Amendment to the Community Improvement Plan
for the Weston, Mount Dennis, and Oakwood-Vaughan/
Oakwood-Rogers Community Improvement Areas by adding
the Eglinton Avenue West Community Improvement Plan
The York Community Council recommends that:
(1) the following report (February 3, 1998) from the York Commissioner of Development
Services be adopted;
(2) the draft By-law be approved; and
(3) that the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary
action to give effect thereto.
Purpose:
To add the Eglinton Avenue West Community Improvement Plan Area to the above-noted
Community Improvement Plan.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
A request for $300,000.00 to continue funding of the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant
Program (initiated by the former City of York Council in 1997) has been submitted for consideration
in the 1998 City of Toronto Capital Budget. A portion of this funding would be dedicated for use
on Eglinton Avenue West.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that Council adopt the Community Improvement Plan Amendment contained in
this report.
Background:
(I) The Community Improvement Plan:
On May 28, 1997, the former City of York Council adopted a Community Improvement Plan for the
Weston, Mount Dennis and Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers Community Improvement Project
Areas. The Plan, approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on July 31,1997,
introduced details of a Commercial Facade Improvement Grant Program offered by the City in 1997
to commercial property owners within the three subject areas. Municipalities may offer grants only
to property owners within areas covered by an approved Community Improvement Plan.
The former City of York Council budgeted $120,000.00 towards the Facade Program in 1997.
Applicants were eligible for a grant covering 50 percent of the cost of the proposed facade
improvement work, to a maximum of $12,500.00. Application approval was based upon design and
implementation criteria set out in the Community Improvement Plan. A total of 15 grants were
distributed to commercial property owners in the three subject areas. The total Building Permit
value of the facade improvement work approved was approximately $300,000.00.
(ii) Support to include Eglinton Avenue West:
During the course of developing and receiving approval of the Community Improvement Plan, many
commercial property owners on Eglinton expressed their desire to participate in the Commercial
Facade Improvement Grant Program. Although staff considered this matter, it was decided that,
given the limited budget, the prudent option was to concentrate on the three target areas so the
Program could have the greatest visual effect. Also, at the time of the adoption of the Community
Improvement Plan, the former City of York portion of Eglinton Avenue West had only one Business
Improvement Area, as opposed to the three which exist today.
In my May 20, 1997, supplementary report to City of York Council, I suggested that the Commercial
Facade Program could be broadened in 1998 to include other commercial areas, such as Eglinton
Avenue West. On June 25, 1997, Council adopted my recommendation that a comprehensive
Community Improvement Plan be prepared for Eglinton Avenue West. It was my intention that the
Community Improvement Plan would include, among other programs, provisions for a commercial
facade improvement grant program.
On October 8 and 9, 1997, Metro Council adopted a motion identifying Eglinton Avenue West, from
the Allen Road west to Dufferin Street and beyond, as "a high priority area for attention by the
appropriate committees and departments of the new City of Toronto Council." This motion was
based upon the recent creation of three new Business Improvement Areas, and the eagerness of the
business community and local residents to enhance the vitality of Eglinton Avenue West. The
motion also cited traffic management as an issue for the area.
Discussion:
(I) Proposed Community Plan Amendment:
Further to City of York's Council's previous recommendation, a process has been engaged to
develop a comprehensive Community Plan for that portion of Eglinton Avenue West, from Bathurst
Street to Bicknell Avenue, located in the former City of York. The Plan, to be prepared over the
next few months, will address issues such as streetscaping, parking, crime, pedestrian and vehicular
movement, business support and lighting.
With respect to facade improvements, I feel this matter should be addressed now through an
amendment which adds Eglinton Avenue West to the Community Improvement Plan for the Weston,
Mount Dennis and Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers Community Improvement Areas. By
pursuing the amendment now, and obtaining the required Provincial approval, the City can take
advantage of several opportunities.
First, local property owners are demonstrating considerable eagerness to participate in the
Commercial Facade Improvement Grant Program this spring, especially now that the approved
facade improvement projects in the Mount Dennis, Weston and Oakwood communities have been
completed. By expediting the Facade Improvement Program, local support and enthusiasm will be
created for the broader Eglinton Avenue West Community Plan. Second, Eglinton Avenue West,
from Bathurst Street to Bicknell Avenue, is the home of three new Business Improvement Areas
which will be valuable participants in the promotion and delivery of the Program.
