Item - 2021.TE25.32

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the closure of the north sidewalk and a 2.3-metre-wide portion of the eastbound curb lane on Wellesley Street West, between Bistro Lane and St. Nicholas Street, and provision of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the eastbound curb lane from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

2. City Council authorize the closure of all of St. Nicholas Street, between Wellesley Street West and a point 43 metres north, from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

3.City Council rescind the existing designated cycle track on the north side of Wellesley Street West, between Yonge Street and a point 20 metres west of St. Nicholas Street.

4.  City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the both sides of St. Nicholas Street, between Wellesley Street West and Phipps Street.

5. City Council direct the applicant to ensure that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkways have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

6. City Council direct the applicant to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local business improvement areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

7. City Council direct the applicant to install appropriate signage and converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

8. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

9. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

10. City Council direct the applicant to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

11. City Council direct the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

12. City Council direct the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor.

13. City Council direct the applicant to establish a construction management working group that meets monthly and invite local stakeholders including Transportation Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Toronto Buildings, adjacent neighbours and businesses, the Bay Cloverhill Community Association, and local resident groups.
  

14. City Council direct that Wellesley Street West and St. Nicholas Street be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Wellesley Street West, City Council approval of this report is required. In addition, this report proposes the temporarily removal of the cycle track on the north side of Wellesley Street West abutting the development.  Based on these conditions, this matter requires final approval by City Council.

Wellesley Street Nickolas Residences Limited Partnership is constructing a 55-storey residential development building at 6-16 Wellesley Street West and 5-7 St. Nicholas Street. The site is located on the north side of Wellesley Street West, west of Yonge Street between Bistro Lane and St. Nickolas Street.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to close the north sidewalk and a 2.3-metre-wide portion of the eastbound curb lane/cycle track on Wellesley Street West, between Bistro Lane and St. Nickolas Street for a period of 54 months (i.e., July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025) to accommodate a construction staging area.  In addition, Transportation Services is requesting authorization to close St. Nickolas Street in its entirety, between Wellesley Street West and a point 43 metres north for a period of 54 months (i.e., July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025) to accommodate a construction staging area.

The construction staging area on Wellesley Street West will result in the loss of one eastbound traffic lane that is currently designated as a cycle track. Wellesley Street West, in the immediate vicinity of the site, will continue to operate with one eastbound lane and one westbound lane. The cycle track on the north side will be removed, so cyclists and motorists will travel single file.  Signs indicating "Shared Use Lane Single File" will be installed to reflect this.  Pedestrian movements on the north side of Wellesley Street West will be maintained in a covered and protected walkway within the closed portion of the eastbound lane.
  

The construction staging area on St. Nicholas Street will require a full closure of St. Nicholas Street abutting the site. Currently there are no pedestrian facilities located on the east side of St. Nicholas Street.  Pedestrians will be accommodated on the west side of the street within the existing sidewalk in its current configuration.