Item - 2016.TE19.76

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1.  Received the Bloor -Yorkville/ North Midtown Planning Framework Study prepared through the collaboration of the Bloor-Yorkville BIA, ABC Residents Association, Greater Yorkville Residents Association (GYRA) and Yonge Bay Bloor Business Association (YBB).

2.  Requested the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District to consider the Bloor- Yorkville/North Midtown Planning Framework during the preparation of the Secondary Plan for Bloor-Yorkville / North Midtown.

3.  Requested the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District to report to Toronto and East York Community Council in the first quarter of 2017 on the work plan and schedule for the preparation of the Secondary Plan for Bloor-Yorkville /North Midtown.

4.  Requested the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District to consult with the Director, Infrastructure Management and the Manager, Beautiful Streets, Transportation Services in preparing the report referred to in Part 3 above.

5.  Requested Planning staff to consider the Bloor-Yorkville/ North Midtown Framework’s strategies during the evaluation of current and future development applications and City projects in the Bloor Yorkville/North Midtown planning area prior to completion of the Secondary Plan.

The Bloor-Yorkville / North Midtown area is home to a dynamic residential and business community.  The storied history and heritage buildings form a vital part of the fabric of Toronto, providing an important destination point for locals and tourists alike.

Development applications in Bloor-Yorkville / North Midtown are currently at an all-time high.  The increasing density makes necessary a comprehensive approach to planning and transportation that will serve to manage growth and development into the future.  Such a strategy must factor in access to green space and sunlight, public and private streetscape improvements, pedestrian initiatives, and density management. Cognizant of the pressures on the Planning department to respond to the complex needs of the area, the residents and BIA of Yorkville have stepped forward in an effort to provide the tools and information necessary to move forward. 

The Bloor-Yorkville / North Midtown Planning Framework and Implementation Strategy is a project funded and produced entirely through community initiative.  This planning study examines the current neighbourhood makeup, and puts forward a framework and implementation strategy to manage growth and development as this dynamic area continues to mature.  The document represents a tremendous amount of work on the part of the local community and demonstrates an admirable commitment to neighbourhood engagement.  Such an effort is deserving of public acknowledgement and I, as a local Councillor, am offering my support for this work by bringing this motion here before you today.

The Bloor-Yorkville / North Midtown Planning Framework represents the hopes and desires of the local community for their neighbourhood going forward.  Now that the Framework has been produced, it is time for City Planning, Transportation Services and other appropriate City divisions to engage with strategies for its implementation.  An opportunity exists to introduce guidelines consistent with this document and, eventually to move forward to a formal Secondary Plan.