Item - 2018.EY31.11

Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council direct City staff to continue to negotiate with the applicant to resolve the outstanding issues detailed in the report (May 14, 2018) from the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District.

2.  City Council direct the City Solicitor, and appropriate City staff, to attend and to oppose the application in its current form should the application be appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) on the basis of City Council's failure  to make a decision on the application within the statutory time frame of the Planning Act.

3.  City Council direct City staff to schedule a community consultation meeting for the lands at 17, 25 and 75 Vickers Road together with the Ward Councillor.

4.  City Council direct that Notice for the community consultation meeting be given to landowners and residents within 120 metres of the site.

5.  City Council direct that Notice for the statutory public meeting under the Planning Act be given according to the regulations of the Planning Act.

This report provides preliminary information and an early opportunity to raise issues for follow-up with regard to the subject application. It seeks City Council's direction on the community consultation process and indicates the expected timing for a Final Report to City Council. The application has been circulated to all appropriate agencies and City divisions for comment and a staff review of the application is underway.

The Zoning By-law Amendment and removal of the “H” Holding Symbol application proposes to amend the former City of Etobicoke Zoning Code and Site Specific By-law No. 1082-2014 (OMB) to replace and expand the existing Metro Inc. distribution centre at 25 Vickers Road with a new warehouse distribution centre at 17, 25 and 75 Vickers Road. The new one storey warehouse distribution centre would include a mezzanine level and have a total height of 25 m. The development would contain 48,053 m² of floor area for a refrigerated storage facility and distribution centre and 1,882 m² of floor area for administrative office uses. The total gross floor area proposed is 49,935 m². The application proposes vehicular access via Vickers Road, 321 total vehicle parking spaces and a 3 storey above grade parking structure located at the southwest corner of the site. Parking for 245 trailers is also proposed around the periphery of the site.

Two phases of development are proposed to allow for continuous business operations. The three existing industrial buildings on the site would be progressively demolished through each phase of the construction process. The proposed new facility would accommodate approximately 600 employees once fully operational.

The applicant requested a pre-application consultation meeting for assistance in defining the requirements for application submission. Staff held the meeting with the applicant on May 17, 2017.

The application was submitted on March 5, 2018. A notice of complete application has not been issued with regard to the application as the applicant has yet to submit the required Stage 1 Archaeological Resource Assessment. This Request for Interim Directions Report has been prepared as all other complete application requirements were submitted with the application and the application has been deemed Gold Star (enhanced service to focus development review and expedite high impact investment/job creation projects within the City).

A community consultation meeting is anticipated to be held in the second or third quarter of 2018. A Final Report will be submitted for City Council's consideration following community consultation, the resolution of outstanding issues related to this application and the holding of a statutory Public Meeting under the Planning Act. The target timeline for the Final Report is anticipated to be in the first quarter of 2019.

City Planning staff have identified concerns with the proposal described in this report with respect to built form, siting of the proposed building, access and compliance with applicable area specific Policies. These issues and all additional matters that arise through the development review process will need to be addressed prior to submission of the Final Report to City Council. While staff will continue to work with the applicant to address the issues noted above, since it is an election year, it is recommended that City Council direct the City Solicitor and appropriate City staff to attend and oppose the application in its current form should the application be appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) on the basis of Council's failure to make a decision on the application within the statutory time frame of the Planning Act.