Item - 2014.TE34.94

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to bring forward the proposed Official Plan Amendment No. 82 for a statutory public meeting once the Garden District Heritage Conservation District Plan has been completed.

2.         City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to post the Draft Official Plan Amendment on the City Planning web page.

This report provides an overview of the proposed Official Plan Amendment 82, being the Garden District Site and Area Specific Policy 461. Community Planning Staff have been working in parallel with Heritage Preservation Staff to conduct a land use planning study and a Heritage Conservation District ("HCD") Study for this area.   The first phase of the HCD which developed a detailed heritage assessment of the area has been completed.  The next phase of this work will focus on creating the  actual HCD plan for the area.  During the review City Planning Staff determined that the Garden District could further benefit from a Site and Area Specific Policy (SASP) to complement the HCD and provide a comprehensive planning framework for this area.  These plans will form part of the broader revitalization strategy that was directed by City Council and is being undertaken by an inter-divisional staff team.   

One of the catalysts of the area’s revitalization is the redevelopment and re-programming of Seaton House, one of the City’s oldest and largest shelters.  The transformation of Seaton house will offer a true renewal of both public and private sites in this area.  The proposed planning framework supports this renewal while also ensuring that balanced growth occurs and complete communities are achieved.

This report provides the proposed draft Official Plan Amendment for this area.  This will assist in informing the preparation of both the HCD plan as well as the other components of the revitalization strategy.  The final SASP will be brought forward once the HCD Plan is completed.