Item - 2017.TE25.55

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council endorse the vision, guiding principles and action plan as identified in the report (June 8, 2017) from the Director, Community Planning Toronto and East York District  for the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood.

 
2.  City Council request the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District to bring forward any necessary Official Plan Amendments to implement the recommendations of the report (June 8, 2017) from the Director, Community Planning Toronto and East York District at a statutory public meeting in the fourth quarter of 2017.

 
3.  City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Chief Corporate Officer, to establish an interdivisional staff team to prepare an Implementation, Consultation and Funding Strategy for the long-term revitalization of the Canada Malting Silos site (5 Eireann Quay) and Marina Quay West pier as a cultural and community services hub.  The interdivisional staff team, in consultation with the local Councillor and Waterfront Toronto, will work with local stakeholders and partners including Ports Toronto and Toronto Realty Agency (successor to Build Toronto). The strategy will explore incorporating the conservation of the silo structures and related administration building (designated under the Ontario Heritage Act), a shared underground parking and transportation facility, Ireland Park, the Western Channel dockwall, a new City aquatic facility and expanded community centre spaces, and accessory uses, all within a framework of a long-term sustainable financial model. 

 
4.  City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Chief Corporate Officer, Waterfront Toronto, PortsToronto and Toronto Realty Agency (successor to Build Toronto), to report back to Toronto and East York Community Council in the fourth quarter of 2017 with an Implementation, Consultation and Funding Strategy for near term public realm and streetscape improvements related to the Canada Malting Silos site, Eireann Quay and Marina Quay.

 
5.  City Council request the Chief Corporate Officer, with the City Solicitor and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City, to report back to Toronto and East York Community Council in the fourth quarter of 2017 with an update on the terms for a lease with PortsToronto for the continued interim use of a portion of the 5 Eireann Quay lands for taxi management and parking, including terms related to cost sharing for near term public realm and streetscape improvements.

 
6.  City Council request the Chief Corporate Officer, with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division, to undertake a process to select appropriate uses and occupants for the City-owned administration building on the 5 Eireann Quay property. Future uses and occupants for the building shall be consistent with the neighbourhood plan's vision, guiding principles and action plan. 

 
7.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to advance plans and funding for an aquatic facility in the vicinity of the Canada Malting Silos site as part of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. A final report on the Facilities Master Plan is expected at Executive Committee in the fourth quarter of 2017.

This report presents the interim findings of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan Study which was initiated in 2014 at the direction of City Council.  This Central Waterfront neighbourhood is west of Spadina Avenue.  It is surrounded on three sides by water, and to the north and east are the rapidly growing Fort York and CityPlace neighbourhoods.  Bathurst Quay is a neighbourhood with a strong sense of community that has matured over the last three decades.  Housing ranges from townhouses to towers with a population that represents the full spectrum of incomes and ages.  Transit service, a variety of parks and open spaces, a community centre (Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre), two schools and a daycare round out the community.  The Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan Study focussed on completing and enhancing this community, building on this foundation and overcoming neighbourhood challenges.  The Study acknowledges the proximity to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA) immediately to the south and the challenge of balancing the needs of the airport and the community.

The Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan presents a vision, guiding principles, and actions that provide a framework for a complete community on the waterfront. These seek to ensure that the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan builds on recent improvements to the area while supporting the core principles of waterfront revitalization established through the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan.  It also provides a framework for ongoing groundside airport operations and future planning undertaken by BBTCA to align with City policies and objectives for the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood and the waterfront.

Main elements of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan include:

-  An adaptive reuse proposal for the Canada Malting Silos site and Marina Quay West including a cultural and community services hub, Ireland Park, the Western Channel dockwall, an underground parking and transportation facility, a City aquatic facility and accessory uses;

-  Improvements to neighbourhood parks, public realm spaces and streetscapes including the lands associated with the Canada Malting Silos site, and the water's edge promenade;

-  Enhanced community services and facilities, including the City aquatic facility and an improved Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre; and

-  Transportation network improvements, including; an underground parking and transportation facility, additional active transportation facilities, and improvements to roads and intersections that would enhance the efficiency of transit and traffic operations improving safety and functionality.

Fundamental to the Study has been an extensive engagement process involving residents, businesses, and other key stakeholders, in a number of visioning and working sessions including open house events, workshops and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders.  Youth engagement was also a part of this process.  Valuable ideas, input, and feedback were received from stakeholders enabling the testing and refinement of ideas, principles, and concepts. 

This report recommends further analysis of the adaptive reuse of the Canada Malting Silos site and Marina Quay West – one that would combine a cultural and community services hub, an underground parking and transportation facility, a City aquatic facility and accessory uses.  Staff are of the view that the Canada Malting Silos site is too constrained to support a large scale residential or mixed use development (considered prior to and during the study process as a means of funding heritage conservation and infrastructure).  In addition, staff are of the view, supported through community consultation, that the City should retain ownership of the Canada Malting Silos site,  and that the proposed cultural and community services hub represents good planning for the Canada Malting Silos site and adjoining public land.  The rationale for these conclusions is outlined throughout this report.  Despite these conclusions, staff  believe that there are still opportunities to source public and private sector capital and operating funding through the proposed underground parking and transportation facility, and City aquatic facility.  It is worth studying the business case for how these two uses, in combination with cultural and community services and facilities, as well as accessory uses, might attract sufficient funding to build the proposed facility and to establish a long-term sustainable operating model.  This due diligence would be done by staff of a number of City Divisions, working with Waterfront Toronto, Ports Toronto and the Toronto Realty Agency (formerly Build Toronto).  The outcome would be a subsequent report to Council with an Implementation and Funding Strategy that would address both capital and operating costs, as well as funding options.

Recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities present in the neighbourhood today, the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan includes a series of targeted near-term actions including:

-  Changes to the Canada Malting Silos site that would rationalize the PortsToronto taxi and parking management facility, and make better use of existing available open space;

-  Modest investments in area public realm spaces and streetscapes, including Eireann Quay and Stadium Road Parks North and South;

-  A needs assessment for the Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre; and

-  Transportation network improvements, building on actions implemented over the past three years by the City and PortsToronto.

The Bathurst Quay neighbourhood anchors the western end of the downtown waterfront.  This area is dominated by City-owned lands secured as part of the original Harbourfront agreements with the Federal Government.  These lands form part of a connected network of parkland south of Queen's Quay to serve this community, the growing downtown population, and the City at large.  The Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan builds on this legacy to enhance these and preserve public access to the waterfront.

This report seeks City Council's endorsement of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan and recommends that Staff report back to Toronto and East York Community Council for a statutory public hearing under the Planning Act for an Official Plan Amendment and other measures necessary to implement the findings of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Plan Study.  It also recommends that staff report back to Toronto and East York Community Council with an Implementation Strategy for near term public realm and streetscape improvements, and the potential for PortsToronto to contribute to these improvements  through their continued use of a portion of 5 Eireann Quay for interim taxi management and parking.  Two additional recommendations address the use of the administration building at the Canada Malting Silos site and planning for the proposed City aquatic facility.