committee") refused seven applications brought by the agent of the owners of 1 and 21 Lochleven Drive. Three of these applications proposed, between the two properties, five severances and one lot addition, such that four residential lots would ultimately be created, with a detached dwelling proposed on each proposed lot. The other four refused applications proposed minor variances from City-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013 for each of the four proposed dwellings (these seven applications are hereinafter the "Applications"). Copies of the Committee's decisions on the Applications are attached as Attachment 1.

On September 8, 2023, the owner and its representative appealed the Committee's decisions to refuse the Applications to the Toronto Local Appeal Body.

In a report from the Manager, Engineering and Construction Services, Scarborough District dated June 1, 2023, Engineering and Construction Services Staff recommended that several conditions be imposed on any Consent Approval. A copy of the Engineering and Construction Services report is attached as Attachment 2. Similarly, in a report from the Supervisor, Urban Forestry, East District dated July 19, 2023, Urban Forestry Staff also recommended that several conditions be imposed on approval of the Applications. A copy of the Urban Forestry report is attached as Attachment 3.

The hearing date is Monday, January 8, 2024. The Toronto Local Appeal Body’s Notice of Hearing containing the procedural deadlines for the hearing is attached as Attachment 4.

This Motion will authorize the City Solicitor, along with appropriate City Staff, to attend the Toronto Local Appeal Body to request that, in the event the Toronto Local Appeal Body approves the applications, it impose the conditions requested by Engineering and Construction Services in its report dated June 1, 2023 and the conditions requested by Urban Forestry in its report dated July 19, 2023.

Councillor Stephen Holyday, seconded by Councillor Vincent Crisanti, recommends that:

1. City Council direct the City Manager to report to City Council by the end of 2023 on:

a. the details and status of complaints regarding the Etobicoke Coat of Arms; and

b. the details of the origin and use of the Etobicoke Coat of Arms.

It has been brought to my attention that there have been recent complaints made to the City about the Etobicoke Coat of Arms displayed in the Etobicoke Civic Centre as being offensive or racist. There is a Coat of Arms prominently displayed in the Community Council Chamber, and another in the Committee Room.

The Coat of Arms was used on the official seal of the former City of Etobicoke and has been used extensively from 1977 to amalgamation in 1998, both in physical form and on numerous documents and mediums. It is recognized and highly regarded by many.

I believe that it is important that City Council and the public be made aware of the status of these complaints, and that Council receive information about the Coat of Arms.

Councillor Dianne Saxe, seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll, recommends that:

1. City Council increase the 2023 Operating Budget for Non-Program on a one-time basis by $32,000 gross, $0 net, fully funded by Section 37 community benefits obtained from the development at 124 and 128 Pears Avenue (Source Account: XR3026-3700793) secured for capital improvements to public housing at 250 Davenport to be utilized at 250 Davenport to create and furnish a computer/printer room and to build a free, reliable high-speed WiFi connection to the internet in shared spaces (Cost Centre: NP2161).

2. City Council direct that the $32,000 be forwarded to Toronto Community Housing Corporation upon the signing of an Undertaking by Toronto Community Housing Corporation that governs the use of the funds and the financial reporting requirements.

As ConnectTO recognizes, access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet is essential, as daily life in our city increasingly requires connectivity. Internet access is an important enabler of a good quality of life for Torontonians of all income levels. Inequalities in Internet access reflect underlying disparities in infrastructure and market competition, impeding full economic and social inclusion. This digital divide creates a serious barrier to economic opportunity for residents and a threat to the city’s long-term economic growth. In particular, none of the eight Toronto Community Housing buildings in Ward 11 have been provided with affordable, reliable high-speed internet, and no funding is available to do so in the near future. Council requested the federal and provincial governments to fund such internet access where necessary for full economic and social inclusion, but without success.

The City is holding sufficient Section 37 money, earmarked for upgrades to the Toronto Community Housing building at 250 Davenport, to make capital improvements that can rapidly create and furnish a computer/printer room and to build a free, reliable, durable high-speed WiFi connection to the internet in spaces shared by all tenants. This will make a lasting impact on the quality of life of the tenants.