Item - 2016.TE18.13

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council refuse the application for Zoning By-law and Official Plan Amendments at 874-878 Yonge Street and 3-11 Scollard Street for the reasons contained in the report (August 12, 2016) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

2.  City Council authorize the City Solicitor together with City Planning and other appropriate staff to appear before the Ontario Municipal Board in support of City Council’s decision to refuse the application, in the event that the application is appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.

3.  In the event that any development arising out of the subject application (File No. 16 173154 STE 27 OZ) is approved, City Council require on-site parkland dedication be conveyed to the City pursuant to Section 42 of the Planning Act.

The Toronto and East York Community Council directed Planning staff to hold a community consultation meeting for the lands at 874-878 Yonge Street and 3-11 Scollard Street and to report directly to City Council on any further recommendations arising from the community consultation meeting.

This application proposes to amend the Official Plan and the Zoning By-law to permit a 59-storey residential tower plus three mechanical floors (229.4 metres) at 874-878 Yonge Street and 3-11 Scollard Street.  The proposal has a Floor Space Index of 37.5 times the area of the lot and a total of 194 residential units.

189 vehicular parking spaces (168 resident and 21 visitor spaces) are to be provided in a 7-level automated underground parking garage accessed from Scollard Street via a public lane.

Planning staff recommends that the application be refused. This proposed tower is too tall and the site is too small to accommodate the proposal.  The proposal does not fit within the existing and planned context for the Bloor-Yorkville and North Midtown Area.

A community consultation meeting is scheduled for September 26, 2016 where the community can review the application, provide comments, and ask questions of City staff and the applicant.