Third, the former City of York recently adopted new Main Street Commercial/Residential policies
and zoning for Eglinton Avenue West aimed at revitalizing the Street. The new zoning allows a
broader range of commercial activities, thereby opening the street up to potential new businesses.
It also permits retail, office or residential redevelopment, either in single use or any combination,
as-of-right, subject to design regulations which encourage the creation of attractive, urbane
pedestrian environments.
I, therefore, recommend that the Community Improvement Plan be amended, in accordance with the
following draft amendment, to include that portion of Eglinton Avenue West, located in the former
City of York, from Bathurst Street to Bicknell Avenue (just west of Keele Street). The Amendment
consists largely of revisions to the existing text of the Plan, and an addition of one schedule map,
to include Eglinton Avenue West as a subject area. Amendments have also been proposed to update
the Plan to reflect the former City of York's new Community Plan policies.
Draft Amendment:
The following constitutes an amendment to the Community Improvement Plan for the Weston,
Mount Dennis and Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers Community Improvement Project Areas.
DETAILS OF THE AMENDMENT
The Community Improvement Plan is amended as follows:
(A) Amendments to add Eglinton Avenue West as a subject area of the Community Improvement Plan:
(I) wherever the Plan refers to "Weston, Mount Dennis and Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers," with the exception of the first sentence of Section 2.3, the Plan shall be amended
to read "Weston, Mount Dennis, Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers and Eglinton
Avenue West";
(ii) Section 2.3 "Recent Secondary Plan Approvals and Implementation Committees" is retitled
as "Recent Secondary Plan Approvals, Implementation Committees and Business
Improvement Areas", and the following paragraph is added to the end of the Section:
Three new Business Improvement Areas have been established on Eglinton Avenue
West, between Bathurst Street and Bicknell Avenue, over the past 18 months: the
Upper Village B.I.A. (York); the York-Eglinton B.I.A.; and the Keele-Eglinton B.I.A..
All three B.I.A.'s are undertaking marketing and community improvement initiatives
with the assistance of City of Toronto staff. The participation of the B.I.A.
memberships will be integral to the success of the Commercial Facade Improvement
Grant Program;
(iii) Section 3.4 is added as follows:
3.4 The Eglinton Avenue West Community Plan Area
The Eglinton Avenue West Community Plan Area consists of those lands along
Eglinton Avenue West, from Bathurst Street to Bicknell Avenue, with the exception of
the lands on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West from Bathurst Street to Marlee
Avenue. The lands on both sides of Dufferin Street, north of Eglinton Avenue West to
the Belt Line Railway, are also included within the Community Improvement Area.
(iv) Section 4.2 "Details of the Program" be amended by replacing the text of the subsection
entitled "Eligible Areas for Grant" with the following:
The Commercial Facade Improvement Grant Program will apply to the following four
areas (see Section 4.3):
Weston Community Improvement Plan Area
Mount Dennis Community Improvement Plan Area
Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers Community Improvement Plan Area
Eglinton Avenue West Community Improvement Plan Area
(v) Section 4.2 "Details of the Program" also be amended by replacing the words "six members"
with the words "nine members" within the subsection entitled "Grant Review Committee",
and by adding a fourth bullet point within this subsection which reads:
one member from each of the three Business Improvement Areas located on Eglinton
Avenue West.
(vi) Section 4.3 "Community Improvement Project Areas" is retitled "Community
Improvement Plan Areas", and further amended by adding the location map, attached as
Schedule 1 to this Amendment, entitled "Eglinton Avenue West Community Plan Area."
(B) Amendments to reflect recently adopted Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments:
(I) Section 1.0 "Purpose" is amended by deleting the second paragraph containing repealed
Official Plan Sections 20.1 and 20.2(b).
(ii) Section 2.1 "Official Plan Designation" is replaced by the following new Section 2.1 also entitled "Official Plan Designation":
The Official Plan for the former City of York seeks " to enhance its physical, social and
economic environment for the benefit of its resident citizens and businesses."
Accordingly, the lands formerly known as the City of York are designated by the
Official Plan as a Community Improvement Area. Additional policies encourage the
maintenance and revitalization of all residential, commercial and employment areas,
and permits Council to develop and fund programs regarding such matters as building
renovation and street improvement.
