Date:March 12, 1999

To:Scarborough Community Council

From:Ted Tyndorf, MCIP, RPP

Director, Community Planning, East District

Subject:Former Scarborough Transportation Corridor Lands Study

Phase 4 - Markham Road to Morningside Avenue

Draft Terms of Reference (W95014)

Guildwood and Scarborough Village Communities

Scarborough Bluffs

Purpose:

To request Council's approval of the attached draft Terms of Reference to initiate an Official Plan and Zoning By-law review for Section 5 of the former Scarborough Transportation Corridor, which runs along the south side of the Canadian National Railway from Markham Road to Morningside Avenue, as shown on Figure 1.

Funding Sources:

This item is included in the 1999 Work Program for City Planning.

Recommendation:

That Council direct the Director of Community Planning, East District, in consultation with the staff of other appropriate City Departments, to initiate an Official Plan and Zoning By-law review in accordance with the Draft Terms of Reference.

Council Reference:

On October 3, 1995, the former Scarborough Council set priorities for a series of studies of the former Scarborough Transportation Corridor lands, which were designated as Special Study Area through Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No. 643 approved by the Province on July 6, 1995. The recommendations directed the then Commissioner of Planning and Buildings to "conduct a programme of land use and transportation studies to replace the Special Study Area designation of the former Scarborough Transportation Corridor with appropriate policies and designations, based on the following priorities:

first:Section 6 (Morningside Avenue to Highway 2A);

second:Section 2 (Clonmore Drive to St Clair Avenue, excluding Oakridge Employment District);

third:Section 1 (Victoria Park Avenue to Clonmore Drive);

fourth:Section 3 (St Clair Avenue to Eglinton Avenue);

fifth:Section 5 (Markham Road to Morningside Avenue);

while continuing to process active development applications within these study areas, and recognising that Section 4, the Centre Street Study, is nearing completion."

In October 1995 the former Metropolitan Toronto Council also resolved to "pursue the construction of a continuous bicycling roadway between St Clair Avenue and Highway No. 2A".

Background:

Since 1992, City Planning staff have been working on land use studies for various sections of the Corridor lands, which are illustrated on Figure 2. A summary of the progress to date follows.

Accomplishments to Date:

a)Official Plan Amendment (OPA) No. 956 for the Centre Street Study area was adopted by Scarborough Council on May 14, 1996 and approved by the Province on October 4, 1996. The amendment established various Residential, Mixed Use, Park, Open Space and Community Facilities uses within the area, and provided for a bicycle and pedestrian trail from Markham Road west to Eglinton Avenue.

b)On October 29, 1996 Scarborough Council adopted OPA No. 972 to complete the study for Section 2 of the corridor. This amendment removed the Special Study Area designation and introduced new Open Space, Neighbourhood Park and Institutional - Public Utilities designations, as well as extending abutting residential and industrial uses to sections of the corridor which affected existing developed properties. It was approved on February 11, 1997. Zoning By-law changes accompanied this initiative.

c)Planning issues for Section 6 in West Hill were resolved through City-initiated amendments in conjunction with a private application for a draft plan of subdivision and a re-zoning in the Manse Road/Highway 2A area. Through that process, a new public road connection from Highway 2A to Lawrence Avenue was introduced, together with Low Density Residential Uses, parkland along Coronation Drive and abutting Megan Park, and extensive Open Space areas. The Open Space designation preserves important woodlots and wetlands, and also provides a buffer between residential and industrial uses. As well, a bicycle and pedestrian trail was indicated eastward from Morningside Avenue as far as Highway 2A. These changes were effected through OPA's 983 and 987, approved by the Minister on November 18 and 27, 1997, respectively. Again, there were implementing Zoning By-law amendments, including a holding (H) zone for the residential use south of Lawrence Avenue.

d)With respect to Section 3, for the portion east of Brimley Road OPA 1014 was adopted by Toronto Council on November 26, and came into effect on December 30, 1998. (Ministerial approval was delegated to the City in June 1998). It replaced the Special Study Area and some residential and industrial uses with Park and with an Institutional - Public Utilities designation on the Eglinton GO station property south of the CN Railway, and introduced a bicycle and pedestrian trail policy. Zoning By-law amendments to implement the new land uses were also adopted.

Other Related Studies:

The balance of Section 3 from Brimley Road to St Clair Avenue is still under study in a Working Group context, with the Public Meeting to be continued on June 23, 1999 at 7:30 pm.

