Item - 2011.TE11.3

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council amend the Official Plan for the lands at 830 Lansdowne Avenue substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment attached as Attachment No. 9 to the October 12, 2011 report from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2.         City Council amend Zoning By-law No. 438-86 substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment No.10 to the October 12, 2011 report 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 Official Plan Amendment and 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 of the lands at 830 Lansdowne Avenue to enter into an Agreement pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act as follows:

a.         The community benefits recommended to be provided and secured in the Section 37 Agreement are as follows:

i.          The retention and renovation of the existing industrial building at 830 Lansdowne Avenue in accordance with the site plan drawings to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division.

ii.         An indexed cash contribution, payable prior to the issuance of the first above-grade building permit, of $1,100,000 to be applied to any or all of the following:

-           the construction of a new Toronto Public Library branch building in the local area;

-           an expansion and/or necessary repairs to the Perth/Dupont neighbourhood library at 1589 Dupont Street; and

-           improvements to Carlton Park.

b.         The following matters are also recommended to be secured in the Section 37 Agreement as a matter of legal convenience to support the development:

i.          The applicant is required to pay for and construct any improvements to the municipal infrastructure (including off-site road improvements) in connection with the Functional Servicing Report and the Traffic Impact Study and required supporting information, to be submitted for review and acceptance by the Executive Director of Technical Services, should it be determined that improvements to such infrastructure is required to support this development.

ii.         The applicant be required to pay for transit signal priority at the Dupont/Lansdowne and Davenport/Lansdowne signalized intersections at a total cost of $70,000 as requested by the TTC. Additionally, in the event that the proposed signal at the site access driveway on Lansdowne Avenue is deemed to be acceptable, the applicant shall provide $35,000 to pay for transit signal priority at that location.

iii.        The applicant be required to undertake wind tunnel testing as recommended in the Pedestrian Level Wind Preliminary Assessment prepared by Theakson Environmental and implement the recommended mitigation measures as identified as a result of this analysis, to be secured through Site Plan Approval.

5.         Before introducing the necessary bills to Council, City Council require the applicant to address all outstanding requirements as outlined in the Technical Services memorandum dated September 22, 2011 and as further detailed in the letter to Roland Roover, Sernas Transtech, dated September 22, 2011, to the satisfaction of the Executive Director of Technical Services.

6.         City Council require that the following issues be addressed through the site plan process:

i.          Site plan issues raised in the Technical Services memorandum of September 22, 2011 will be addressed through the site plan review to the satisfaction of the Executive Director of Technical Services Division and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division.

ii.         Detailed cross-sections and elevation drawings of the required crash walls adjacent the railway corridors at the north and west boundary of the site will be provided to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division.

iii.        The layout of the central traffic courtyard will be revised to provide for appropriate and safe vehicle movements and pedestrian connections and maximize opportunities for landscaping.

iv.        The quality of building materials and cladding, including the above-grade parking garage are to be to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division.

v.         All landscaping, including trees, to be provided to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Park, Forestry and Recreation and the Executive Director, City Planning.

vi.        Security issues will be review based upon CEPTED (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design) principles.

vii.       The authors of the Noise Control Study prepared by MMM Group and dated August 2010 will be required to provide written confirmation that the recommendations of the study have been incorporated into the site plan drawings.

viii.      A comprehensive lighting plan will be required for security and amenity purposes.

This application proposes a mixed-use development of 47,297 square metres of floor area for commercial and residential purposes. The redevelopment includes the retention of the former industrial building at the north-west corner of Lansdowne Avenue and Dupont Street. This building would be used for commercial purposes at grade with residential units located above. Of the 558 residential dwelling units proposed, 526 units are proposed in two towers of 23 and 27 storeys, which are located on the western and northern portion of the property. The remaining 32 units are proposed on the third floor of the retained former industrial building.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law.