7.PRELIMINARY REPORT ON REZONING APPLICATION FOR

15 ROBINA AVENUE, WARD 28, YORK-EGLINTON.

Commissioner of Development Services, York Civic Service Centre

(May 14, 1998)

 Purpose:

This report is submitted to provide information on the rezoning application and indicate a preliminary list of issues which must be addressed prior to the final report.

 Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not Applicable

Recommendations:

(1)It is recommended that staff be directed to prepare a recommendation report on the application.

Background:

The site which is the subject of this application is located north of St. Clair Avenue West on the east side of Robina Avenue and abuts the boundary of the former cities of Toronto and York. The site is part of a larger development site which includes lands in the former City of Toronto. The entire site has a frontage of 47.9 m (157 ft) and area of 1.6 hectares. The York portion has a frontage of 24.4 m (80 ft) and an area of 0.97 hectares. A two storey building currently exists on the site. It was previously used as a social and recreation centre, programmed by the YMCA. The building is now vacant.

The applicant is proposing to demolish the existing building and build 8 (4 pairs) - three storey semi-detached houses with built-in garages on the first floor. Four of the lots (accommodating two of the pairs), and 2.3 m of a fifth lot, will be in the former City of York. The remainder will be in the former City of Toronto. The site is zoned LCR - Local Commercial Residential in York and MCR - Mixed Commercial Residential in Toronto. Both former municipalities allow commercial uses and a variety of residential uses in these zones. However, York does not allow semi-detached houses, therefore a rezoning is required to permit the development. The Toronto portion does not require a rezoning.

Comments:

(1)Issues:

This proposal raises no major issues. Several detail issues arise as a result of the application:

-the front garages are not allowed in the former City of Toronto Zoning By-law, therefore the applicant must apply to the Committee of Adjustment for permission to vary the by-law, or change the drawings to comply with Toronto's by-law; and

-the proposed side yard setbacks, projecting garages and front yard landscaping differ slightly from the current York By-law standards for comparable semi-detached dwelling house development.

(2)Public Process:

This is a small residential infill development which is compatible in form with existing development in the area and, as such, an information meeting is not required. The Planning Act Public Meeting will be held after the final report has been written.

Conclusions:

It is anticipated that the final recommendation report will be before York Community Council in the last quarter of the year, subject to further discussions with the applicant and Toronto planners.

Contact Name:

Wendy Johncox, Senior PlannerTel: 394-2869Fax: 394-2782

(Copies of Appendices 1, 2, and 3 referred to in the foregoing report, were forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the York Community Council meeting of May 27, 1998, and copies thereof are on file in the Clerk's Department, York Civic Service Centre.)