April 9, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:1873 Bloor Street West Application for consent under Chapter 276, Article I of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code to permit construction of a washroom addition to the Colborne Lodge coach house which is located within the High Park Ravine (Ward 19 - High Park).

Purpose:

To obtain City Council's consent to Application No. 099001 respecting the construction of a washroom addition to the north end of the existing historically listed Colborne Lodge coach house at 1873 Bloor Street West.

Source of Funds:

Funding for the project has been provided from the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, Parks and Recreation Division, Capital Budget Account #216-476.

Recommendations:

1.That City Council consent to Application No. 099001 respecting 1873 Bloor Street West (High Park) to permit the construction of a washroom addition to the Colborne Lodge coach house, within the High Park Ravine, subject to the conditions:

(a)that the owner shall provide and maintain the landscaping substantially in accordance with Site Plan (SP-1), dated March 12, 1999 prepared by Paul Jurecka, Architect, and date stamped as received on March 12, 1999 and Landscape Plan (L-1), Plan ( PL-1), and Elevations (EL-1), (El-2) and (EL-3) all dated January 7, 1999 and date stamped as Received March 4, 1999, all as on file with the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services;

(b)the owner shall, prior to excavation and construction, erect plywood hoarding fence around the adjacent Horse Chestnut tree and construction site for the duration of the excavation and construction. Such fencing shall be erected not less that 2.43 metres from the base of the eighty (80) centimetre Horse Chestnut tree shown on Site Plan (SP-1) and the area within the fencing shall not be disturbed by compaction or storage of soil or other materials.

Comments

1.Project:

To construct a washroom addition to the Colborne Lodge coach house located within the High Park Ravine.

2.Location:

On the east side of Colborne Lodge Drive at the south end of High Park.

3.Site:

The land is part of the 161.8 hectares (400 acres), of High Park and is located directly north of the historical Colborne Lodge building. City Parks division are undertaking to provide additional washroom facilities on site, for visitors to the historical Colborne Lodge and Coach House Museum.

4.Comments from Civic Officials:

(a)The Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services has indicated that the proposed addition complies with the requirements of the Zoning By-law.

(b)The Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services indicated his satisfaction with the proposal subject to conditions related to geotechnical compliance, sediment control measures and site servicing.

(c)The Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Services stated that the current proposal is acceptable.

5.Planning Considerations:

The applicant has proposed constructing a one storey and basement building to provide washroom facilities within the character and footprint of the existing historical Colborne Lodge coach house. Some limited grading, excavation, sod removal and restoration will be undertaken during construction of the washroom facilities and new sanitary line. This project will not affect the nearby City trees, which will be protected throughout the construction process.

A Statement of Approval/Undertaking has also been prepared. It will incorporate the recommendations of the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services noted above, and the recommendations of Heritage Toronto with respect to requiring an Archeologist on site during any excavations.

Conclusions:

In this instance I believe that the current proposal for construction of the washroom facilities is both reasonable and within the intent of Chapter 276, Ravines, of the former City of Toronto's Municipal Code. Therefore, I recommend that City Council give consent to the proposed development subject to the owner entering into a Ravine Control Agreement.

Contact Name:Barry Brooks

Telephone: (416) 392-0758

Fax: (416) 392-1330

E-Mail: bbrooks@toronto.ca

Beate Bowron

Director, Community Planning, South District

(p:\1999\ug\uds\pln\to991866.pln) - smc

APPENDIX A

Reports of Civic Officials

1.Urban Planning and Development Services (March 25, 1999)

Zoning Review

A review of the information submitted indicates the proposal complies with the City's zoning by-laws.

Other Applicable Legislation and Required Approvals

1.	The proposal DOES NOT require conveyance of land for parks purposes, or payment in lieu thereof pursuant to Section 42 of the Planning Act.
2.	The property is listed historical, and the proposal requires the approval of Heritage Toronto under the Ontario Heritage Act.
3.	The issuance of any permit by the Chief Building Official will be conditional upon the proposal's full compliance with all relevant provisions of the Ontario Building Code.

