Item - 2019.PH10.1

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend Zoning By-law 438-86 in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 1 to the report (October 28, 2019) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 2 to the report (October 28, 2019) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft zoning by-law amendments as may be required.

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on November 13, 2019, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report recommends approval of City-initiated zoning by-law amendments for Priority Retail Streets for the area within the Downtown Plan boundaries shown on Attachment 3 to this report.  

The Downtown Plan (Official Plan Amendment 406) contains policies for Priority Retail Streets which updates and expands the number and locations of Priority Retail Streets to include the areas targeted for growth within the Downtown. The intent is to ensure that the frontages and grade-related uses on these streets are active, contain non-residential gross floor area and animate the street frontage through high-quality design.

The recommended zoning amendments to both the former City of Toronto Zoning By-law 438-86 and City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 implement the Downtown Plan.

The recommended zoning by-law amendments to By-law 438-86 aligns the streets where the Priority Retail Street designation applies with the additions made in the Downtown Plan, updates the list of uses considered to be street-related, and adds a new design standard pertaining to glazing. The existing design standards in By-law 438-86 are maintained. The recommended zoning by-law amendments to By-law 569-2013 would integrate the Priority Retail Street requirements into the By-law by creating a Priority Retail Street Overlay in Chapter 600.