Item - 2013.TE28.41

The City of Toronto passed the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan in April 2003 and subsequently zoning by-laws for the East Bayfront (By-law No. 1049-2006) and North Keating (By-law No. 1174-2010).  Within these two precincts there are a total of 6 private land owner appellants to the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan and area specific By-laws.  After several years of discussions and several pre-hearing conferences, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has set aside 12 weeks of time for hearings on these appeals starting on March 31, 2014.  City and Waterfront Toronto representatives have initiated negotiations with the appellants to find mutually acceptable solutions for both the appellants and the City.  It is hoped that through this process, solutions will be found that will be considered to be fair and transparent and meet the intent of the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan and the Precinct Plans.

The negotiation process is exceptionally labour intensive to prepare material for settlement review and to hold discussions with the appellants.  These discussions commenced in earnest in September and are expected to continue until at least the end of December 2013.  If negotiations have progressed sufficiently, a public meeting will be held in early 2014 to present the findings of this process to the public and other parties having an interest in the appeal process and to secure support for the outcomes of the negotiations.  A Directions Report will be prepared early in 2014 following the public meeting.  The Directions Report would seek Council authority to advise the OMB of the City’s position on the necessary changes to the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan and area zoning by-laws necessary to conclude any settlements of these site specific appeals.  The Directions Report is expected to provide Council with confidential details pertaining to the ongoing discussions and to request support for the resolution of this process based on the matters currently being discussed with the appellants.