Item - 2016.PG12.5
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Planning and Growth Management Committee on May 11, 2016 and was adopted with amendments.
PG12.5 - Proposed Planning Incentives to Support the Replacement of Office Space in New Mixed Use Developments - Draft Zoning By-law Amendments
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Planning and Growth Management Committee:
1. Authorized the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to conduct an Open House to consult with stakeholders and the general public on the incentives for the replacement/retention of existing office space near rapid transit as set out in the proposed Zoning By-law Amendments appended as Attachment 1 to the report (April 18, 2016) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.
2. Directed that notice for the public meeting under the Planning Act be given in accordance with the regulations under the Planning Act and requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to report back to the Planning and Growth Management Committee at a statutory meeting for the Zoning By-law Amendments in the third quarter of 2016.
3. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in the final report, to report further on the merits of requiring the replacement and retention of office space in the absence of incentives.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives, Planning and Analysis, City Planning, gave a verbal presentation on Proposed Planning Incentives to Support the Replacement of Office Space in New Mixed Use Developments.
Origin
Summary
This report presents results of the consultations on proposed planning and financial incentives to support the replacement and retention of office space in new mixed use developments. This report responds to the comments related to the planning incentives. A separate report responding to the financial incentive comments and proposals will be submitted at a later date in the context of the broader Imagination Manufacturing Innovation and Technology (IMIT) report. The proposed planning incentives would provide parking reductions, floor area exemptions and priority application processing for office sites proposed to be lawfully demolished and redeveloped with residential uses in the Downtown and the Central Waterfront, Centres and other locations in the City within 500 metres of a rapid transit station.
Based on the feedback received, the proposed planning incentives eligibility criteria have been refined. The incentives are proposed to be to be implemented through amendments to the Zoning By-laws and the Gold Star program. Draft amendments to the Zoning By-laws are appended as Attachment 1 to this report and are recommended to form the basis of further public and stakeholder consultations.
The proposed Zoning By-law Amendment would implement the incentives across the city by amending Zoning By-law 569-2013 and, because portions of it remain before the Ontario Municipal Board, a number of other Zoning By-laws across the City to cover sites within 500 metres of a rapid transit station and in the Downtown and Central Waterfront and the Centres.
The financial incentives that were part of the consultation will be considered separately, in conjunction with the review of the existing Imagination, Manufacturing, Innovation, Technology (IMIT) Incentive Program that is taking place in 2016 and will be reported out at that time.
The proposed planning incentives support City Council's policy of promoting office space near rapid transit stations, achieving mixed use development and the maintenance of office space on sites that could have otherwise had permanent loss of office space.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-92567.pdf
Attachment 1 - Part A
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-92868.pdf
Attachment 1 - Part B
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-92825.pdf
Attachment 1 - Part C
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-92826.pdf
Motions
That the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning be requested, in the final report, to report further on the merits of requiring the replacement and retention of office space in the absence of incentives.