April 19, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:Extension of Downtown Yonge Street Community Improvement Project Area (Downtown)

Purpose:

To provide a recommendation for the adoption of a by-law enlarging the Downtown Yonge Street Community Improvement Project Area in preparation for Council's future consideration of an amendment to the Downtown Yonge Street Community Improvement Plan.

Financial Implications:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

1.That City Council adopt a by-law designating the lands along Yonge Street generally between Grenville Street and Davenport Road as a Community Improvement Project Area for Amendment No. 2 to the Downtown Yonge Street Community Improvement Plan.

2.That the City Solicitor prepare an appropriate by-law for Council's consideration at its meeting of May 11, 1999.

Background:

Subsection 28(2) of the Planning Act provides that the council of a municipality which has an Official Plan which contains provisions relating to community improvement, may by by-law designate the whole or any part of an area covered by such an Official Plan as a Community Improvement Project Area. The former City of Toronto Official Plan contains provisions relating to community improvement which covers the lands abutting Yonge Street.

The former City of Toronto Council enacted By-law 1996-0135, designating Downtown Yonge Street as a Community Improvement Project Area and adopted a Community Improvement Plan for the area generally along Yonge Street between Richmond and Grenville Streets. A number of community improvement initiatives have been undertaken in this area including a Commercial Facade Improvement Grant and Loan Program.

The Ontario Municipal Board amended the Community Improvement Plan in an Order dated November 25, 1998, approving By-law 1997-0196 of the former City of Toronto, a by-law "To amend the Downtown Yonge Street Community Improvement Plan to incorporate the Regeneration Program into the Plan in order to facilitate implementation of the regeneration strategies developed under the Regeneration Program".

The Plan by-law contains a map which defines the boundaries of the Downtown Yonge Street Community Improvement Project Area, the area being consistent with the Project Area by-laws adopted by the former City of Toronto Council as By-law 1996-0135 as amended by By-law 1996-0420.

It is desirable to study for the purposes of expanding the potential use of the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant and Loan Program an area north of the existing Project Area generally along Yonge Street between Grenville Street and Davenport Road. Councillor Rae, Councillor Adams, Councillor Bossons , the Yonge Street Small Business Association and the Bloor Yorkville Business Improvement Area have been consulted with respect to this initiative.

Maps 1 and 2 attached to this report show an area to the north of the existing Project Area which could be designated by by-law as a Community Improvement Project Area in order to facilitate the future consideration by Council of Amendment No. 2 to the Downtown Yonge Street Community Improvement Plan.

It is recommended that City Council adopt a by-law designating the aforementioned Project Area.

Contact Name:

Gregg Lintern

Community Planning, South District

Telephone:(416) 392-7363

Fax: (416) 392-1330

E-mail: glintern@toronto.ca

Beate Bowron

Director, Community Planning, South District

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