Item - 2016.PG10.7

The Planning and Growth Management Committee :

1. Directed staff to prepare a community consultation work plan, lead the consultation process and schedule the community consultations for the employment district at the East Don Lands, in consultation with the Ward Councillor, taking into consideration the following:

a.  that the community consultation be framed in the context of overall objectives to bring jobs to the South of Eastern area, to create a vibrant and dynamic employment district, to create a revitalized waterfront and to achieve the major infrastructure, including transit and flood protection, necessary to support substantial employment growth; and

b.  that the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture participate in the consultation, to communicate the need to accommodate the next generation of employment and the need to identify and assist with any relocation of film related industries that may be required.

2.  Directed that notice for the community consultation meeting be determined in consultation with the Ward Councillor.

3.  Directed that notice for the public meeting under the Planning Act be given according to the regulations of the Planning Act.

4.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to report back to the Planning and Growth Management Committee on the process that the City will undertake to lead comprehensive planning for the precinct, in collaboration with the applicant, landowners and stakeholders.

The purpose of this Official Plan Amendment (OPA) application is to develop a comprehensive framework of Official Plan policies in keeping with the recently adopted Employment Lands policies. This will initiate comprehensive planning of 21 Don Valley Parkway (former Unilever site) and adjacent lands, hereinafter described in this report as the "East Don Lands."

The proposed application includes an OPA with a policy framework to allow for development of a broad variety of non-residential land uses providing employment opportunities for approximately 50,000 workers.  The applicant, First Gulf, has a vision for the East Don Lands which includes policies to broaden the current permission for traditional employment uses of manufacturing and warehousing to plan for a vibrant and active office district supported by retail and services in a compact urban form. At full build out the proposal is envisioned to include approximately 1.1 million square metres of employment uses.

The proposal presents a unique City building opportunity with significant employment growth. There are also challenges to the development of this site including achieving flood protection; introduction of a new and integrated streets and blocks plan; and bringing high capacity transit in close proximity to the site.

At this time, the proposed OPA is a policy initiative, not a development proposal.  The applicant has provided no plans, conceptual or otherwise, for actual development; however, the submitted application materials allow for the discussions and consultations to formally begin and be closely coordinated with infrastructure initiatives in the area.

This report provides preliminary information on the above-noted application and seeks direction from the Planning and Growth Management Committee on further processing of the application and on the community consultation process.