Item - 2018.TE34.88

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council endorse the following principles for the Secondary Plan area, which will guide the development of the Secondary Plan and Urban Design Guidelines, as outlined in the report (June 21, 2017), from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District:

a. Protect the Secondary Plan area for predominantly institutional land uses along with ancillary uses that support the functioning of the area as an institutional district.

b. Prioritize the movement of pedestrians and cyclists. 

c. Conserve built heritage resources and cultural heritage landscapes. 

d. Enhance and expand the existing open space and public realm network.

e. Affirm that the institutional uses, collection of heritage resources and public realm network are character-defining elements of the area.

f. Ensure that the Secondary Plan area will continue to grow and evolve in a way that positively contributes to the character-defining elements of the area;

2. City Council direct the Senior Manager, Heritage Preservation Services, to report to the Toronto Preservation Board and the Toronto and East York Community Council on the possibility for inclusion on the City's Heritage Register of the potential heritage resources identified in the study area as illustrated in Attachment 7 to the report (June 21, 2018) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

3. City Council require Heritage Impact Assessments for development applications that affect existing and potential heritage properties identified on the map in Attachment 7 to the report (June 21, 2018) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

4. City Council request the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District to report on University of Toronto properties adjacent to the St. George campus and to report on the controls that are necessary to ensure conformity with existing Neighbourhood zoning.

 5. City Council request the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District  to report on mechanisms to enforce local zoning so that if/when the University acquires property in adjacent neighbourhoods that any exemptions, including uses relating to events and other activities that generally apply to universities, are not transferred with the University’s title to their off-campus neighbourhood holdings.

This report provides an update on the evaluation process and emerging directions of the application to establish a new Secondary Plan for the University of Toronto St. George Campus area. It provides information on consultation to date that has been undertaken with the University, landowners in the area, residents, students and other stakeholders, and provides an overview of community feedback. This report also includes a description of the revised submission from the University of Toronto, outlines City Planning staff's concerns with the proposal based on the priorities for the area established through the review of the application, and recommends a path forward together with the University and relevant stakeholders in the area.

The intent of this process is to implement the findings through an updated Secondary Plan and related Urban Design Guidelines for the area. The purpose of the Secondary Plan is to provide an updated policy framework that will manage change and guide new development in the area. The policies of the Secondary Plan will apply to the lands generally bounded by Bloor Street West to the north, Spadina Avenue to the west, College Street to the south and an irregular boundary generally running along Bay Street to the east.

A Final Report, Secondary Plan and Urban Design Guidelines will be prepared, and a statutory public meeting is targeted for the first quarter of 2019.