Parkdale Planning Initiatives

(High Park)

The Toronto Community Council recommends that City Council endorse in principle the physical improvements recommended for Parkdale in the report (September 23, 1998) from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, and that the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services be requested to co-ordinate the implementation of these improvements, reporting further as necessary.

The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, that it has requested the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, to report directly to Council on the pending Ontario Municipal Board appeals in respect of exemptions being sought from the South Parkdale Zoning By-law, so as to obtain the instruction of Council as to the position to be taken by the City Solicitor before the Ontario Municipal Board.

The Toronto Community Council further reports, for the information of Council, that it has taken the following action:

(1)endorsed the creation of a conflict resolution process to achieve a consensus on the appropriate approach the City should take to the existing bachelorettes and illegal rooming houses in Parkdale, such process to include the appointment of a facilitator who is acceptable to all groups;

(2)requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to report to the Toronto Community Council, at its meeting to be held on November 12, 1998, on the conflict resolution process including the name of the proposed facilitator and any emerging resource needs, if necessary;

(3)referred the draft zoning by-law, attached to the report (September 16, 1998) of the City Solicitor, to be considered as part of the conflict resolution process, and that further amendments to the by-law be brought forward as a result of the conflict resolution process, and requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to report to the Toronto Community Council on the final results of the conflict resolution process;

(4)requested the Toronto Transit Commission, in consultation with appropriate City officials, to report to the Toronto Community Council on the improvement of public transportation west of Bathurst Street, south of Queen Street West;

(5)requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to submit a progress report on the ongoing negotiations between the High Park Ward stakeholder groups and the facilitator to the Toronto Community Council at its meeting to be held on November 12, 1998;

(6)requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services to report to the Toronto Community Council on how the City of Toronto could encourage more affordable housing from existing housing stock in High Park Ward, and in the rest of the City of Toronto;

(7)requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to report to the Urban Environment and Development Committee on measures that can be taken to strictly enforce the present building regulations, and further, to report on the need to improve building standards in the City of Toronto, including recommendations respecting the Rooming House Commission;

(8)requested the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, to attempt to obtain agreement from property owners not to proceed to the Committee of Adjustment and/or the Ontario Municipal Board for exemption from the existing zoning by-law in South Parkdale, pending a conclusion to the conflict resolution process;

(9)directed that the conflict resolution process accept the following terms and conditions:

(a)Parkdale is a complex vibrant community that has many community groups and agencies that have worked constructively to deal with community issues;

(b)Solutions to complex community problems are best worked out collaboratively with community associations, agencies and city departments;

(c)A formal conflict resolution process can build the consensus needed to move to action;

(d)The Councillors= role is to

(i)initiate the process;

(ii)give the conflict resolution group the authority to make recommendations;

(iii)secure the resources the conflict resolution group needs to do its work;

(iv)act on any consensus that emerges;

(e)To secure the Councillors= support the conflict resolution process must have legitimacy. To have legitimacy, the process must have:

(i)a clear focus;

(ii)agreed deadlines;

(iii)a clear process;

(iv)a facilitator/mediator who is agreed to by the participants and must be respected by City departments and community groups;

(v)ground rules which are clear and enforced;

(vi)representation by City departments that have the resources and mandate to act on decisions;

(f)The participants in the process should:

(i)have the authority to act on behalf of the group or association and be accountable to that group or organization; and

(ii)respect the legitimacy of other stakeholders;

(10)directed that the facilitator of the conflict resolution process be acceptable to the two Ward Councillors;

(11)requested the Medical Officer of Health to report to the Toronto Community Council on the effectiveness of the Personal Care By-law;

(12)requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to examine options and propose strategies which would permit a broad range of housing and tenure options throughout the entire City in the Official Plan and Zoning Reviews currently underway, and to provide a progress report to the Community Councils and the Urban Environment and Development Committee;

(13)requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to provide maps to the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and thereon to Council, showing those areas where rooming houses are permitted; and

(14)requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, in consultation with appropriate officials, to provide to the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and thereon to Council, data for the past 10-15 years on the availability of single low income accommodation, such as rooms and other forms of single/low income housing.