The Official Plan allows for the preparation of Community Improvement Plans for
areas and neighbourhoods in need of a comprehensive approach to the improvement
of public and private lands and buildings. Such plans may include provisions for
commercial facade improvement programs.
(iii) Section 3.0 "Area Descriptions" is amended by replacing the first sentence of the third
paragraph with the following:
For the most part, the subject areas are zoned either Main Street
Commercial/Residential Zone (MCR) or Local Commercial/Residential Zone (LCR),
which permit residential, office and retail developments, either alone or in any
combination, "as-of-right."; and
by replacing the word "three" with the word "four" in the second sentence of the third
paragraph.
© Technical Amendments to reflect City of Toronto Amalgamation:
(I) Section 2.0 "Selection of Subject Areas" is revised by deleting the words "of the City's"
from the first sentence so as to read:
In order to maximize the visual impact of the Program, considering the available
budget, not all commercial areas can be included in the Program at this time.;
(D) Technical Amendments to reflect the designation of the lands formerly known as the
City of York as a Community Improvement Project Area:
(I) The title of the Plan is amended to be: "The York Community Improvement Plan";
(ii) Wherever the Plan refers to a "Community Improvement Project Area" or "Areas," the Plan
shall be amended to read "Community Improvement Plan Area" or "Areas";
(iii) Section 2.2 "Community Improvement Project Area Designation" is amended by replacing
the existing text with the following sentence:
On March 4, 1998, City of Toronto Council adopted a By-law designating the lands
formerly known as the City of York as a Community Improvement Project Area.
(iv) Amended Section 4.3 "Community Improvement Plan Areas" is further amended by
replacing the location maps for the Weston, Mount Dennis and
Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers Community Improvement Project Areas, with the
"Community Improvement Plan Area" maps attached as Schedule 2 to this Amendment.
Conclusion:
Including Eglinton Avenue West within the existing Community Plan, and thereby making the area
eligible for the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant Program, will contribute to an on-going,
co-ordinatedordinated approach to revitalizing this important main street. To date, this approach has
included new policies and zoning, the creation of three Business Improvement Areas, a street banner
program, and continued staff involvement with local businesses and residents regarding issues such
as marketing and crime. These efforts and initiatives will culminate in the development, later this
year, of an action-oriented Community Improvement Plan specifically developed for
Eglinton Avenue West.
Therefore, I recommend that Council adopt the Community Improvement Plan Amendment
contained in this report.
Contact Name:
Henry Byres
York Senior Planner
(416) 394-2618 Fax: (416) 394-2782
E-Mail: City of York.EglintonAve.HByre
Draft By-law No.
TO AMEND the Community Improvement Plan for the
Weston, Mount Dennis and Oakwood-Vaughan/
Oakwood-Rogers Community Improvement Project Areas
WHEREAS the Council of the former City of York by By-law No. 3474-97 adopted a Community
Improvement Plan for the Weston, Mount Dennis and Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers
Community Improvement Project Areas; and
WHEREAS the Council of the City of Toronto by By-law No. 84-1998 has designated that portion
of the City of Toronto which was formerly the City of York as a Community Improvement Project
Area; and
WHEREAS a public meeting has been held to discuss this Community Improvement Plan
Amendment;
NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORONTO ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the Amendment to the Community Improvement Plan for the Weston, Mount Dennis,
and the Oakwood-Vaughan/Oakwood-Rogers Community Improvement Project Areas,
consisting of the explanatory text and maps attached hereto as Schedule "A" hereto, is hereby
adopted.
2. That the Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to make application to the Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval of the aforementioned Community Improvement
Plan Amendment.
ENACTED and PASSED this day of , 1998.
The following persons appeared before the York Community Council:
- Mr. Steve Tasses, Chair, Eglinton West Business Improvement Area, and expressed support
for the proposed revitalization of the area.
- Mr. Karl Stankov, and suggested that small businesses be granted tax breaks; and
- Ms. Marjorie Sutton, and commented that a secondary plan for this improvement area could
be a consideration as there are opportunities to obtain funding for such projects..
(Copies of Schedules 1 and 2, referred to in the foregoing report, were forwarded to all Members of
Council with the agenda of the York Community Council meeting of April 1, 1998, and copies
thereof are on file in the Clerk's Department, York Civic Centre.)
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