Item - 2014.PB33.21

The Toronto Preservation Board:

1.         Received for information the report (June 23, 2014) from the Director, Urban Design, City Planning, entitled Proceeding from Study to Plan Phase for the Proposed Garden District Heritage Conservation District.

2.         Confirmed that the Garden District Heritage Conservation District Study has been completed to the Toronto Preservation Board's satisfaction.

3.         Affirmed that the area within the revised Garden District boundary qualifies for designation under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act as a Heritage Conservation District.

4.         Supports the preparation of a Garden District Heritage Conservation District Plan as proposed.

This report recommends that the Toronto Preservation Board support City Planning's decision to proceed from the Study Phase to the Plan Phase of the proposed Garden District Heritage Conservation District (HCD) as identified in the map below.

Over the last year, a consultant team led by MHBC has undertaken a study of the potential for this area to be designated as an HCD.  Following the procedures adopted by City Council for the preparation of HCD studies, the study has determined that this area contains cultural heritage values that are best protected through designation as an HCD under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. 

An HCD would provide a new planning framework for the area that would protect the area's heritage character, conserve existing attributes and heritage resources, and guide future development.

The purpose of this report is to identify the finalized study area boundary, outline the process taken to date, describe the existing planning framework for the area, summarize the findings of the HCD Study and make recommendations about the creation of an HCD Plan for the Garden District.