The Toronto Community Council further reports, for the information of Council, that notice of the public meeting was given in accordance with the Planning Act. The public meeting was held on October 14, 1998, and the following addressed the Toronto Community Council:

-Mr. Oudit Raghubir, Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. Robert B. Levitt, obo Parkdale Tenants= Association;

-Mr. Walter Jarsky, Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. Ray Van Evenooghe, Bachelorettes Owners Association;

-Ms. Loreta Zubas, Resident=s Association/Redwood Shelter;

-Mr. Bart Poesiat, Parkdale Community Legal Services;

-Mr. Mike Coward, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP);

-Mr. Randy Costello, Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. Paul Rodgers, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Cheryl White, Common Front for Low Income Housing;

-Mr. Murray Lowe, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Bonnie Briggs, OCAP;

-Mr. John Stewart, Common Front for Low Income Housing;

-Mr. James Loney, Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. William Payne, Member - Toronto Catholic Worker Community;

-Ms. Margaret Moores, Habitat Services;

-Ms. Josephine Stomp; Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. Greg Daly, Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. John Colautti, Parkdale Village Residents= Association;

-Ms. Sue Collis, OCAP and Common Front for Low Income Housing;

-Mr. John Clarke, OCAP;

-Mr. Gaeton Heroux, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Sarah Vance, Member - Campaign to Defend Immigrants and Refugees;

-Mr. Lenox Keith, Arrow - Public Relations;

-Ms. Angela Hanson, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Barb Millar, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Nora McCabe, Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. John A. Davies, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Annie Walsh, Queen Street Mental Health Centre Joint Neighbourhood Committee and Houselink Community Homes;

-Mr. Charles Taylor, Charles Taylor Associates;

-Mr. Mark Crowe, Parkdale Village B.I.A.;

-Ms. Amanda Jeans, President, Parkdale Village Residents= Association;

-Mr. Scott Bartle, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Elinor Mahoney, Parkdale Community Legal Services;

-Mr. James Doyle, Toronto, Ontario;

-Ms. Rhoda Landis, Toronto, Ontario;

-Mr. Chico LaFranz, Toronto, Ontario; and

-Mr. Ramraj Ramchaitar, Parkdale Breakfast Club.

The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (September 16, 1998) from the City Solicitor:

Purpose:

This report provides the necessary Draft By-law to implement a Zoning By-law amendment to limit the number of dwelling units which may be converted in residential buildings in low and medium density areas in Parkdale.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The enactment of the Draft By-law has no financial implications for the City. It requires no funding.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the Toronto Community Council hold a public meeting in respect of the Draft By-law in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Act.

Following the public meeting and in the event the Toronto Community Council wishes to approve the Draft By-law, it could recommend that:

(2)the Draft By-law attached to the report (September 16, 1998) of the City Solicitor be approved and that authority be granted to introduce the necessary bill in Council to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background/History:

Toronto Community Council will have before it the final report of the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services (September,1998) at its meeting to be held on October14and15,1998 concerning the above noted subject. This report recommends, inter alia, that a Draft By-law be prepared by the City Solicitor to amend the General Zoning By-law of the former City of Toronto to implement certain zoning restrictions in portions of Parkdale with low and medium density residential designations. This by-law will restrict the creation of new dwelling units or dwelling rooms to three per existing lot, as well as restrict the list of permitted uses.

Upon further consultation with the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, it is suggested that a technical amendment be incorporated into the Draft By-law which would ensure that in the case of a Aconverted house@, the current standard requiring that such a building be at least 5 years old, be maintained. This will ensure a clearer distinction between conversion permissions and new multiple unit houseform buildings.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

This report contains the necessary Draft By-law, which, if enacted, will give effect to the planning report, with the above-noted technical amendment.

Contact Name:

Robert Balfour, Solicitor

Telephone:392-7225

Fax:392-0024

E-mail:rbalfour@city.toronto.on.ca

CCCC

DRAFT BY-LAW

Authority:Toronto Community Council Report No. ( )

Adopted by Council:

CITY OF TORONTO

Bill No.

BY-LAW No. -1998

To amend Zoning By-law No. 438-86 of the former City of Toronto

with respect to certain lands within residential districts in the Parkdale Area.

The Council of the City of Toronto HEREBY ENACTS as follows:

1.By-law No. 438-86, being AA By-law To regulate the use of land and the erection, use, bulk, height, spacing of and other matters relating to buildings and structures and to prohibit certain uses of lands and the erection and use of certain buildings and structures in various areas of the City of Toronto@, as amended, is further amended by:

(a)inserting into section 2(1) before the definition of Aparking area@, the following:

AParkdale Special Residential Area@ means that part of the City of Toronto delineated by heavy lines and shown on the following maps;@.

