Item - 2014.PG35.4

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council amend the Official Plan and the Garrison Common North Secondary Plan for the lands known as the South Niagara Area, substantially in accordance with the Draft Official Plan Amendment 273, Attachment 4, attached to the report (July 10, 2014) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

2.         City Council amend the Zoning By-law No. 438-86, as amended, for the lands known as 51-53 Strachan Avenue and 715, 801a and 805 Wellington Street West, substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law amendment, Attachment 5, attached to the report (July 10, 2014) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning;

3.         City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments as may be required;

4.         City Council direct the City Solicitor to request that the Ontario Municipal Board amend Official Plan Amendment 199 to include policy related to the protection of views to and from Fort York National Historic Site in accordance with the policies of the South Niagara Planning Strategy and The Fort York Heritage Conservation District Plan and Study, with the wording of these proposed amendments being to the satisfaction of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with appropriate City Officials;

5.         City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to report back to Toronto and East York Community Council in 2015 on the potential to Designate the properties at 51-53 Strachan Avenue , 715, 801a, 805 Wellington Street West, 61-69 Niagara Street, and 677 Wellington Street, under the Ontario Heritage Act, RSO 1990;

6.         City Council direct the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture to study the opportunities for adaptively reusing the Wellington Destructor at 677 Wellington Street for cultural and community space, and community hub or other appropriate uses in consultation with city staff from Heritage Preservation Services, City Planning, Real Estate Services, Social Development, Finance and Administration, Transportation Services, the Ward Councillor and representatives from the local community;

7.         City Council direct the General Manager of Parks Forestry and Recreation to explore the adaptive reuse of the city-owned Maple Green Inc. building at the lands known as 51-53 Strachan Avenue (including 715, 801a and 805 Wellington Street West), to contribute to the programming of the future park space; and

8.         City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with other City Divisions, Build Toronto, and the Ward Councillor, to report to Toronto and East York Community Council in 2015, assessing the appropriateness of developing a Community Improvement Plan within the South Niagara Area to achieve community improvements, such as the adaptive reuse of the Wellington Destructor, the remediation of city-owned contaminated lands, parkland improvements, and other community improvements detailed in the South Niagara Strategy.

This report details and recommends approval of Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments necessary to implement the South Niagara Planning Strategy.

In October 2013, the City Planning Division initiated a study of the lands bordered by Bathurst Street, Strachan Avenue, Wellington Street West, and the Metrolinx rail corridor.  This area is in a state of transition from historically being used predominantly for industrial purposes, to introducing residential, commercial and office uses. This Strategy will ensure that these lands redevelop in a manner that balances city-wide policies with neighbourhood interests.

The study engaged area stakeholders, including landowners, residents and business owners, in a number of formats over four community consultation events. 

This Strategy envisions the South Niagara Area as a mixed-use community, complementary to the existing Niagara Neighbourhood, providing a range of housing opportunities and new residentially compatible employment space, while protecting city works services, expanding existing park spaces, achieving new pedestrian, cycling and vehicle connections, and securing the preservation and adaptive-reuse of the area’s heritage resources, in a format which respects and transitions to the existing neighbourhood and the adjacent Fort York National Historic Site.

This report responds to City Council direction from its June 11, 12 and 13, 2013 meeting by providing a Strategy for the future development of the South Niagara