Item - 2021.TE26.87

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council request relevant City staff to obtain from the current property owner of 1467 Bathurst Street (the site), the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), and all relevant third parties (including without limitation past site owners and operators) all information in support of the Record of Site Condition filing for the site that Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) is reviewing and that such information be publicly disclosed where permitted.

2. City Council request that relevant City staff make available for public disclosure any report prepared following a peer review undertaken for the City in relation to the parkland dedication required for 1467 Bathurst Street.

3. City Council request that the Chief Building Official, Toronto Buildings not issue any conditional building permits that authorize construction, other than works required for environmental site remediation, at 1467 Bathurst Street (the site) prior to a Record of Site Condition for the site is acknowledged by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

It has been exactly a year since City Council approved the zoning amendment for 1467 Bathurst Street (By-law 648-2020). As part of that approval, I requested an implementation and status review of the 2001 Council-approved remediation that was to happen on the site. I did that because many in my community had shared concerns in regards to historic contamination on this site, which was the home to a gas station, auto repair, and carwash. There was concern over potential impacts if dug up for construction that this may have on the Wells Hill Park and Nordheimer Ravine to the south, as well as the future on-site parkland that we had secured as part of the zoning approval.

Given that City staff have advised that the environmental assessment is within provincial jurisdiction, it has been difficult for the community to get answers to their concerns via the municipally-run development review process. I have been working closely with City Legal, Engineering and Construction Services (ECS) and City Planning to provide as much information and support as possible to the community with getting answers. With many questions still unanswered, I'm submitting this motion to ask for all relevant information relating to the contamination and remediation efforts to be made public. I am also asking for the Chief Building Officer not to issue any building-related permits until the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has confirmed the safety on-site via the Record of Site Condition.

City Legal, ECS and City Planning have been consulted and have helped with the wording of the motion.