Item - 2019.EY6.2

Etobicoke York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council amend the former City of Etobicoke Zoning Code for the lands at 17, 25 and 75 Vickers Road substantially in accordance with the Draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment No. 7 to the report  (May 3, 2019) from the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District. .

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the Draft Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.

3.  City Council receive the report (May 17, 2019) from the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District, for information.

Etobicoke York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on May 22, 2019, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

Etobicoke York Community Council on May 22, 2019, also considered the report (May 17, 2019) from the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District, which confirms the proposal does conform with the "A Place to Grow" Plan, 2019.

This application proposes to amend the former City of Etobicoke Zoning Code and repeal Site Specific By-law No. 1082-2014 (OMB) in order 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 development would contain a total gross floor area of approximately 50,172 m2 for a refrigerated warehouse storage facility, distribution centre and administrative office uses. The application proposes vehicular access via Vickers Road and a total of 321 vehicle parking spaces (of which 9 parking spaces would be barrier free) located at-grade and within a 2-level underground parking garage. In addition, parking for 238 trailers is 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.

This application has been deemed Gold Star (enhanced service to focus development review and expedite high impact investment/job creation projects within the City). It should also be noted that this site is subject to an application under the Planning Act for Site Plan Control Approval (File Number 18 124927 WET 05 SA). An application in this regard was submitted on March 5, 2018. The submission materials have been circulated to all appropriate agencies and City Divisions and reviewed concurrently with this Zoning By-law Amendment application.

The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) and conforms with both the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2017) and the City of Toronto Official Plan.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the former

City of Etobicoke Zoning Code and repeal Site Specific By-law No. 1082-2014 (OMB).

Staff are of the opinion the proposed development is appropriate in this location.

On May 2, 2019, the Province of Ontario released A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2019 ("A Place to Grow") which amends the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2017). 

The "A Place to Grow" Plan has come into effect on May 16, 2019 and all planning decisions are required to conform with it, on or after May 16, 2019. Planning staff have reviewed the proposed development with respect to the "A Place to Grow" Plan and can advise that for this proposal, the relevant policies of the "A Place to Grow" Plan carry on the direction of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2017).

 Staff have reviewed the changes and confirm the proposal does conform with the "A Place to Grow" Plan.