Item - 2013.NY23.34

North York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council amend former Town of Leaside By-law No. 1916 for the lands at 70 and 80 Wicksteed Avenue, 202, 204 and 206 Parkhurst Boulevard and 99 Vanderhoof Avenue substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 13 to the report (February 5, 2013) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District.

2.         In accordance with the delegated approval under By-law 229-2000, as amended, City Council be advised that the Chief Planner intends to approve the draft plan of subdivision, as generally illustrated on Attachment 4 to the report (February 5, 2013) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District, subject to:

a.         the conditions as generally listed in Attachment 14 to the report (February 5, 2013) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District, which except as otherwise noted, must be fulfilled prior to the release of the plan of subdivision for registration;

b.         any such revisions to the proposed subdivision plan or any such additional modified conditions as the Chief Planner may deem to be appropriate to address matters arising from the on-going technical review of this development; and

c.         the Notice of Decision of draft plan approval not being issued until the Zoning By-law amendment is in full force and effect.

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

4.         Before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment, City Council require the owner of the lands at 70 and 80 Wicksteed Avenue, 202, 204 and 206 Parkhurst Boulevard and 99 Vanderhoof Avenue to:

a.         Enter into an Agreement pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act, to be registered on title, to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor, to secure the following:

i.          a $500,000 cash payment to be used towards the cost of constructing and equipping the expansion to Leaside Memorial Gardens, to be paid prior to the issuance of the first above-grade building permit for the development, with such amount to be indexed upwardly in accordance with the Statistics Canada Non-Residential Construction Price Index for Toronto, calculated from the date of the registration of the Section 37 Agreement to the date of payment.

ii.         provisions for the construction of a 3 metre wide landscaped centre median on Laird Drive along the frontage of the site designed and constructed to the satisfaction of the Director of Transportation Services and the Manager of Technical Services, such median to include irrigation and hard and soft landscaping materials to the satisfaction of the General Manager, Parks, Forestry & Recreation. The installation of the landscaped median shall be secured by posting a Letter of Credit in an amount not less than $321,000 prior to site plan approval.

The following matters are also recommended to be secured in the Section 37 Agreement in support of the development:

iii.        construct and maintain the development in accordance with Tier 1 performance measures of the Toronto Green Standard, as adopted by Toronto City Council in October 2009.

iv.        submit a construction management plan to the satisfaction of Executive Director of Technical Services, such plan to include information regarding the construction timetable and protocols to address construction activities such as noise, dust, temporary loss of facilities and services, parking of vehicles, standards for cleanliness of public spaces and contact numbers for complaints.

b.         Obtain Notice of Site Plan Approval Conditions to be issued from the Director, Community Planning, North York District.

c.         Enter into a Subdivision Agreement as set out in the conditions of draft plan of subdivision approval in Attachment 14 to the report (February 5, 2013) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District, as may be revised pursuant to Recommendation 2, above.

This application seeks to amend the former Town of Leaside Zoning By-law No. 1916 to permit a retail commercial centre with a gross floor area of 15,669m². The proposal comprises a 7,308m² anchor store on the second level and series of smaller one and two-storey commercial buildings ranging in size from 468m² to 1,400m² and 487 parking spaces.

An application for Draft Plan of Subdivision has also been submitted to provide for the creation of development blocks and extending Parkhurst Boulevard and Vaughan Street to connect with Wicksteed Avenue.

The applicant’s proposal for a new large-format retail store on a portion of the property and plan of subdivision including provision of new public roads is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement and in conformity with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.  The proposal also conforms to the general objectives of the Official Plan.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law and advises that the Chief Planner may approve the Draft Plan of Subdivision.