Item - 2009.TE27.13

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council request appropriate staff to continue to process and to prepare final reports for the following applications for Zoning By-Law Amendments, which were put on “hold” pending Council’s consideration of the King-Spadina Built Form Study (refer to Toronto and East York Community Council Decisions TE17.30 through TE17.33 and TE17.35 at its meeting of July 7, 2008):

-           60 John Street/12-18 Mercer Street;

-           181-199 Richmond Street/10 Nelson Street;

-           355 King Street West/119 Blue Jays Way;

-           295 Adelaide Street West/100-104 John Street; and

-           21-33 Widmer Street/299 Adelaide Street West.

2.         City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to report to Toronto and East York Community Council on the heritage district potential and scope of work for a Heritage Conservation District Study within the portion of the King-Spadina East Precinct bounded by Simcoe Street, the north side of Richmond Street West, Spadina Avenue, the south side of King Street West to Peter Street, the south side of Mercer Street between Peter and John Street, and the north side of King Street West from John Street to Simcoe Street.

3.         City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to study and report back to Toronto and East York Community Council on the feasibility, funding and appropriate scope of a more detailed analysis, reporting on implementation impacts of turning Richmond Street and Adelaide Street into two-way streets.

4.         City Council request Planning staff to negotiate Section 37 agreements within the King-Spadina East Precinct, where appropriate, to provide funding for Heritage Conservation District studies, subject to the appropriate Official Plan Amendment coming into force and effect, and John Street streetscape improvements, such that funds become available prior to the introduction of Bills in Council.

5.         City Council request Planning staff to host a community meeting to review the interim recommendations of this report, and a second community meeting to review draft Secondary Plan and Zoning By-law amendments and draft updated King Spadina Area Urban Design Guidelines.

6.         City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to prepare updated King Spadina Area Urban Design Guidelines, Secondary Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for the East Precinct to implement the recommendations of the Built Form Study, after the first community meeting.

7.         City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to investigate and report on the appropriateness of a Development Permit System (DPS), and whether the King-Spadina East Precinct would be a suitable pilot project for the application of the DPS.

8.         City Council make the John Street Cultural Corridor project a City priority.

9.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to undertake an environmental assessment for the John Street Cultural Corridor project as soon as possible, with due regard to current commitments, competing priorities and staffing constraints.

The Toronto and East York Community Council requested:

1.         The General Manager, Transportation Services to include in the Transportation Services 2010 budget submission appropriate resources to undertake the John Street Cultural Corridor Project.

2.         The Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, in consultation with the Ward Councillor to recommend to the Toronto and East York Community Council the use of Section 37 funds, from appropriate area developments, for the John Street Cultural Corridor Project.

3.         The General Manager, Transportation Services and the Executive Director, Technical Services, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to report to the Toronto and East York Community Council in 2010 on the strategy and work plan for the John Street Culture Corridor Project.

The East Precinct of the King-Spadina Secondary Plan Area, bounded by Front Street West to the south, Richmond Street West to the north, Simcoe Street to the east, and Spadina Avenue to the west, has been experiencing significant growth pressure. While this is evidence of the success of King-Spadina’s regeneration, this pressure is resulting in proposals that considerably exceed the height and intensity of development envisioned by the Official Plan or permitted by the Zoning By-law.  These proposals could fundamentally change the character of the area, and, in the absence of an updated planning framework, can lead to inconsistency and unplanned consequences.

The Built Form Study is an assessment of the existing and approved built form within the East Precinct of King-Spadina.  Its intent is to comprehensively evaluate the area’s character, and provide specificity to the question of where, and how, additional development can be accommodated in order to protect the features that make the district a distinctive and successful place in the city.  The Built Form Study will help ensure that individual proposals are reviewed consistently within the area’s broader physical context, to provide certainty for City Council, future development proponents, and the broader community.  It will also help ensure that new development contributes to the continued intensification of the East Precinct in a way that is appropriate and in the public interest. 

Staff have identified several sub-areas within the East Precinct where, subject to appropriate built form criteria that respects heritage character and enhances quality of life, and the provision of appropriate community benefits, additional development can be accommodated.  Work is underway to prepare specific guidelines regarding height, built form and performance criteria to guide future development.