Broadlands Community Centre -
Parking Lot - Don Parkway
(City Council on October 1 and 2, 1998, deferred this Clause until its next regular meeting to
be held on October 28, 1998.)
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(Clause 23 of Report No. 9 of the North York Community Council)
The North York Community Council recommends that:
(1)the following report (August 26, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic
Development, Culture and Tourism, be received;
(2)the previous decision of the Council of the former City of North York to purchase
two residential properties to develop parking facilities for the Broadlands Community
Centre, be re-affirmed; and that the two lots be retained to create open space;
(3)if there is no agreement with the Grace Memorial Church by October 30, 1998, for
the use of its parking facility by patrons of the Broadlands Community Centre and
park, appropriate staff be authorized to proceed with the creation of a parking lot at 23
and 25 Castlegrove Boulevard, through the site plan process;
(4)if there is an agreement reached with the Grace Memorial Church, appropriate staff
be authorized to proceed with the creation of an 18 space parking area on the east side
of Castlegrove Boulevard, alongside the existing artificial ice rink; and
(5)appropriate staff take into consideration the traffic concerns of the community;
The North York Community Council submits the following report (August 26, 1998)
from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:
Purpose:
Two residential properties were purchased in 1998 for the purpose of developing needed
parking facilities at the Broadlands Community Centre. Reacting to concerns expressed by the
local residents, Parks and Recreation staff embarked on a new community consultation
process which resulted in recommendations for a different set of parking alternatives, and the
opportunity to return the two purchased properties to the re-sale residential market.
Source of Funds:
The development of a modified parking area (Recommendation 3) will cost an estimated
$95,000.00 with funding coming from designated current and capital budgets. The sale of the
two residential properties originally purchased at a cost of $547,020.00 will result in
comparable funds returning to the City's Parkland Acquisition Reserve Fund.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)plans be abandoned for the demolition of the acquired properties at 23 and 25 Castlegrove
Boulevard, for a parking lot;
(2)the two subject properties be offered for re-sale, with the proceeds credited to the Parkland
Acquisition Reserve Account;
(3)an eighteen space parking area be created on the east side of Castlegrove Boulevard, along
side the existing artificial ice rink;
(4)negotiations be undertaken regarding a possible agreement with officials of the
neighbouring Grace Memorial Church for the use of their parking area by patrons of
Broadlands Community Centre and Park; and
(5)the appropriate City officials take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
Typical of facilities built in the 1950's and 1960's, Broadlands Artificial Ice Rink and
Community Centre were intended for use by local residents who could walk to their
neighbourhood facility. Parking facilities were frequently not provided at these types of public
recreation facilities. When the Broadlands facility was upgraded and expanded in 1993, funds
were limited, and the parking lot was eliminated from the re-construction plan.
Users and usage, however, have changed over the years, resulting in a critical lack of parking
for a very heavily used year round recreation facility. Predominant regular users of
Broadlands include senior adults, preschoolers, children with their families, and persons who
have physical challenges or disabilities.
In the fall of 1997, funds were made available through the Parkland Acquisition Fund in the
former City of North York, to purchase residential properties to the north of Broadlands
Community Centre, for the purpose of developing the required parking facilities. This plan
was approved by City Council and the purchase of two properties at a cost of $547,020.00
was concluded early in 1998, through the services of an independent agent.
Following the purchase of the properties, some local residents expressed their dissatisfaction
with the plan, citing concerns about the demise of the character of their neighbourhood
through the destruction of homes and the general economy of the plan. A public meeting of
the Broadlands Community Centre Advisory Council followed on April 29, 1998 during
which residents were provided with detailed plans for the parking lot development and were
asked to express their views on the subject. Consultation also took place with the Ward
Councillor.
Following the April 29 meeting, a moratorium was placed on the development, to allow an ad
hoc task group through the Advisory Council to receive and consider information regarding
parking alternatives and general standards and practices for provision of parking amenities in
the City of Toronto. The recommendations of the ad hoc task group and the Advisory Council
were conveyed to the Parks and Recreation Division on July 2, 1998. The resulting
recommendations now before the North York Community Council were shared with the
Broadlands community in a public open house on July 28, 1998.
The recommended plan proposes to develop eighteen parking spots on existing City property.
It further proposes to negotiate with a local church situated south of the community centre, to
share the church parking lot with community centre users. The plan also recommends
returning the two residential properties to the public market, with proceeds from the re-sale of
the homes going to the Parkland Acquisition Fund.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
About fifty residents attended the July 28 information sharing event hosted by the Parks and
Recreation Division. Comment cards were distributed to all in attendance and thirty-three
cards were returned to the Division. Twenty-three of these respondents strongly agreed with
the proposed action plan to develop a small parking lot along the side of the rink on the east
side of Castlegrove Boulevard. An additional seven respondents agreed but expressed
concerns regarding traffic and pedestrian safety. (These concerns will be discussed with
officials of the Transportation Division of the Works and Emergency Services Department).
Three disagreed with the proposal.
The cost of $95,000.00 to develop the recommended site is equivalent to the cost of the
originally proposed northern site. However, there is no cost to purchase land as the site is
already part of the existing complex. In addition, the re-sale of the two residential properties
will re-imburse the Parkland Acquisition Reserve Fund from which the original purchase was
made. Some residents expressed their belief that this plan is more fiscally responsible.
Conclusions:
The recommended plan provides much needed parking amenities at the Broadlands
Community Centre, while still preserving the private homes and the character of the
neighbourhood.
Contact Name:
Gary W. Stoner
District Lead - North
Parks and Recreation
Telephone:395-6190
Fax:395-0105
E-mail:gwstoner@north-york.on.ca
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The following persons appeared before the North York Community Council in connection
with the foregoing matter:
-Mr. John Murphy;
-Ms. Camille Serrao, on behalf of Broadlands Community Centre; and
-Mr. Ernie Magee.