June 28, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:Final Report - Fort York Boulevard Extension - Amendment to Bathurst/Strachan Part II Official Plan and to Zoning By-laws (Ward 20 - Trinity-Niagara)

Purpose:

To recommend the Part II Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments needed to permit the extension of Fort York Boulevard between Fleet Street and Lake Shore Boulevard.

Source of Funds:

Not applicable

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

1.City Council resolve that the planned roadway from the intersection of Bathurst Street and Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Lake Shore Boulevard West be named "Fort York Boulevard";

2.The City Solicitor be requested to prepare an amendment to Section 19.46 (The Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan) of the Official Plan of the former City of Toronto to amend Maps B-D, F, G, and I-K to show the extension of Fort York Boulevard to Lake Shore Boulevard West, as shown on Map 1, attached to this report;

3.The City Solicitor be requested to prepare amendments to By-laws 1995-0466, 1996-0243, 1996-0244, 1996-0245, 1996-0246 and 1996-0247 to amend all maps to show the extension of Fort York Boulevard to Lake Shore Boulevard West, as shown on Map 1, attached to this report;

4.The City Solicitor be requested, upon approval of Recommendation 1 of this report, to prepare an amendment to Section 19.46 (The Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan) of the Official Plan of the former City of Toronto, as follows:

a)in Sections 2.2, 5.3, 8.2(a), 8.3, 8.4, 9.2.9, and 9.2.14(a), replace the words "Bremner Boulevard" where they appear, with the words "Fort York Boulevard",

b)in Section 8.11, replace the words "Bathurst-Bremner" with the words "Bathurst-Nelson Mandela-Fort York",

c)in Section 3.1(b), delete the text and replace with:

"that Fort York Boulevard be developed westward from the intersection of Bathurst Street and Nelson Mandela Boulevard, with wide, landscaped sidewalks such that it establishes the north and west limits of private development and links Bathurst Street with Lake Shore Boulevard West";

d)amend Maps B-D and F-K to replace the words "Bremner Boulevard" where they are found with the words "Fort York Boulevard" west of Bathurst Street and with the words "Nelson Mandela Boulevard" east of Bathurst Street.

5.The City Solicitor be requested, upon approval of Recommendation 1 of this report, to prepare amendments to By-laws 1995-0466, 1996-0243, 1996-0244, 1996-0245, 1996-0246 and 1996-0247 to replace the words "Bremner Boulevard" where they are found in the text and on the maps, with the words "Fort York Boulevard";

6.The Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, in consultation with the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, be requested to prepare a design for the development of Gore Park, consistent with the extension of Fort York Boulevard and Section 4.4.3 of the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Official Plan; and

7.The Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be asked to report on implementing the name "Fort York Boulevard" for the proposed road between Bathurst Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West.

Council Reference and Background:

Toronto Community Council, at its February 17, 1999 meeting, adopted the recommendations of my February 3, 1999 report to conduct the studies and consultation needed to amend the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan and the related Zoning By-laws to extend Fort York Boulevard from Fleet Street to Lake Shore Boulevard.

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.

Comments:

1.Transportation

Fort York Boulevard from Bathurst Street to Fleet Street is already shown in the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan. Its extension to Lake Shore Boulevard is part of overall transportation initiatives for the area around Fort York.

The extension was also included in the amended Environmental Assessment prepared by the TTC and now approved for the western extension of the Waterfront LRT from Spadina Avenue and Queens Quay West to the Exhibition Place loop. It will add traffic capacity lost on Lake Shore Boulevard due to the LRT extension crossing Lake Shore Boulevard at Bathurst Street. No further Environmental Assessment is required.

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 states the following advantages for this extension:

-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 Fort York.

2.Access and Visibility for Fort York

The extension would provide Fort York with direct road access from Lake Shore Boulevard to its new address on Fort York Boulevard, improve its visibility and encourage more use and knowledge of the Fort and its importance to Toronto's history.

3.Gore Park Design

The extension would bi-sect Gore Park, the triangular shaped and very underused park east of the Princes' Gate which has been used primarily for overflow parking for events at Exhibition Place. The Gibraltar lighthouse occupies the extreme eastern tip of the park. Section 4.4.3 of the Bathurst/Strachan Part II Plan advocates the use of Gore Park as open space for the local community, the elimination of parking as soon as possible and the preparation of a parks plan for Gore Park to be implemented after parking is eliminated. A well planned and developed park on this site would serve the future Bathurst/Strachan community, improve the park and pedestrian linkage between Coronation Park and the open space around Fort York, enhance the Princes' Gate entrance to Exhibition Place and make much better use of this very underused City-owned resource. The extension of Fort York Boulevard through Gore Park increases the urgency of preparing a parks plan.

4.Re-naming Bremner Boulevard to Fort York Boulevard and Nelson Mandela Boulevard

The proposed road called Fort York Boulevard in this report is officially still un-named. A motion to name it "Fort York Boulevard" was deferred by the Council of the former City of Toronto August 21, 1997. (Clause 11, City Services Committee Report No. 10 - Naming of Future Portion of Bremner Boulevard, as Fort York Boulevard). Fort York is the most important historical site in Toronto and naming the street which will finally give it an address will begin to give it the prominence and accessibility that it has lacked for so long.

City Council also passed a motion on October 1 and 2, 1998, that the unopened section of Bremner Boulevard between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street be named "Nelson Mandela Boulevard". I am recommending the necessary changes to the text and maps in the Part II Official Plan to implement this decision.

5.Public Meeting

A public meeting in the community to consider the proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments was held on May 10, 1999 at Niagara Street Public School and was attended by 10 people including Councillor Pantalone. Those attending were supportive of the proposal.

Conclusions:

1.The Official Plan and Zoning By-law should be amended to show the extension of Fort York Boulevard between Fleet Street and Lake Shore Boulevard so that it can be built as soon as possible.

2.The design for Gore Park should proceed.

3.The proposed road between Bathurst Street and Lake Shore Boulevard should be formally named "Fort York Boulevard".

Contact Name:

Ian Cooper

Phone:392-7572

Fax391-1330

E-mailicooper@toronto.ca

Beate Bowron

Director, Community Planning,

South District

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