Item - 2013.TE25.27

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council adopt the "Draft North Downtown Yonge Urban Design Guidelines", attached as Attachment 3 to the report (June 6, 2013)  from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, and the Director, Urban Design, City Planning Division.

2.         City Council direct staff to use the Draft North Downtown Yonge Urban Design Guidelines in the evaluation of all new and current tall building development proposals falling within the Guideline boundaries.

3.         City Council direct staff to schedule a community consultation meeting with the Working Group prior to September 10, 2013 for review of a Draft Official Plan Amendment for the lands included in the North Downtown Yonge Planning Framework together with the Ward Councillor.

4.         City Council authorize the City Clerk to provide notice of a statutory public meeting for the North Downtown Yonge Planning Framework to be scheduled for the September 10, 2013 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council, as per the requirements of the Planning Act.

5.         City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to bring forward a draft Official Plan Amendment for the statutory public meeting for the North Downtown Yonge Planning Framework to be scheduled for the September 10, 2013 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council, as per the requirements of the Planning Act.

6.         City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back to the Economic Development Committee regarding the extension of the Yonge Street Culture Corridor north from Dundas Street to Davenport Road.

7.         City Council request the Director, Public Realm to report on opportunities for streetscape improvements in the North Downtown Yonge Planning Area, including unimproved boulevard locations, and to report back to the Toronto and East York Community Council at the statutory public meeting for the draft Official Plan Amendment to be held on September 10, 2013.

 8.        City Council request staff to incorporate wording into the final North Downtown Yonge Urban Design Guidelines and the draft Official Plan Amendment to provide a maximum width for retail store-fronts at grade in new development or redevelopment along Yonge Street between Charles Street and College/Carlton Streets that is in keeping with the average width of at grade retail that is currently found along Yonge Street.

This report provides an overview of the study process to date and the next steps to finalizing the North Downtown Yonge Planning Framework (NDYPF).  In response to the Downtown Tall Buildings Study and to address the amount and type of development occurring and anticipated in the area, Toronto and East York Community Council at the meeting of June 22, 2011 through development application 11 187996 STE 27 OZ for 501 to 521 Yonge directed staff to undertake the North Downtown Yonge Street Planning Framework process and community consultation as outlined in the Preliminary Report dated May 30, 2011 from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

The NDYPF area is generally bounded by College/Carlton Streets, Bloor Street, fronting properties on the west side of Bay Street and fronting properties on the east side of Church Street.  The original direction of the NDYPF was to provide urban design guidelines to direct development within the study area.  As the study process evolved, it was determined that an official plan amendment with area specific policies should also be drafted to provide a policy framework with urban design guidelines as the implementation tool.