Item - 2018.NY32.19

North York Community Council:

1. Endorsed the directions in Attachment 5 to the report (June 15, 2018) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District and the Director, Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Analysis and concept in Attachment 6 to the report (June 15, 2018) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District and the Director, Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Analysis as a basis to develop a draft Secondary Plan.

2. Requested City Planning staff to consult with the public on the draft Secondary Plan in the fourth quarter of 2018.

3. Directed City Planning to report back with a recommended Secondary Plan in the second quarter of 2019 and hold a Statutory Public Meeting.

4. Directed City Planning staff to utilize the directions in Attachment 5 to the report (June 15, 2018) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District and the Director, Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Analysis and preferred concept in Attachment 6 to the report (June 15, 2018) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District and the Director, Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Analysis in the review of development applications in the Study Area.

5. Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report on the following matters in the final report for the Keele Finch Plus study:

a. including requirements for direct connections from development into the Finch West Subway Station and future LRT stations in consultation with Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission;

b. providing for a PATH-like system to connect new development underground; and

c. including a non-vehicular connection oriented generally on a north-south axis to the east of Fountainhead Park in place of the street connection shown in the concept.

The Keele Finch Plus Study is about encouraging growth, place-making and community building around transit infrastructure in northwest Toronto. The Study is a comprehensive planning exercise for the area centred around the Keele Street and Finch Avenue West intersection, which will result in an updated planning framework for the area. The Finch West subway station opened in December 2017. Metrolinx anticipates construction to begin on the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) later in 2018, with completion in 2023.

Phase 1 (Study Initiation) was reported to Council in December 2016. Phase 1 consisted of taking stock of the area through research, technical assessments and public input to guide the Study. This report focusses on Phase 2 (Plans and Analysis) of the Study, which consists of two sub-phases: Developing Options and Selecting a Preferred Concept.

The options were developed based on the outcomes of Phase 1, input from transportation planning and urban design consultants, as well as through public and stakeholder input obtained through various engagement activities, including an open house and public workshop in March 2017. Principles developed through this process informed the development of the options. The principles are included in Attachment 4.

The options were developed to outline various ways that development could be shaped to respond to the emerging issues identified in Phase 1, with the intent to create a preferred concept based on the merits of each option.

Three options were developed to demonstrate how the Keele Street and Finch Avenue West area could grow and change in the future. Each option was based on these principles and a public realm concept plan. The public realm concept plan was developed to improve the transportation connections to area assets (e.g. transit stations and stops, and the Black Creek Valley), provide a wider variety of public spaces, and ensure walkable development blocks. The options included:

- Option 1 ‘The Stations’ which concentrated intense development near transit stations or stops;

- Option 2 ‘Nodes and Corridors’ which built on the growth nodes in Option 1 at a lesser intensity and introduced a series of development corridors along Keele Street and Finch Avenue West; and

- Option 3 ‘Main Streets’ which included an area-wide transformation with the most intense development and a goal of creating an area with sufficient density to support a series of retail main streets.

The three options were presented and discussed with the public and stakeholders at an open house and public workshop in September 2017 as well as at other events and meetings with stakeholders. Attachment 3 provides a summary of public engagement activities in Phase 2.

The three options were evaluated against the principles and criteria developed in Phase 1. Option 1 was least preferred by the public and also performed poorly from a transportation perspective. The resulting preferred concept combines aspects of options 2 and 3, along with additional modifications that respond to technical evaluation and public input.

This report presents the preferred concept, outlines directions to be incorporated into a draft Secondary Plan and recommends that additional public consultation be undertaken on the draft Secondary Plan leading to a final report.