Other Items Considered by the Community Council

(a)Zoning Amendment Application UDOZ-88-037 - Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology - 43 Sheppard Avenue East - Ontario Municipal Board Decision - North York Centre.

The North York Community Council reports having received the following report:

(October 8, 1998) from the City Solicitor, reporting on the decision of the Ontario Municipal Board to allow the appeal by Seneca College from North York Council's refusal and recommending that the report be received as information.

(b)Sign By-law Variance Request - Pattison Outdoor Signs - 4640 Jane Street - Black Creek.

The North York Community Council reports having withdrawn the following report (October 14, 1998) from the Director and Deputy Chief Building Official at the request of Mr. Just Cole, Pattison:

(October 14, 1998) from the Director and Deputy Chief Building Official recommending approval of the requested minor variance from North York Sign By-law No. 30788 to permit the erection of an illuminated off-premise roof sign.

The North York Community Council also reports having had before it a communication (October 30, 1998) from Mr. Just Cole, Permits Coordinator, Leasing and Legislation, Pattison, withdrawing his application for a variance to the Sign By-law to permit a billboard sign at this location.

(c)Preliminary Evaluation Report - Zoning Amendment Application UDZ-98-23 and Site Plan Application UDSP-98-159 - The Urban Design Workshop - 139to147DorisAvenue - North York Centre.

The North York Community Council reports having received the following report:

(October 27, 1998) from the Director, Community Planning, North District, reporting on an application to amend the Zoning By-law to permit a 24 unit 4 storey condominium townhouse development; and recommending that staff continue processing the application in the manner outlined in the report.

(d)Sign By-law Variance Request - Billboard Roof Sign - Leroy Cassanova - 4140BathurstStreet - North York Spadina.

The North York Community Council reports having deferred sine die consideration of the request referred to in the following report:

(October 27, 1998) from the Director and Deputy Chief Building Official recommending that the request for a variance from North York Sign By-law No. 30788 to permit the erection of a billboard roof sign be refused.

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Mr. Leroy Cassanova, Omni, The Outdoor Company, appeared before the North York Community Council in connection with this matter.

(e)Sign By-law Variance Request - Billboard Roof Sign - Raffaella Russo - 373WilsonAvenue - North York Centre South.

The North York Community Council reports having deferred the following report to its next regular meeting scheduled for December 9, 1998:

(October 27, 1998) from the Director and Deputy Chief Building Official, recommending that the request for a minor variance from North York Sign By-law No. 30788 to permit the erection of a billboard roof sign be refused.

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The following persons appeared before the North York Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Ms. Raffaella Russo; and

-Mr. Jim Ditrani.

(f)Community and Social Planning Council of Toronto - Information Session - Street Youth/Squeegee Kids.

The North York Community Council reports having received a presentation by Ms. Ellen Ostofsky, Community Planning, Social Planning Council, regarding the life of kids involved in squeegeeing in Toronto.

The North York Community Council also reports having viewed a video presentation entitled "Squeegeeing in Toronto" and being provided with a copy of a publication entitled "Surviving the Streets - Street Youth and Squeegeeing in Toronto".

The following persons also addressed the North York Community Council with respect to this matter:

-Ms. Karen Wirsig, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto;

-Ms. Ellen Ostofsky, Community Planning, Social Planning Council; and

-Mr. Steve Geatz, Shout Clinic.

(g)1999 Capital Works Program.

The North York Community Council reports having recommended to the Budget Committee the adoption of the following motion (November 12, 1998) from Councillor Peter Li Preti, Black Creek:

WHEREAS in 1990 the PRIDE program and Project Rebirth commenced improvements to the northeast quadrant of the Jane and Finch intersection, including the Ontario Hydro Lands, Driftwood and Edgeley Park; and

WHEREAS on June 11, 1997, the former City of North York Council approved the concept design developed by staff for the Jane and Finch Streetscape; and

WHEREAS on April 29, 1998, the City of Toronto Council approved $85,000 for the services of consultants to produce the detailed design, working drawings, and tender ready documents for the first phase (approximately two and a half kilometers) of the streetscape project; and

WHEREAS a team of consultants has been retained to produce the detailed design, working drawings and tender ready documents for the first phase of the streetscape project by March 1999; and

WHEREAS upon approval of the construction budget, the construction of the streetscape is anticipated to commence in June 1999 and be completed by November 1999; and

WHEREAS on September 15, 1998, the Jane and Finch Community was awarded the Trillium Award, which recognizes the achievements of the many community organizations in the area; and

WHEREAS the Jane and Finch community has worked diligently to redefine its image, in order to reflect the cultural richness and community building strengths; and

WHEREAS the collaborative efforts of the community have challenged the media to examine their role in creating negative perceptions; and

WHEREAS increased positive support has strengthened the community's determination to build on, and benefit from, the history and experience of its cultural mosaic; and

WHEREAS the beautification of the area's public open spaces and streets would serve to improve the safety and image of this area as well as revitalize the neighbourhood; and

WHEREAS the Jane and Finch intersection has been identified as having a high percentage of red light runners causing a large number of accidents; and

WHEREAS the completion of the streetscape project would be the fulfilment of hopes and dreams that have emerged from years of dialogue and planning;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, $1.7 million for the implementation of the first phase of the streetscape project be approved as part of the 1999 Capital Works Budget and $1.785 million be included as part of the Capital Works Program for completion of phase two in the year 2000."

(h)Purchase of Parkland - Northwest Corner of Finch Avenue West and York Gate Boulevard.

The North York Community Council reports having referred the following motion moved by Councillor Li Preti, Black Creek, to the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and the Commissioner of Corporate Services for a report back to the next meeting of the North York Community Council scheduled for December 9, 1998:

WHEREAS the residential population of the Black Creek residential community will substantially increase with the addition of 220 freehold townhouse units and 775 apartment units on the lands located at the northwest corner of Finch Avenue West and York Gate Boulevard; and

WHEREAS the statutory parkland dedication has already been fulfilled for the plan of subdivision in which these lands are located; and

WHEREAS the City is not legally entitled to any further conveyance of parkland from this development;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

(a)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and the Commissioner of Corporate Services investigate the feasibility of purchasing land for use as parkland, to a maximum of 5 acres, from the current land owner, Elderbrook Developments; and

(b)the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and the Commissioner of Corporate Services report back to the North York Community Council on the options available to the City in order to pursue this matter.