For the new parkland around McCowan Road, staff of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism are working on park and trail designs and assisting with the Children's Safety Village project.

Corporate Services and Community Services staff are investigating the potential for Corridor lands, among others, to be declared surplus and sold or to be retained for housing opportunities. The new Property Management Committee was expected to consider some of these matters at its inaugural meeting on March 8, 1999.

Comments:

While the original priority setting ranked Section 1 ahead of Section 5, planning enquiries and the efforts of Corporate Services to determine which City lands may be surplus in this area, have combined to raise the priority of Section 5 to be considered next.

West of Kingston Road, the Section 5 lands comprise deep lots (over 100 feet) along Dunelm Street and Dale Avenue, with a patchwork of City and private ownership. The land use context is entirely residential, low density for the most part with apartment buildings south of the Corridor at both Markham and Kingston Roads. East of Kingston Road the lands are almost wholly owned by the City and are occupied by the Guildwood GO Station with its associated parking lot, some grassy and wooded areas, five private homes east of Poplar Road and one large residential lot fronting on Morningside Avenue.

Conclusions:

Through the 1995 direction, Council has expressed its desire for land use planning in this area to be clarified through a comprehensive study. With the assistance of all relevant City departments, the Ward Councillors, and interested members of the public, and building on the extensive departmental expertise achieved through the earlier phases, another excellent result can be achieved.

Contact Name:

Carolyn Johnson, MCIP, RPP

Program Co-ordinator, Transportation Division

(416)-396-5376

(416)-396-4265 Fax Number

cjohnson@city.scarborough.on.ca

Ted Tyndorf, MCIP, RPP

Director, Community Planning, East District

CBJ\cj

PHASE 4 TERMS OF REFERENCE

OFFICIAL PLAN AND ZONING REVIEW

MARKHAM ROAD TO MORNINGSIDE AVENUE

INTRODUCTION

Phase 4 comprises the lands along the south side of the CNR designated as Special Study Area and their immediate surroundings, lying east of Markham Road, and extending as far as Morningside Avenue, as shown on the attached Context Map (Figure 1). It includes portions of the Scarborough Village and Guildwood Communities.

As shown on the appended Secondary Plans, the abutting land use designations include Low Density Residential (RL), High Density Residential (RH), Park and Open Space Uses.

APPROACH

Existing uses will be inventoried in the field, and opportunities for new streets will be examined. The new uses proposed as part of the 1984 study conducted by the former City of Scarborough will be reviewed in the current context. The possibility of accommodating a bicycling route will be investigated. The recommendations of the study will facilitate and encourage appropriate levels of development in suitable locations, and address the issue of integrating new uses with established single family housing. A detailed review of suitable land uses and some preliminary site planning may be required. A zoning review will also be conducted.

In conjunction with the Department of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, options for park uses will be explored, particularly for the City-owned property, while Housing staff will be canvassed for interest in developing new homes on portions of the Corridor.

With the assistance of the Works and Environment Department, natural features will be inventoried to identify environmental functions, linkages, constraints and opportunities. Staff will also determine the availability, operation and capacities of any existing sanitary and stormwater sewer systems servicing the area, determine any infrastructure deficiencies, and develop a plan for the management of stormwater runoff from proposed and existing development. Data to be collected may include flood line records, and sewer capacity and flow monitoring.

The consultative process will require input from a wide variety of City departments and agencies; from the District and Separate School Boards; and from local Councillors and residents of the affected communities.

The Director of Community Planning will provide overall direction for the study. Staffing and funding will be provided through the departmental work program allocations.

PROCESS AND TIMING

1.The study commencement will be publicized and explained at an introductory Community Information Meeting in the Spring, when public input and involvement will be invited. In association with the Ward Councillors, a Working Group will be established with volunteers from the audience and appropriate staff.

2.A discussion paper will be prepared in the Summer outlining the public input and the data inventory, and the resultant issues and options. Timing will be dependent on the ecological survey, which will be affected by the weather. This paper will be circulated to departments, agencies and the public.

3.A preliminary report will be submitted to Scarborough Community Council. Reports may be required for consideration by other Committees as well. These reports will be prepared in the Summer and Fall.

4.A draft Official Plan Amendment and supporting report will be prepared, and the statutory process for a City-initiated OPA under the Planning Act will be followed. It should be possible to bring the draft OPA, and zoning by-law amendment if required, to Council by the end of 1999.

CBJ/cj

W95014:STC\PLANRPT.#7