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City of Toronto Council and Committees |
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All Council and Committee documents are available from the City of Toronto Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca.
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February 5, 1998
To: The Chairman and Members of the North York Community Council
From: Joe Halstead
Commissioner
Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: Parkland Acquisition - North York Community
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is twofold:
1)As directed by the previous North York Council, this report is to inform members of the North York Community Council of the results of Phase I of the Parkland Acquisition Program conducted in the former City of North York during 1997; and
2) To seek Council =s authority through the Capital Budget Process, to continue with Phase II of the same Program, as previously approved by North York Council, which could not be completed prior to the creation of the new City of Toronto on January 2, 1998.
Source of Funds:
The source of funding is the Parkland Acquisition Reserve Fund. This fund is used to acquire parkland and accumulates on an ongoing basis from the 2%-5% cash-in-lieu of parkland imposed by Council, as authorized through Section 42 (6) of the Planning Act, RSO 1990, c. P.13. Approximately $4.7 million was spent in 1997 on Phase I of the Acquisition Program leaving a balance of approximately $3.2 million in the Fund, specifically collected from North York projects.
Recommendations:
The following is recommended:
(a) That the properties listed hereafter, which have been purchased for parks purposes, be received for information;
(b) That the North York Community Council recommend the inclusion of $2.6 million in the 1998 Capital Budget for the completion of Phase II of the Parkland Acquisition Program, to purchase parkland in park deficient areas primarily in the City Centre area, as previously approved by North York Council. This amount is to be financed by the existing Parkland Acquisition Reserve Fund.
Background:
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan (January 1995) for the former City of North York, concluded that six of the City =s ten Parks Planning Areas (PPA) and thirty-five of the fifty-seven Residential Communities (RC) were deficient in parkland. This assessment was based on an analysis of three factors: the population of the PPA or RC; the Official Plan provision rate of one hectare of parkland per 1,000 population; and the current supply of parkland in the City.
A subsequent report to North York Council, the Parkland Acquisition Strategy (December 1996), was prepared in response to the preceding conclusions of the Master Plan. It contained a detailed analysis of the PPA =s and RC=s and recommended options to alleviate or overcome parkland deficiencies.
Consequently, through Clause 1 of Management Committee Report No. 8A, Confidential, Dated April 2, 1997, Adopted by Council on April 2, 1997 by Resolution No. 97-08 (Phase I), City staff were directed to pursue the acquisition of land for public park purposes utilizing the Parkland Acquisition Reserve Fund and to subsequently report back on the specific properties recommended for acquisition.
Subsequently, through Management Report No. 21A, Confidential, Dated October 6, 1997, Adopted by Council on October 6, 1997 by Resolution No. 97-17, the former North York Council authorized the acquisition of Phase I properties for which Offers to Sell had been secured with the owners.
Purpose 1) - Results of Parkland Acquisition Phase I:
In keeping with the direction from the former North York Council and particularly for the information of North York Community Councillors, we are pleased to report that in Phase I of our Parkland Acquisition Program, we were successful in acquiring 14 properties out of an original target list of 27 different sites across the former City of North York. These acquisitions have added 1.3 ha./3.2 ac. to the North York parkland supply.
Although there is considerable variance in the terms of the final agreements with each of the previous owners, all properties except three, are scheduled for demolition and restoration of the properties to a safe environment during 1998. Funds for development as actual useable parkland will be included in the 1998 Capital Budget. More detail regarding the specific purchases is contained in the following chart:
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WARD 10 - NORTH YORK CENTRE - PROPERTIES ACQUIRED |
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99 Ellerslie Avenue |
Acquisition of the Ellerslie properties will allow for substantial expansion of Dempsey Park providing a westerly core of open space serving the parkland deficient North York City Centre and surrounding communities.
The acquisition of the Ellerslie properties (.879 ha) reduces the Sheppard PPA deficiency from (13.54 ha) to (12.66 ha). Similarly, the West Willowdale RC surplus increases from 2.12 ha to 2.99 ha. |
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103 Ellerslie Avenue |
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107 Ellerslie Avenue |
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113 Ellerslie Avenue |
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115 Ellerslie Avenue |
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117 Ellerslie Avenue |
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121 Ellerslie Avenue |
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29 Lorriane Drive |
Acquisition of this property, coupled with the acquisition of adjacent properties through development parkland conveyance, will provide a green node just east of the proposed service road abutting the northerly limits of St. Cyril School.
It is adjacent to at least two future high density residential developments, so it will provide much needed open space. Furthermore, it will help to offset open space lost from the St. Cyril School site for the Service Road
The acquisition of the Lorraine property (.070 ha) further reduces the deficiency of the Sheppard PPA to (12.59 ha) and further increases the West Willowdale RC surplus to 3.06 ha. |
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52 Hillcrest Avenue |
Acquisition of the Hillcrest property begins the establishment of a northern anchor for Willowdale Park and an easterly core of open space serving the City Centre and surrounding communities.
The acquisition of this Hillcrest property (.097 ha) further reduces the deficiency of the Sheppard PPA to (12.49 ha) and also reduces the East Willowdale RC deficiency from (2.69 ha) to (2.59 ha).
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WARD 11 - DON PARKWAY - PROPERTIES ACQUIRED |
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23 Castlegrove Boulevard |
Acquisition of these properties will allow for the incorporation of much needed parking to serve Broadlands Park and the adjacent Community Centre.
The acquisition of the Castlegrove properties (.123 ha) increases the Don Valley PPA surplus from 17.28 ha to 17.40 ha and increases the Parkwoods RC surplus from 9.30 ha to 9.42 ha.
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25 Castlegrove Boulevard |
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WARD 6 - NORTH YORK HUMBER - PROPERTIES ACQUIRED |
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109 Harding Avenue |
Acquisition of these properties will allow for expansion of Harding Park and increase exposure and access to the park from the northerly side. Future developments in the area will benefit from this expansion.
The acquisition of the Harding properties (.085 ha) increases the surplus of the Lawrence West PPA from 5.47 ha to 5.55 ha but decreases the deficiency in the Brookhaven RC from (7.10 ha) to ( 7.01 ha).
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113 Harding Avenue |
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WARD 9 - NORTH YORK CENTRE SOUTH - PROPERTIES ACQUIRED |
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736 Woburn Avenue |
As the City already owns 734 Woburn, acquisition of this property moves us one step closer to the opportunity to expand Woburn Park. Meetings have already been held with area residents regarding parks and recreation amenities required in the area.
The acquisition of the Woburn property (.045 ha) increases the surplus in the Bathurst South PPA from 1.31 ha to 1.36 ha but decreases the Bedford Park deficiency from (8.66 ha) to (8.62 ha).
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Purpose 2) - Continuation of Parkland Acquisition Phase II:
At the conclusion of Phase I, through Management Report No. 21A, Confidential, Dated October 6, 1997, Adopted by Council on October 6, 1997 by Resolution No. 97-17, the former North York Council directed staff as follows:
a) the confidential joint report (October 1, 1997) from the City Administrator, the Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Deputy Treasurer and the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation be adopted;
- the Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Deputy Treasurer and the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation
i) continue to pursue the acquisition of parkland in the City Centre area,
ii) continue to give consideration to "confidential property x" and staff be authorized to negotiate in the context of what else might be available for the same money; and
iii) be authorized to purchase lands within 10% of the appraised value;
- once the Offers to Sell have been confirmed, that the Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Deputy Treasurer and the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation notify Members of Council.
Therefore, in keeping with Council direction, Phase II of the Acquisition Program commenced in October 1997. In brief, 12 strategic properties in the City Centre area were targeted for potential acquisition in this Phase. Staff proceeded in accord with Council direction, however, the program could not be completed by year end, within the fiscal guidelines imposed by Council's delegated authority. As a result, staff authority expired before a number of transactions could be completed. It is for this reason that we seek authority to continue with the program, subject to the approval of the 1998 Capital Budget.
In addition, in due course of working through Phase II of the acquisition process, two additional properties were identified, which would significantly augment purchases already made in Phase I. These two properties were not in "the City Centre area" and therefore not within the authority previously granted to staff by the former North York Council. Acquisition of these two properties however, is key to the Department's intended development of the adjacent two parks.
Conclusions:
The Parks and Recreation Department was very successful in adding key parkland to the City's inventory with the completion of Phase I of the Acquisition Program. Completion of Phase II will add significantly to our previous success, primarily in North York's core and the deficient East Willowdale RC (2.59 ha), and allow comprehensive development of the two parks in question which are outside of the City Centre area.
Contact Name:
Gary W. Stoner
Deputy Commissioner
Parks and Recreation
Tel: 395-6190 Fax: 395-0105
E-mail: gwstoner@north-york.on.ca
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________
Joe Halstead
Commissioner
Parks and Recreation
North York
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Please note that council and committee documents are provided electronically for information only and do not retain the exact structure of the original versions. For example, charts, images and tables may be difficult to read. As such, readers should verify information before acting on it. All council documents are available from the City Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca. |
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