Item - 2013.TE25.128
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on July 16, 2013 without amendments and without debate.
- This item was considered by the Toronto and East York Community Council on June 18, 2013 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on July 16, 2013.
TE25.128 - Kensington Market - Request for Planning Analysis on Restaurant and Bar Uses
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted on Consent
- Ward:
- 20 - Trinity-Spadina
City Council Decision
City Council on July 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2013, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to undertake a planning analysis of restaurant and bar uses in Kensington Market, as defined by the boundaries of the Kensington Market Business Improvement Area, and report to the November 19, 2013 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council on the feasibility of amending the zoning by-law with respect to implementing restrictions on restaurant and bar uses in Kensington Market.
Background Information (Community Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-59655.pdf
TE25.128 - Kensington Market - Request for Planning Analysis on Restaurant and Bar Uses
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Ward:
- 20 - Trinity-Spadina
Community Council Recommendations
The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:
1. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to undertake a planning analysis of restaurant and bar uses in Kensington Market, as defined by the boundaries of the Kensington Market BIA, and report to the November 19, 2013 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council on the feasibility of amending the zoning by-law with respect to implementing restrictions on restaurant and bar uses in Kensington Market.
Origin
Summary
The report from City Planning on the Queen Street West Restaurant Study (between Roncesvalles Avenue and Dufferin Street) (TE25.3) puts forward some recommendations about planning tools to try to manage change and maintain balance in urban land uses.
While it is a very different context, Kensington Market is experiencing similar challenges as more licensed restaurants and bars are opening in this community. With the ability to sell alcohol, these businesses are often able to pay much higher rents than raw food retailers that have been the core of Kensington Market for generations. Rents are being driven up at very high rates and it is triggering changes that must be understood before the Market as we know it is lost.
Significant change happening to our retail areas in the downtown and I believe that a balance must be struck to ensure that walkable, neighbourhood-based retail and food uses are maintained.
This motion requests City Planning to undertake a similar analysis of Kensington Market to understand issues of concentration and impacts on both the commercial and residential communities in the neighbourhood.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-59655.pdf