Item - 2017.PG21.6

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council amend Section 4.d) of the Official Plan Amendment 362, found in Attachment 1 to the report (May 24, 2017) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to read:

 
"4. PUBLIC REALM

Streetscape, Greenway and Landscaping

New development proposing residential and/or sensitive land uses within the Dufferin-Wilson Area, that shares a boundary with existing and/or permitted commercial or other employment uses, will provide enhanced landscaping, screening, lighting and noise attenuation/mitigation, where appropriate, to provide for safer movement along these edges and reduce conflicts with service areas."

 
2.  City Council amend Section 5.k) of the Official Plan Amendment 362, found in Attachment 1 to the report (May 24, 2017) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to read:
           

"5. MOVEMENT

Pedestrians, Cyclists and Transit

 k)  The public street, parks and open space network will be designed to provide pedestrians and  cyclists with direct, accessible, safe, and convenient connections to the transit system and other key destinations."

3.  City Council amend the Official Plan, for the lands shown on Schedule 1 to Attachment 1, and adopt the Official Plan Amendment No. 362, attached as Attachment 1 to the report (May 9, 2017) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, as amended by recommendations 1 and 2 above.  

4.  City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the proposed Official Plan Amendment No. 362 as may be required.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee held a statutory public meeting on May 31, 2017, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the local Councillor, to continue discussions with the representative for Dymon Lands and report directly to City Council if there is an acceptable agreement, which includes a revision to the Site Plan Application to be consistent with the vision of the Dufferin-Wilson Regeneration Area Study, as a complete, transit supportive new community, and in particular to address the land-use mix and public road network.

This report seeks City Council approval of the recommended Dufferin-Wilson Regeneration Area planning framework to guide the revitalization of the Study Area.

The Dufferin-Wilson Regeneration Area study makes recommendations on a planning framework for the study area to support future growth as set out in Section 4.7 of the Official Plan for Regeneration Areas, and matters set out in Council's adopted Site and Area Specific Policy (SASP) 388 of OPA 231. The Study included a consultation process involving stakeholder and community engagement on issues related to land use, urban design, movement and community services in the area.

This report outlines the key findings from public feedback from affected landowners and summarizes the revisions to the Site and Area Specific policies that have been incorporated since Planning and Growth Management Committee's consideration of the proposed OPA at its meeting on April 5, 2017.

This report also recommends that Council adopt the revised City-initiated Official Plan Amendment (OPA) attached to this report as Attachment 1. OPA 362 sets out a draft policy framework that unlocks underutilized lands for transit supportive development, introduces new connections, and supports the creation of a complete community.

At its meeting of April 5th, 2017 a final report was tabled at the Planning and Growth Management Committee and recommended that the draft planning framework be circulated for the public’s consideration and comment. In April 2017, Planning staff circulated notice to affected landowners to provide their input on the recommended planning framework (Official Plan Amendment 362) for the Dufferin-Wilson Regeneration Area Study no later than May 8th, 2017.

After considering and evaluating the additional comments raised by affected landowners, two amendments are proposed to the draft Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 362, found in Attachment 1 in the Planning Staff report dated May 9th, 2017. These amendments are intended to add further clarity to two proposed policies dealing with Section 4: Public Realm and Section 5: Movement.

Planning Staff are recommending that the draft OPA 362 be adopted by City Council, subject to two amendments proposed in this report.