Item - 2017.EY24.1

Etobicoke York Community Council:

1.  Directed the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District to prepare an amendment to the Official Plan to create a "Site and Area Specific Policy" for the lands at 227 – 430 Jane Street, 665 – 685 Annette Street, 494 Armadale Avenue, 143 Evans Avenue and 502-504 Willard Avenue, and that the amendment be scheduled for a statutory public meeting by the Etobicoke York Community Council on October 17, 2017.

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

The purpose of this report is to outline the study process and provide recommendations related to the Baby Point Gates Planning Study. 

At its meeting held on August 12, 2014, Etobicoke York Community Council directed City Planning staff to review the existing zoning and lawful non-conforming commercial uses in the Baby Point Gates Business Improvement Area (BIA) and to consult with the Ward Councillor and community on options for enhancing and expanding zoning to sustain and increase commercial use permissions (EY35.80).

The Baby Point Gates Planning Study area is generally along Jane Street from Montye Avenue in the north, to Lessard Avenue in the south, as well as on Annette Street from Windermere Avenue in the east to Jane Street in the west. 

The study area is consistent with the Baby Point Gates BIA boundary, which was established in 2010.

Early in the study review process, staff concluded there were significant obstacles associated with advancing a general Zoning By-law Amendment for the entirety of the study area.  Revisions to the existing zoning would require a significant amount of additional time and resources to ensure that matters including parking, traffic, built form, massing, site servicing and other significant issues were appropriately assessed, prior to presenting recommendations to Etobicoke York Community Council. 

Many concerns were also expressed through the community consultations regarding any changes to existing zoning permissions, which would create as-of-right conditions that may result in unacceptable impacts to the area, as well as potential property assessment impacts.     

On this basis, staff concluded, in consultation with the Ward Councillor, that an Official Plan Site and Area Specific Policy for the area would be an appropriate first step to address the Community Council direction.

A Working Group process was initiated to study the area, establish guiding principles to be used to develop a policy framework for the future of the area, and develop site-specific policies that would guide the future evolution of the area.

This report recommends that Etobicoke York Community Council direct staff to prepare an amendment to the Official Plan to create a Site and Area Specific Policy for the Baby Point Gates area and schedule a statutory public meeting to consider this amendment on October 17, 2017.