(insert maps)

(b)by deleting Exception 70 contained in section 12(2) and inserting a new Exception 70 as follows:

A70.(a)No person shall within the Parkdale Special Residential Area:

(i)erect or use a building or structure for any of the uses permitted under section 6(1)(f)(a)(i) and (ii), except for a detached house, converted house, duplex, monastery, nunnery or religious retreat, row house, semi-detached duplex, semi-detached house, semi-detached triplex, triplex;

(ii)erect, alter or convert a building to provide therein more than three dwelling units or three dwelling rooms or any combination thereof to a maximum of three on any lot of record; and

(b)where a building in the Parkdale Special Residential Area is permitted by this exception to be a converted house, the provisions set out in section 6(2)1, with the exception of sections 6(2)1(ii) and 6(2)1(v), shall not apply.

For the purpose of this exception, the expression Alot of record@ means a lot according to a registered plan of subdivision, or a parcel of land existing at (the date of passage of this by-law) the conveyance of a portion of which would require a consent under Section 49 of the Planning Act, as amended.@

The Toronto Community Council also submits the following report (September 23, 1998) from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services:

Purpose:

The attached report recommends a three-faceted planning approach for the Parkdale neighbourhood: a community conflict resolution process to agree on an approach for dealing with the existing bachelorettes and other special units; physical and traffic improvements; and a completely new zoning provision, designed to balance neighbourhood needs, that would establish a maximum of three units per building lot for the low density residential areas south of Marion Street.

Recommendations:

(1)That City Council endorse the creation of a conflict resolution process to achieve a consensus on the appropriate approach the City should take to the existing bachelorettes and illegal rooming houses in Parkdale, such process to include the appointment of a facilitator who is acceptable to all groups.

(2)That the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services report to the November, 1998 Toronto Community Council on the conflict resolution process including the name of the proposed facilitator and any emerging resource needs, if necessary.

(3)That City Council endorse in principle the physical improvements recommended for Parkdale in this report and request the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to co-ordinate the implementation of these improvements, reporting further as necessary.

(4)That the Zoning By-law, By-law 438-86, as amended, be further amended so as to limit, in the area shown on Figure 3 in the attached report, the creation of units or rooms, through conversion or new construction, to three per lot, generally as set out in the draft by-law contained in the Appendix of this report.

Contact Name:

Helen Coombs

Telephone: (416) 392-7613

Fax:(416) 392-1330

E-Mail: hcoombs@city.toronto.on.ca

CCCC

Appendix

Draft Zoning By-law

Authority:Toronto Community Council Report No. ( )

Adopted by Council:

CITY OF TORONTO

Bill No.

BY-LAW No. -1998

To amend Zoning By-law No. 438-86 of the former City of Toronto

with respect to certain lands within residential districts in the Parkdale Area.

The Council of the City of Toronto HEREBY ENACTS as follows:

1.By-law No. 438-86, being AA By-law to regulate the use of land and the erection, use, bulk, height, spacing of and other matters relating to buildings and structures and to prohibit uses of lands and the erection and use of certain buildings and structures in various areas of the City of Toronto@, as amended, is further amended by:

(a)inserting after the definition of Apaper products factory@, the following:

AParkdale Special Residential Area@ means that part of the City of Toronto delineated by heavy lines and shown on the following map@.

(insert map)

(b)by deleting Exception 70 contained in Section 12(2) and inserting a new Exception 70 as follows:

A70.No person shall within the Parkdale Special Residential Area:

(i)erect or use a building or structure for any of the uses permitted under Section 6(1)(f)(a)(i) and (ii), except for a detached house, converted house, duplex, monastery, nunnery or religious retreat, row house, semi-detached duplex, semi-detached house, semi-detached triplex, triplex;

(ii)erect, alter or convert a building to provide therein more than three dwelling units or three dwelling rooms or any combination thereof to a maximum of three on any lot of record; and

(iii)where a building permitted by this exception is altered to become a converted house, the provisions set out in Section 6(2)1, with the exception of 6(2)1(v), shall not apply.@

For the purposes of this exception, the expression Alot of record@ means a lot according to a registered plan of subdivision, or a parcel of land existing at (the date of passage of this by-law) the conveyance of a portion of which would require a consent under Section 49 of the Planning Act, as amended.

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The Toronto Community Council reports for the information of Council, having also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter, the following communications, copies of which are on file in the office of the City Clerk:

-(October 13, 1998) from Mr. Gregory J. Daly, Gregory J. Daly and David J. Barrington;

-(October 13, 1998) from Mr. Michael B. Vaughan, Q.C., on behalf of the Bachelorette Owners Association;

-(October 13, 1998) from Mr. Walter Jarsky;

-(October 14, 1998) from Mr. John Colautti, Former President of Parkdale Village Residents= Association;

-(October 13, 1998) from Ms. Susan Pigott, Executive Director, St. Christopher House; and

-(October 13, 1998) from Mr. David W. Oleson.