Item - 2022.NY34.5

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council adopt Official Plan Amendment 615, Yonge Street North Secondary Plan, substantially in accordance with Attachment 1 to the report (June 27, 2022) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District, as amended by Recommendation 2 below.

2. City Council amend Attachment 1 to the report (June 27, 2022) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District as follows:

a. Amend Policy 2.5 of the draft Official Plan Amendment so that it now reads as follows:

The lands to the north of Steeles Avenue are guided by the policies of York Region and the Cities of Vaughan and Markham. The Secondary Plan has regard for the policy frameworks of the Cities of Vaughan and Markham in the context of transit-supportive development and the provision of transportation infrastructure at, and beyond, the intersection of Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue.

b. Amend the draft Official Plan Amendment by adding the following policy to Section 7 – Community Services and Facilities:

Community services and facilities should be planned to keep pace with growth with a focus on maximizing existing facilities prior to developing new and explore innovative approaches for providing the required community services and facilities including shared-uses, co-location and the integration in mixed use buildings.

c. Amend Policy 7.2(c) of the draft Secondary Plan so that it now reads as follows:

New public library branch, including partnerships and co-location opportunities with other city agencies.

d.  Amend Policy 7.2 of the draft Secondary Plan by adding the following:

"(f) Long term care facilities in partnership with Provincial agencies."

e.  Delete Policy 7.7 of the draft Secondary Plan and replace with the following:

The timing and phasing of new development shall consider the availability of appropriate school accommodation in order to provide for complete communities.

Innovative approaches for providing the required school accommodations will be explored by the school boards, including potential partnership opportunities within new development through the shared use of schools, vertical integration of schools in mixed-use buildings, and/or the co-location of multiple facilities to create community hubs.

f. Delete Policy 7.9 of the draft Secondary Plan and replace it with the following:

The school boards will monitor growth and evaluate their ability to accommodate future enrolment growth within the Secondary Plan area based on enrolment projections and utilization rates. The City will continue to circulate development applications that propose residential uses to the school boards so the school boards may confirm their ability to accommodate future enrolment growth within local schools.

3. City Council direct City staff to use the Yonge Street North Secondary Plan in the evaluation of all current and new development proposals falling within its boundaries.

4. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Official Plan Amendment, as may be required.

5. City Council authorize the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the City Solicitor to make any stylistic and/or technical changes to Official Plan Amendment 615 as may be required as a result of the Minister's decision with regards to Official Plan Amendment 570 respecting 57 Protected Major Transit Stations Areas at various lands across the City.

6. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office to engage with Metrolinx and the owner of Centerpoint Mall regarding the possible location of a bus terminal on the Centerpoint Mall lands, to address appropriate integration of a bus terminal and the subway station with the City's vision of development of these lands articulated in the Secondary Plan.

7. City Council endorse the Yonge Street North Transportation Master Plan, included as Attachment 3 to the report (June 27, 2022) from the Director, Community Planning, North York District, and direct staff to use the Yonge Street North Transportation Master Plan to advance mobility initiatives in the Secondary Plan area.

8. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to bring forward Urban Design Guidelines for the Yonge Street North Secondary Plan Area.

9. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Transportation Services to undertake an implementation strategy and explore the feasibility for the proposed street network, active transportation network, and traffic safety improvements identified in the Yonge Street North Transportation Master Plan and Yonge Street North Secondary Plan for inclusion into the Capital Program, and report back to Council with an update by the third quarter of 2023. 

10. City Council direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office, General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to engage with Metrolinx to initiate planning work for bus rapid transit along the Steeles Avenue corridor, in coordination with any City-led initiatives on the corridor.

11. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to develop an Implementation Strategy for community service facilities in the Yonge Street North area.

12. City Council direct staff, in their review of development applications in the Yonge Drewry/Cummer Node, to apply the policies of the Secondary Plan in relation to built form as if no subway station is planned at Drewry/Cummer Avenues until such time as Metrolinx has confirmed the funding and construction timeline of Cummer Station. 

The North York Community Council directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to review all verbal and written submissions on this item and to report directly to the July 19 and 20, 2022 meeting of City Council with any proposed changes.

The North York Community Council held a statutory public meeting on July 8, 2022 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report recommends the creation of a new Secondary Plan for the area surrounding Yonge Street between Steeles Avenue and Cummer/Drewry Avenues as a result of the Yonge Street North Planning Study (the "Study"). The report recommends amendments to Chapter 6 - Secondary Plans, Map 3 - Right-of-Way Widths Associated with Existing Major Streets, Map 16 - Land Use Plan, Map 35 - Secondary Plan Key Map, and Schedule 2 - The Designation of Planned but Unbuilt Roads of the Official Plan. The recommended changes are the result of extensive public and stakeholder consultations and engagement conducted throughout the course of the Study.

The recommended Yonge Street North Secondary Plan (the "Secondary Plan") and land use modifications respond to feedback from public consultation and engagement and establish a framework for the development of a complete community around the future subway station at Steeles Avenue and provides a framework for differing levels of intensification surrounding Cummer and Drewry Avenues, which is dependent on whether a future subway station is delivered at that intersection. The proposed Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 615 is appended as Attachment 1 to this report.

The proposed OPA responds to and advances the policy objectives of A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020) (the "Growth Plan"), which includes policies and definitions for complete communities, Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs), affordable housing, a high-quality and vibrant public realm, the efficient use of land, mitigating the impacts of climate change, integrating green infrastructure and low impact development, social equity and quality of life, and a well-connected network of walkable neighbourhoods and destinations that encourage active transportation. The OPA conforms with the Growth Plan and is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020).