August 23, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:7 Station Street, Application No. 399026: Request for amendment of the Precinct 7 Precinct Agreement and
Development Agreement, upon application by TrizecHahn Office Properties Ltd., BCE Place, 181 Bay Street, Suite 2930,
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3 (Ward 24 - Downtown)
Purpose:
To seek Council authorization to amend the Precinct 7 Precinct Agreement for the SkyWalk to permit temporary
reductions to the width of the pedestrian walkway to facilitate programmed activities within the walkway.
Financial Implications:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1.Council authorize the City Solicitor to amend the Precinct 7 Precinct Agreement registered on October 28, 1988 as
Instrument No. C515235 and the Development Agreements registered on October 18, 1988 as Instrument Nos. C512661
and CT984969 for a trial period of 2 years, as they apply to the pedestrian walkway through the site, to permit temporary
reductions to the SkyWalk width, subject to the following conditions:
(a)a minimum 6 metre clear width be maintained at all times;
(b)all displays, furnishing, exhibits or any other obstructions be temporary in nature and not permanently affixed to the
structure;
(c)any area used by people viewing the displays, exhibits, etc., or engaged in any activity associated with the temporary
reduction, shall not be included as part of the 6 metre clear width requirement;
(d)the temporary reduction shall be permitted only within the area between a point 6 metres west of the stairs identified
as "Stair #8" to a point 6 metres east of the doors identified as "West Doors to Platform" and in any case, shall not obstruct
"Stair #2" and Stair #3" within the building on the north side of the SkyWalk (See Map 1);
(e)the owner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official that the revisions will satisfy all relevant
"Code" requirements, including the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code, with particular reference to exit capacity and
occupant load requirements; and
(f)the owner and the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services,
mutually agree on the definition of a "major event", the precise areas to be allowed for reductions, and that the temporary
reductions of the SkyWalk will not be allowed to occur when the SkyWalk would be used to give access to such "major
events".
Comments:
Location
The portion of the SkyWalk under review is that part located on the south side of the former Station Street, west of York
Street shown on Map 1.
Proposal
The applicant has requested permission to narrow the functional width of the walkway to allow the current 9 metre (31.7
ft.) width to be reduced to allow for programmed activities within the SkyWalk. The purpose of such activities would be to
enhance the vitality of the space with programming meant to reach out to SkyWalk users and to encourage potential new
users of the walkway. Typical events could include staging areas for stair climbs at the CN Tower, fashion shows, displays
related to events being held at SkyDome, craft fairs, dinners, etc. It is anticipated that these displays or events would be of
a temporary nature which would not be allowed to occur on days when there might be a "major event" occurring at
SkyDome.
SkyWalk Requirements
The portion of the SkyWalk subject to this request has a current minimum width of about 9 metres, except at the York
Street Bridge connecting the SkyWalk to Union Station which is required to be maintained with a minimum width of 8.2
metres. Along the length of the SkyWalk, however, the doorways reduce the functional width of the pedestrian walkway to
about 5.5 metres. Due to this functional reduction to 5.5 metres at existing doorways, it is not expected that the proposed
reduction to 6 metres elsewhere within the walkway would reduce its overall pedestrian flow. This proposal has been
reviewed by the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services who has agreed with the requested reductions, subject to
the above noted conditions. (See Appendix A).
It should also be noted that the current Precinct 7 Precinct Agreement allows for the applicant to request permission to
permanently close the SkyWalk subject to various conditions being met. These conditions include the construction of the
now built portions of Bremner Boulevard and the construction of satisfactory pedestrian connections from Bremner
Boulevard to Union Station. The comments from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services advise the
applicant that a request to permanently close the SkyWalk would require a separate application to him for review and
approval.
Conclusion:
In the review of this application, it has become clear that throughout much of time the SkyWalk is open, it is significantly
underutilised. This has been reflected in the viability of the retail commercial uses adjacent to the SkyWalk and the ability
of the owners to attract advertising for the walkway walls. Given that the everyday usage of the SkyWalk has declined, I
am recommending that subject to the above noted conditions, the Precinct 7 Precinct Agreement and the Development
Agreement be amended to permit the temporary reduction of the required width of the SkyWalk from 9 metres to 6 metres
in the portion of the SkyWalk generally south of Station Street.
Contact Name:Angus Cranston
Telephone: (416) 392-0425
Fax: (416) 392-1330
E-Mail: acransto@toronto.ca
Beate Bowron
Director, Community Planning, South District
(p:\1999\ug\uds\pln\to991975.pln) - smc
APPLICATION DATA SHEET
| Site Plan Approval: |
Y |
|
Application Number: |
399026 |
| Rezoning: |
N |
|
Application Date: |
March 19, 1999 |
| O. P. A.: |
N |
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Date of Revision: |
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Confirmed Municipal Address:7 Station Street.
| Nearest Intersection: |
Southwest corner of Station Street and York Street. |
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| Project Description: |
To amend a previous application #388074. |
| