March 13, 1998
To:North York Community Council
From:Bryan Tuckey
Acting Commissioner of Planning
Subject:PRELIMINARY REPORT
Official Plan and Zoning Amendment Application
Rowland Lincoln Mercury
Southwest Corner of Eglinton Avenue East and Jonesville Crescent
Ward 11 - Don Parkway
UDOZ-98-03
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to describe the issues that arise from an application that has been submitted for lands located
within the Ontario Hydro corridor on the southwest corner of Eglinton Avenue East and Jonesville Crescent (Schedule A).
The application proposes Official Plan and zoning by-law amendments in order to permit the immediate construction of an
automobile dealership and the future construction of a restaurant.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that the application be referred to the Planning Department to be reviewed as discussed in this report
and processed in the following manner:
(a)staff, in consultation with the local Councillors, schedule a Community Consultation Meeting; and,
(b)staff prepare a final report evaluating the proposal and provide notice of the Statutory Public Meeting at the
appropriate time.
Background:
Proposal:
The application proposes Official Plan and zoning by-law amendments in order to permit the immediate construction of an
automobile dealership and the future construction of a restaurant, as shown on Schedule C. Ontario Hydro will retain
ownership of the site, leasing it to Rowland Lincoln Mercury which would relocate to the site from its present location at
1800 O=Connor Drive. A future car compound area for the automobile dealership and a driveway access from Jonesville
Crescent for the restaurant are also proposed and shown on Schedule C. The pertinent statistics are as follows:
| Site Statistics |
| |
Auto Dealership |
Restaurant |
Total |
| Land Area |
4.1 acres (including a 1.1
acre car compound area) |
1.7 acres |
5.8 acres |
| Gross Floor Area |
1,861 sq.m. |
280 sq.m. |
2,141 sq.m. |
| Density |
0.1 FSI |
0.04 FSI |
0.1 FSI |
Official Plan:
Public Utility (PUT) which permits utility and outdoor recreational uses (Schedule A).
Zoning:
Semi-public Open Space (O3) which permits public uses (Schedule B).
Discussion:
(1)Issues:
The following sections describe the issues that will be considered as part of the planning review of the proposal.
(a)Land Use:
The proposal to construct the automobile dealership and restaurant along the Eglinton Avenue portion of the Gatineau
hydro corridor illustrates how Ontario Hydro have been investigating opportunities to make better use of its hydro
corridors. Hydro corridors offer an opportunity to achieve uninterrupted outdoor linkages and may be able to accommodate
limited development provided it is compatible with adjacent land uses.
In principle, the proposal appears to be capable of achieving these opportunities given that the lands have an arterial road
frontage and are situated in an area where a mix of uses cohabitate: light industrial, live-work, retail-commercial and low
scale residential uses. The introduction of the dealership and restaurant uses along Eglinton Avenue is logical and should
integrate in a compatible manner with the existing mix of surrounding land uses.
To enhance opportunities for uninterrupted outdoor linkages through the hydro corridor, consideration should be given to
achieving an open space link through the lands (i.e., 10m wide bicycle/landscape trail). This is consistent with the railway
and hydro corridor trail study the City has undertaken which includes these lands within the inventory of potential trail
sections.
(b)Transportation and Access:
A traffic analysis is necessary in order to evaluate the appropriateness of the proposed access points and the suitability of
the surrounding road network to accommodate the anticipated traffic that will be generated by the proposal.
(c)Environment:
The suitability of the soil conditions, health and safety issues relating to the electricity transmission function will form part
of the planning review of the proposal.
(d)Urban Design:
The automobile dealership building is located generally in the centre of the site. While details for the restaurant have not
yet been submitted, the relationship of all proposed and existing buildings will be reviewed in order to ensure that the
resulting zoning performance standards achieve a high quality of urban design. Consideration should be given to achieving
a building design that enhances the definition of the Eglinton Avenue frontage and minimizes the visibility of parking areas
from adjacent streets.
(3)City Wide Issues:
None.
Conclusions:
The proposal to permit the construction of an automobile dealership and restaurant within the hydro corridor raises some
open space linkage, servicing and urban design issues which will be evaluated as part of the planning review.
Contact Name:
Franco Romano, Senior Planner
Phone: 395-7119Fax: 395-7155
Bryan Tuckey
Acting Commissioner of Planning
Schedules:
A. Official Plan designations.
B. Zoning By-law categories.
C. Site Plan.
