November 24, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:H.W.O. Doyle
Subject:50 Prince Arthur Avenue - Ontario Municipal Board Hearing - Retention of Outside
Planning Advice and Further Instructions (Ward 23 - Midtown)
Purpose:
To identify an appropriate source of funds for the retention of outside planning advice and to
obtain further instructions in connection with the upcoming Ontario Municipal Board hearing.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The Ontario Municipal Board has set aside eight days to hear this matter in addition to two
prehearing days. Mr. Leon Kentridge of Kentridge Johnston Limited has been retained to
provide evidence on the City's behalf subject to the identification of an appropriate source of
funds, in accordance with Toronto City Council's instructions.
The funding implications should the hearing take the full eight days are that $26,000 plus
GST and disbursements will be required.
I am recommending that funds be made available from the City's Corporate Contingency
Account.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)funds be made available from the City's Corporate Contingency Account to pay for the
retention of outside planning advice for the Ontario Municipal Board hearing respecting 50
Prince Arthur Avenue, as set forth in the City Solicitor's report of November 24, 1998; and
(2)the City Solicitor be instructed to appear at the Ontario Municipal Board in support of both
the Committee of Adjustment's decision to refuse the consent application (No. A861-97) and
the Council's decision of July, 29, 30 and 31, 1998 to refuse the application to remove the
trees situated at 50 Prince Arthur Avenue, together with such other staff as may be
appropriate.
Council Reference/Background/History:
At its meeting of July 29, 30 and 31, 1998, the Council of the City of Toronto gave
consideration to Clause No. 7 contained in Report No. 10 of the Toronto Community Council
and recommended refusal of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments, site plan
application, and the application to remove trees for 50 Prince Arthur Avenue. In addition,
Council instructed the City Solicitor to appear at the Ontario Municipal Board hearing in
support of the refusal of these applications and to uphold the Committee of Adjustment
decision refusing the requested variances and authorized the retention of outside planning
advice subject to a further report to Council identifying an appropriate source of funds.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
This report is in accordance with City Council's instructions at its meeting of July 29, 30 and
31, 1998. A prehearing was held by the Ontario Municipal Board on November 2, 1998. A
further prehearing will be held on December 7, 1998. The hearing in this matter is scheduled
to commence February 15, 1999 and as stated above, the Board has set aside eight days.
In addition to the matters previously reported on, in furtherance of the proposed development
of the subject site the applicant has since applied to the Committee of Adjustment for consent
to sever. This application was refused and the applicant has now appealed this decision. This
appeal will be consolidated with the other matters before the Board at the upcoming hearing.
Accordingly, Recommendation (2) above includes the requisite instruction to oppose such
appeal..
Previously City Council refused the application to remove trees at this site. The applicant
failed to appeal this decision through an apparent oversight and accordingly Council has
todate not provided instructions with respect to this aspect of the hearing. The applicant has
refiled their application and it was agreed at the prehearing that no further processing would
occur and that the applicant's appeal of Council's refusal would be consolidated with the
hearing of the other related planning matters. Recommendation (2) above includes the
requisite instruction for me to support Council's decision in this regard.
Contact Name:Sharon Haniford, Solicitor
Telephone: 392-6975
Fax: 392-0024
E-mail: shanifor@city.toronto.on.ca
H.W.O. Doyle
City Solicitor