November 15, 1999
CHAIR AND MEMBERS
OF COMMUNITY COUNCIL
CITY OF TORONTO
ETOBICOKE CIVIC CENTRE
399 THE WEST MALL
TORONTO ON M9C 4Z5
Chair and Members of Etobicoke Community Council:
RE: CITY OF TORONTO RE: BY-LAW No. 645-1999
OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT No. 74-99
3085 BLOOR STREET WEST AND 20 THOMPSON AVENUE
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to secure instructions in connection with the settlement of an appeal to the Ontario Municipal
Board involving Official Plan Amendment No. 74-99.
FUNDING SOURCES, FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS AND IMPACT STATEMENT:
There are no funding requirements nor financial implications arising in connection with this matter.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that staff and the City Solicitor be authorized to present to the Ontario Municipal Board a modified
version of Official Plan Amendment No. 74-99, in the form as attached to this report as Appendix "A".
COUNCIL REFERENCE / BACKGROUND / HISTORY:
This matter arises by virtue of an application for Official Plan Amendment and rezoning submitted to the municipality by
1038684 Ontario Limited in March 1999. The site subject to the application consists of two properties located at the south
west corner of Bloor Street West and Thompson Avenue in the former City of Etobicoke. The first property, municipally
known as 3085 Bloor Street West is a vacant parcel of land formerly occupied by a vehicle sales establishment and public
garage. The second, smaller property is municipally known as 20 Thompson Avenue. This property is occupied by a single
detached dwelling.
Pursuant to the application, the developer proposes to remove the existing dwelling and construct on the two properties a
6-storey apartment building with frontage on Bloor Street.
After completion of the processing of this application, and receipt of public input, the project was supported by Toronto
Council. An implementing Official Plan Amendment (O.P.A. No. 74-99) and Site Specific Zoning By-law (By-law
646-99) were adopted by City Council on September 29th, 1999.
In addition to the municipality, the proposed development has been supported by the Thompson Orchard Community
Association ("T.O.C.A.") as well as the Kingsway Sunnylea Residents' Association ("K.P.R.I."). At the public meeting
concerns were expressed with respect to the zoning category of 20 Thompson Avenue. The zoning by-law was
subsequently amended to address these concerns by maintaining the R2 zoning on the property. This by-law has not been
appealed. However, notwithstanding this support both community groups have expressed concerns with the form of the
Official Plan Amendment adopted by the municipality. As a result of these concerns both community associations appealed
the Official Plan Amendment to the Ontario Municipal Board on the basis that the form of the Amendment as adopted did
not conform with the intent of the zoning by-law. The residents' concerns related to the land use designation applied to 20
Thompson Avenue by the Official Plan Amendment.
As noted above, this property was formerly used for the purpose of a single family detached dwelling. It was zoned and
designated under the Official Plan for low density residential purposes. Notwithstanding the residents' support for the
proposal to redevelop this property, together with 3085 Bloor Street West, for an apartment building, the residents' believe
that the existing designation of Low Density Residential should be maintained on the property. The Official Plan
Amendment, as adopted by Council, redesignated the property from Low Density Residential to Commercial-Residential
Strip-Special Site Policy, in anticipation of the development of the apartment building.
COMMENTS AND/OR DISCUSSION AND/OR JUSTIFICATION:
As a result of the appeals filed against the Official Plan Amendment, discussions were initiated between the developer, the
residents and City staff in an effort to resolve these concerns. These negotiations were also assisted by Councillor Kinahan.
As a result of negotiation, an agreement was reached between the developer and the residents whereby the Official Plan
Amendment would be modified to maintain the current Low Density Residential Designation on 20 Thompson Avenue.
The modified amendment would also provide for a revised special site policy which would continue to permit the
apartment building to be constructed, in accordance with the zoning by-law as previously adopted. This modified
amendment has been prepared with the assistance of City Planning staff who are satisfied with its form and content. A
copy of the modified amendment is attached as Appendix "A".
Since the matter has been referred on appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, in order to implement the settlement
instructions will be required from City Council to support the proposed modifications before the Board.
CONCLUSIONS:
The modified version of the Official Plan Amendment is consistent with the previous approval granted by Council to
permit the development of the proposed apartment building on the subject site. City staff have reviewed the modified
version of the Official Plan Amendment and are satisfied with its form and content. Accordingly, in order to resolve the
matter before the Municipal Board it is recommended that City Council endorse the presentation of this modified
amendment to the Board for approval. This request is supported both by the developer and the two community groups who
filed the appeals on this matter.
CONTACT:
Bruce C. Ketcheson, Solicitor - Tel: (416) 622-6601, Fax: (416) 622-4713
Yours truly,
REBLE, RITCHIE, GREEN & KETCHESON
Per:
Bruce C. Ketcheson
BCK/mm
encls.
c: H.W.O. Doyle