2.Works & Emergency Services (April 7, 1999)

This is in reference to the application by Jureka and Associates on behalf of the City of Toronto Facilities and Real Estate, for the proposed public washroom addition to the Coach House located north of Colborne Lodge in High Park, east of Colborne Lodge Drive.

The site is subject to Ravine Control as set out in Municipal Code Chapter 276, Article 1.

As such the applicant will be required to direct all roof leaders away from the top of slope. Sediment control measures are to be utilized during construction to minimize sediment in any runoff down the slope.

A geotechnical report has been provided with the application. The geotechnical consultant shall certify following construction that the work was performed in conformance with the recommendations of the report.

Site Servicing

The applicant has proposed a sanitary lift station to direct the drainage from Colborne Lodge and the new washrooms to the existing sanitary sewers servicing the existing washroom facilities located north of the site.

Since this existing sanitary line is in turn pumped by another existing pumping station in the park, the applicant is to provide expected summer peak flow rates from the new washrooms and Colborne Lodge to determine whether there is sufficient capacity in the existing station. The applicant is to provide details of the proposed lift station and the force main connections to the existing sewers to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services.

3.Economic Development, Culture & Tourism (March 22, 1999)

This will acknowledge the new plans pertaining to the above noted development application which were circulated to Forestry Services on March 22, 1999. I have reviewed the circulated plans and advise that:

I advise that the Site Plan SP-1 prepared by Paul Jurecka Architect, date stamped as received on March 12, 1999 by Urban Planning & Development Services and on file with the Commissioner of Urban Planning & Development Services is acceptable.

4.The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (March 16, 1999)

Further to our comments on the related Ravine By-law Variance Application (099001), we advise that our comments at outlined in our February 1, 1999 letter (copy enclosed) apply to this application also. Therefore, we have no objections to the approval of this application.

We trust this is satisfactory. However, should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned or Gaspare Ritacca at extension 324.

5.(February 1, 1999)

This will acknowledge receipt of the above noted application. We offer the following comments.

It is our understanding that the purpose of this application is to permit a proposed public washroom addition to the existing coach house/museum. The proposed works are located adjacent to a valley corridor feature. The Authority's "Valley and Stream Corridor Management Programme"(VSCMP) sets out our programmes and policies in regard to development adjacent to valley corridors. The overall objectives of the Authority's VSCMP policies are to prevent development from occurring within areas that may introduce a risk to life and property associated with flooding, erosion and slope stability or is not compatible with the protection and rehabilitation of these natural areas in their natural undisturbed state.

Authority staff inspected the site and we are satisfied that the proposed works are consistent with the Authority's policies and will not negatively impact the valley corridor. Further, as the proposed works are not located within an area regulated under Ontario Regulation 158, a permit is not required from the Authority.

Therefore, we have no objections to the approval of this application.

We trust this is satisfactory. However, should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned or Gaspara Ritacca at extension 324.

6.Heritage Toronto (February 10, 1999)

It is our understanding that the above-noted Ravine By-law Variance Application is for excavation related to sanitary sewer lines which are required for a proposed washroom addition to the coach house at Colborne Lodge in High Park.

Due to the value of the site as a heritage resource, our primary concern is that any excavation must be monitored by a licensed archaeologist who is authorized to stop the work to undertake retrieval and documentation of any artifacts that are uncovered.

Some archaeological investigation has already been performed at the site, and we can provide the City with the names of archaeologists who have undertaken this work. If the City wishes to tender the monitoring portion of the work, we can assemble a more complete list of archaeologists who work in the Toronto area.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. If you have any questions or comments with respect to the above, do not hesitate to contact me at extension 238.

7.Toronto Transit Commission (March 16, 1999)

The above referenced plan has been reviewed from a transit standpoint, and is considered to be satisfactory.