Item - 2022.TE31.47

The Toronto and East York Community Council directed:

1. Staff schedule a community consultation meeting for the lands pertaining to 64-66 Wellesley Street East and 552-570 Church Street, which includes the provision of accessibility resources including closed captioning and, upon request, sign language interpretation at the sole cost of the applicant, in consultation with the Ward Councillor. The meeting notice should clearly articulate who community members should contact to access these resources.

2. Notice for the community consultation meeting be given to landowners and residents within 120 metres of the application site, and to additional residents, institutions and owners to be determined in consultation with the Ward Councillor, with any additional mailing costs to be borne by the applicant.

3. Direct the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District and the applicant, in consultation with City Planning, Economic Development, and any other necessary City officials, to create a working group including the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association, Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area, other local 2SLGBTQ+ community stakeholders and the Ward Councillor as part of the Development Application review process to preserve culturally significant commercial and community space prior to the following:

a. any final approval or decision of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment;

b. any issuance of Final Site Plan Approval pursuant to Section 114 of the City of Toronto Act; and

c. any acceptance or approval of the construction and traffic management plan, landscape and public realm plans, building materials, lighting and any other issues identified by the working group.

This report provides information and identifies a preliminary set of issues regarding the Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendment and Rental Housing Demolition applications for 64-66 Wellesley Street East and 552-570 Church Street. The applications propose to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law and demolish 65 rental dwelling units to permit the redevelopment of the site with 7- and 28-storey mixed-use buildings. The proposal includes a total of 369 dwelling units, of which 76 are rental units (65 rental replacement), and 884 square metres of retail space. Portions of the façade of the existing apartment building at 64 Wellesley Street East are proposed to be retained in situ or reconstructed. 

The application has been circulated to all appropriate agencies and City divisions for comment. City Planning staff will proceed to schedule a community consultation meeting for the application, in consultation with the Ward Councillor. Staff note that the application is not supportable in its current form.