August 24, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:Preliminary Report on Application No. 199005 for an Official Plan Amendment and a Rezoning, to permit a travel agency/parcel service within an existing detached house at 121 Runnymede Road (Ward 19 - High Park)

 Purpose:

To introduce a proposal for the use of a detached house as a travel agency/parcel service and to give this proposal further consideration including a public meeting in the community.

Source of funds:

Not applicable.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that I be requested to hold a public meeting in the community to discuss the application and to notify owners and residents within 300 metres of the site and the Ward Councillors.

Comments:

1.Site

The site is located one property south of the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Area strip, on the east side of Runnymede Road, directly across the road from the former Runnymede Theatre building.

2.The Proposal

The application is for the operation of a travel agency/parcel service in a recently vacated detached house. The house is a one storey structure with storage space in the basement and a narrow driveway leading to a below-grade integral garage. The driveway is too narrow to be useful and the owner has requested permission to construct a surface parking space further north, behind a large portion of the front wall of the house.

3.Reasons for the Application

The site is designated under the Official Plan as being within the Low Density Residence Area. The proposal is within the 1x density limits of the Official Plan Part I. Office commercial uses are not permitted within Low Density Residence Areas. Since the office commercial use is not permitted under the existing R2 Z2.0 zoning, several amendments to the Zoning By-law are required.

4.Planning Issues

4.1Parking and Loading

Vehicular access to the site is currently by a narrow driveway which is located in front of the south end of the detached house. However, parking in the driveway beyond the front wall is not permitted by the Zoning By-law. The revised plans show that driveway eliminated, and moved further north with a legal size parking space behind a large portion of the front wall of the building. The new driveway location would require an on-street residential permit parking space to be re-located further south.

4.2Compatibility with Adjacent Commercial/Residential Properties

The development site is located adjacent to a Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce which fronts on Bloor Street West, and a four storey walk up apartment building to the south. The travel agency/parcel service has operated for a number of years in the Runnymede Theatre, which is directly across the street to the west. The pattern of vehicular and pedestrian traffic attracted to the business is well established and is not expected to change significantly as a result of its relocation.

As part of this Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning application I will be considering the impact of the proposal on the stability of this residential neighbourhood, as outlined in Section 12.5 (a) of the Official Plan, Part I and its effect on the policies of the Swansea Part II Plan.

4.3Public Benefit

This travel agency has provided on-going service, primarily to the Polish/Ukranian community in the High Park-Swansea area. The applicant has indicated that it is important for the business to remain in a central and easily accessed location.

The proposed relocation of this business should be considered in light of the desirability of retaining local service businesses on the edge of the Bloor West Village.

Contact Name:Barry Brooks

Telephone: (416) 392-0758

Fax: (416) 392-1330

E-Mail: bbrooks@toronto.ca

Beate Bowron

Director, Community Planning, South District

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