To: Corporate Services Committee

From: Commissioner of Corporate Services

Subject: APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL TO EXPROPRIATE INTEREST IN LAND FOR A REPLACEMENT BUS GARAGE

OWNER: NOBLE CHERRY DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED

ADDRESS: 22 COMMERCIAL ROAD, EAST YORK, ONTARIO

EAST YORK WARD - WARD 1

Purpose:

To authorize the initiation of expropriation of property located at 22 Commercial Road, East York for the purpose of providing a site for a bus garage replacement.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Financing has previously been approved by Council and is available in Capital Account No. TC380Z10380.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) authority be granted to initiate expropriation of property as detailed herein and to apply for Approval to Expropriate;

(3) the appropriate City of Toronto officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The Toronto Transit Commission as part of the Approved 1997-2001 Capital Works Program, identified the need to provide a new bus garage, Project No. 380 bus garage replacement. The proposed facility to replace the existing Eglinton bus garage located in the vicinity of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue and the Danforth garage facility located in the vicinity of Danforth Avenue and Coxwell Avenue. Both of these existing facilities are in a deteriorating condition and it is cost effective to replace these facilities with a new central bus garage.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Following an extensive technical review, the Toronto Transit Commission has determined that the bus garage replacement facility will need to accommodate 250 buses together with garage and ancillary facilities. The land required for the combined facilities has been determined to be a 14 acre rectangular site.

The most desirable and cost effective area to locate the new facility is in the industrial area of the former Borough of East York located south of Eglinton Avenue and east of Laird Drive. It has been determined that the only acceptable potential site is the easterly 14 acres of a property located at 147 Laird Drive. This property meets all of the site selection criteria established by the TTC.

The lands and interests to be expropriated are identified on the sketch attached to this report and the property particulars are as follows:

Owner: Noble Cherry Developments Limited

Municipal Address: 22 Commercial Road, East York

Legal Description: Part of Lot 14, Concession 3 FB; Part of Lots 58-71 and Part of Parkhurst Boulevard, Plan 697; and Part of Block 1 Plan 2510. Property is identified as Parts 1-3 on Plan of Survey 64R-8954.

Land Area: Approximately 28.717 acres (11.6209 hectares)

Zoning: The property is zoned M-1 and M-2 industrial according to the East York Zoning By-Law. The Borough of East York has rezoned the site retail warehouse to permit retail uses. This rezoning has been appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Comment: This property was the former Canada Wire and Cable property and originally improved with a large industrial building. A portion of the industrial improvements fronting on Laird Drive have been demolished.

Interest to be Expropriated: Fee simple interest together with an adjacent building demolition easement.

Area to be Expropriated: 14 acres

Conclusions:

The commencement of expropriation procedures for the acquisition of the easterly 14 acres of the above referenced property are required to ensure that possession of the bus garage replacement site is available for the 1999 construction season. Negotiations with the owner have been problematic to date but will be pursued as the expropriation proceeds.

Contact Name:

Douglas F. Warning

Acting Director of Real Estate (392-8165)

COMMISSIONER, CORPORATE SERVICES

WRD/vp