Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5H 2N2
www.toronto.ca
Tel: 416-392-7572
Fax: 416-392-1330
File No./796008
Urban Planning and Development Services
February 11, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:Extension of Fort York Blvd. - Amendments to the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan
and Zoning Bylaw (Ward 20 Trinity Niagara)
Purpose:
To seek Council approval to conduct the necessary studies and public consultation required to
amend the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan and Zoning By-law to permit the extension of the
proposed Fort York Boulevard between Fleet Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West
consistent with earlier reports and studies and Council direction.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1.the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services be requested to conduct
the studies and public consultation necessary to amend the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan and
related Zoning By-laws to extend Fort York Boulevard between Fleet Street and Lake Shore
Boulevard West; and
2.the City Solicitor prepare the necessary by-law amendments.
Source of Funds:
Not Applicable.
Background:
The Official Plan of the former City of Toronto, in Section 19.44 - Railway Lands Central
Part II Plan, Section 19.45 - Railway Lands West Part II Plan and Section 19.46
Bathurst/Strachan Area Part II Plan, approved the creation of the new streets Bremner
Boulevard and Fort York Boulevard from Lake Shore Boulevard east of York Street, west to
Fleet Street just east of the Fort York Armoury. See (Map 1). Bremner Boulevard is built
between Lake Shore Boulevard and Spadina Avenue. Council adopted a recommendation that
Bremner Boulevard be extended from Spadina to Bathurst, as soon as possible, at its meetings
of October 6, 1997. Council also approved a recommendation to expedite design work and
cost estimates for Fort York Boulevard, at its August 12, 1996 meeting.
The extension of Fort York Boulevard from Fleet Street to Lake Shore Boulevard West is a
component of the Garrison Common Transportation Plan, prepared by the former Metro
Planning Department, dated August 26, 1997 and adopted by the former Metropolitan Council
at its September 24 and 25, 1997 meeting. The Plan states the following advantages for this
link:
-it would reduce future delays to streetcars on existing and potential routes
-it would eliminate the need to widen Fleet Street by providing an alternate route to Lake
Shore Boulevard for future local traffic, and
-it would provide more direct access and prominence to the Fort.
The then Acting Commissioner of Planning was to report to the new City of Toronto Council
on progress towards the implementation of the plan.
Comments:
- Benefits of Extending Fort York Boulevard to Lake Shore Boulevard
(a)Bathurst/Strachan Transportation Steering Committee
The extension of the future Fort York Boulevard between Fleet Street and Lake Shore
Boulevard is one of the transportation initiatives for the Bathurst/Strachan area and for the
wider Garrison Common Area. The Transportation Initiatives for the Bathurst/Strachan Area
are shown on Map 1.
The alignment of the extension must be compatible with the other elements of the
transportation initiatives for the area, including transit extensions to the west and the
extension of the Queen's Quay West LRT. The Steering Committee recognized that the
extension of Fort York Boulevard may require the redesign of the Lake Shore Boulevard -
Strachan Avenue intersection.
(b)Transit Improvements
The link supports the westward extension of existing and possible future street car lines on
Bathurst Street, Bremner Boulevard and especially the westward extension of the Waterfront
LRT line from Queen's Quay.
(c)Benefits to Fort York and Gore Park
The link would provide Fort York with direct road access from Lake Shore Boulevard to its
new address on Fort York Boulevard and improve its visibility.
The link would bi-sect Gore Park, the triangular shaped and very underused park east of the
Princes' Gate. Gore Park has been used primarily for overflow parking for events at
Exhibition Place. The Gibraltar lighthouse occupies the extreme eastern tip of the park.
Approval of Fort York Boulevard through the park would require a review of the use and
design of the park, which is a long standing need. The former City of Toronto and the former
Metro Toronto agreed that the National Trade Centre development would be excused from its
parks levy requirement on condition that Metro would eliminate the use of Gore Park as an
overflow parking area and conduct a design study for Gore Park as a park.
2.Work Programme
The Fort York Boulevard extension is not shown in the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan, or in
the Zoning By-law, therefore Official Plan and Zoning amendments are required.
The road extension is a public project, and is defined as an "undertaking" under the
Environmental Assessment Act. A Class Environmental Assessment will be required. It is
anticipated that the Class Environmental Assessment can be prepared by City staff. Some
traffic modelling will be needed.
Conclusion:
The extension of the planned Fort York Boulevard between Fleet Street and Lake Shore
Boulevard will improve the access to Fort York, the Bathurst/Strachan neighbourhood and the
Railway Lands. It will also increase the transit options on Bremner and Fort York Boulevards.
I am, therefore, recommending studying amendments to the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan and
Zoning By-law to permit the extension of Fort York Boulevard.
Contact Name:
Ian Cooper
Telephone:(416) 392-7572
Fax:(416) 392-1330
E-Mail:icooper@toronto.ca
Beate Bowron, Director
Community Planning
South District
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