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In June, Toronto City Council moved on a number of planning recommendations previously tabled at Community Councils and various City committees. 16 projects were acted on, receiving Official Plan or Zoning Bylaw amendments, or failing to.
Etobicoke-York
A rezoning application for an assembly of properties at 1629-1633 The Queensway just east of The East Mall has been approved for the development of a two-storey Mercedes-Benz dealership. The project will require the demolition of three commercial buildings currently on site.
Southwest of where The East Mall crosses under Dundas Street West, a rezoning application has been approved for the expansion of a Metro Grocery Distribution Centre on Vickers Road. Here, the existing facility will be demolished, and replaced with a new one that assembles the properties to the north and south, and doubles the floor plate.
North York
Near Lawrence West station, Larendale Group of Companies have gained both Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning approvals to construct 10 three-storey townhomes. Two blocks of five Icon Architects-designed units will replace the 3 single-family homes immediately south of the intersection of Wenderly Drive and Marlee Avenue. The Official Plan amendment is notable here because it allows higher density construction in an area dominated by single family dwellings.
At 1202 Avenue Road is a site that will soon be home to a 7 unit, 3 storey townhouse building, now that zoning approvals have been attained. Located at the intersection of Avenue Rd and Hillhurst Blvd, construction of the Peter Higgins-designed project will see the demolition of two homes housing 4 rental units.
Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning Approvals have also been given to Nahid on Sheppard, where two detached dwellings—operating as offices—will be demolished to make way for a 7-storey building with 30 residential units and 53 m² of retail. Approvals were given after the office of the Chief Planner negotiated small amendments to the North York Community Council-recommended plan.
At 101 Gordon Baker Road, near the McNicoll Avenue bridge over Highway 404, a plan for a 6 building self-storage facility has gained rezoning approval. The buildings range from 1 to 5 storeys in height.
Scarborough
An 8-structure retail plaza anchored by a gas station and car wash has received zoning approval. Located at the intersection of Morningside Ave and Finch Ave E, the plaza is bound by the CP rail corridor to the south.
Madison Group's 21-tower mixed use proposal at 1920 Eglinton Ave East on the northwest corner with Warden Avenue has inched slightly closer to reality. Council determined that a specific Avenue Segment Study was not necessary for this development because it is already being studied within the Golden Mile Secondary Plan. This is in no way an approval, this simply streamlines the planning process for the massive redevelopment proposal.
Toronto-East York
On Eglinton in Midtown is our first refusal of the meeting. Council voted to send City Staff to oppose bcIMC and Quadreal Property Group's 30 Merton Street proposal at the LPAT. The 37-storey Sweeny & Co. Architects-designed building was proposed with 304 residential units. Th developers could decide to press on with the proposal as is at the LPAT, or could resubmit a proposal closer to what the City is looking for.
In the West End, Block Developments has achieved a milestone working towards the construction of a four storey, 30-unit condo building at 406 Keele Street. Dubbed The Stockton, the RAW-designed building will be located just north of The Junction intersection of Keele and Dundas streets. Council moved to have City Planning staff appear in support of the application at an upcoming LPAT hearing.
An 8 Storey mid-rise at 871-899 College St between Ossington Avenue and Dovercourt Road has received Zoning and Rental Housing Demolition approvals. Developed by Clifton Blake, the Studio JCI-designed mid-rise will contain 131 residential dwelling units and 1,746 m² of retail at grade. The 13 rental apartments currently located on-site will be replaced in the new building.
A city-initiated Rezoning application was approved for a rear addition to a 4 storey building at 348 Davenport. Nearby, Tribute Communities' 210 Bloor West, a 29-storey thin slab tower wedged where a single storey retail building currently resides, has had its Zoning Bylaw Amendment application refused by the City. City Planning felt that the project itself had some core planning issues, including that servicing and stormwater management did not meet engineering guidelines, and that Section 37 contributions were unsatisfactory.
At the southern end of the downtown core, Empire Communities' Maverick, located right next to King Blue Condominiums in the Entertainment District, has received approval for further Zoning Bylaw Amendments, and Rental Housing Demolition. Staff will be sent to the LPAT to support the development, a 49-storey tower with 318 condo units and 10 rental replacement units.
Marwest Group's 2018 proposal for a 42-storey Kirkor Architects-designed addition above an existing 19-storey office building at 415 Yonge Street has been controversial from the outset. City staff will be sent to oppose its rezoning application at the LPAT.
A block southwest of that proposal, the also controversial 8 Elm project is now being embraced by the City due to revisions in its proposed built form. The rezoning application for the 67-storey IBI Group-designed tower will be supported by City Staff at the LPAT. The City has also reached an agreement that the developer pay $7,000,000 in Section 37 funds, and that 348-350 Yonge Street be listed on the City's heritage register; its facade will be preserved.
Stay tuned, as many of these projects will head further in the development process with Site Plan Approval applications in the coming months. Until then, check out the database files and Forum threads for any one of these projects to learn more.
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