October 1, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:Amendments to CN Tower Development Agreement - CN Tower Base Expansion, 301 Front Street (Ward 24 -
Downtown)
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to request Council approval to amend the CN Tower Development Agreement. The
Agreement must be amended to implement changes to the approved Site Plan for the CN Tower in response to a new Site
Plan Approval application.
Source of Funds:
There are no funding requirements arising from the recommendations of this report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1.The CN Tower Development Agreement registered July 14, 1997 as instrument number E09750 be amended as
follows:
(a)That the list of approved plans and drawings contained in Clause 1. be replaced with the following:
"DrawingNameDate Stamped
S1Site PlanJuly 16, 1998
SCN1CN Tower Subject LandsJuly 16, 1998
A1Level 81 PlanJuly 16, 1998
A2Level 86 PlanJuly 16, 1998
A3Level 90 PlanJuly 16, 1998
A4Level 73 PlanJuly 16, 1998
A5Level 76 PlanJuly 16, 1998
A6South ElevationJuly 16, 1998
A7SectionsJuly 16, 1998
PA-1Level 81 - PubliclyJuly 16, 1998
Accessible Open Space
PA- 3Level 86 & 90 - PubliclyJuly 16, 1998
Accessible Open Space
BBuilding Envelope LinesJuly 16, 1998
Up To Elevation 90M"
(b)That Clause 3 (e) be replaced with the following:
"(e)a revised landscape plan, including changes to accommodate the proposed connection to SkyDome and details of any
proposed mechanical vents in the publically accessible open spaces;"
(c)That Clause 3 (h) be replaced with the following:
"(h)details of the northwest corner of the Site including details of grade changes, plans at each level and weather
protection;"
(d)That the drawing references in the first paragraph of Clause 16. be replaced with the following:
"Plans No. PA-1 Level 81 Publically Accessible Open Space date stamped as received July 16, 1998 and No. PA-3 Level
90 Publically Accessible Open Space date stamped as received July 16, 1998 prepared by Bregman and Hamman
Architects and Ehrenkrantz and Eckstut Architects"
(e)that an additional term be incorporated into the Agreement whereby the owners agree not to commence construction
until such time as the conditions set out in Sections 2 and 3 of the revised Development Agreement are fulfilled and any
necessary amendments to agreements affecting the SkyDome lands are finalized.
2.The City Solicitor be authorized to prepare the necessary amendments to the Development Agreement to implement
the site plan revisions described in this report including any other amendments deemed necessary to give effect thereto.
3.Recommendations 1 and 2 be subject to receipt by the City of written confirmation from SkyDome Corporation that it
agrees with the principle of connecting the CN Tower Base Expansion to SkyDome and in particular the plans referred to
in recommendation 1.
Comments:
Background
On June 30, 1995, CN Tower Ltd. submitted an application for rezoning and site plan approval to construct a base
building at the foot of the CN Tower. A revised rezoning and site plan application by TrizecHahn, the new lessee of CN
Tower, was approved by City Council in 1997. In 1998 Phase One of the CN Tower Base Expansion was opened.
The original rezoning and site plan application by CN Tower Ltd. showed the proposed base building abutting SkyDome
creating strong physical linkages and continuous grade related connections at the John Street Corridor level. City staff
were supportive of these connections. CN Tower Ltd. was not able to reach an agreement with SkyDome at the time
about building on SkyDome lands. The application was therefore revised to pull the building away from SkyDome.
Current Proposal
Representatives of CN Tower have indicated to City staff that SkyDome now agrees with the proposal to link the base
building to SkyDome. As a result of SkyDome's support, CN Tower submitted Committee of Adjustment and Site Plan
Approval applications on July 15, 1998 to reinstate the link to SkyDome. The proposed building link to SkyDome is
shown on the attached drawings provided by the applicant.
The Committee of Adjustment application requested variances to the Zoning By-law to permit changes to the building
envelope and location of street related retail space. The variances were approved by the Committee on September 15,
1998.
Site Plan Approval and Development Agreement
City staff have completed their review of the site plan application and will, subject to Council's approval of changes to
the Development Agreement, be approving the site plan. It is important to note that at the time of Council's site plan
approval in 1997 some site plan details were not illustrated in the applicant's drawings. This was because there were a
number of details which need to be resolved as construction drawings are prepared. These outstanding details still remain
unresolved. The Development Agreement therefore sets out conditions which must be met prior to the issuance of a
building permit to allow City staff to review and approve these more detailed drawings. The conditions already included
in the agreement address matters such as accessibility, finalizing of the landscape plan and details for service and loading.
SkyDome
The revised site plan by CN Tower anticipates construction of a portion of the building on lands owned by SkyDome. As
mentioned above City staff understand that SkyDome supports this approach. It will be necessary at the time of
construction for SkyDome to enter into agreements with the City to permit this portion of the building to be built.
Conclusion
The revisions being requested by CN Tower Ltd. and TrizecHahn result in a plan which addresses planning objectives of
creating better connections between CN Tower, SkyDome and Front Street and reflects the applicant's original proposal
for this site.
Contact Name:Lynda Macdonald
Telephone: (416) 392-7618
Fax: (416) 392-1330
E-Mail: lmacdona@city.toronto.on.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Community Planning, South District
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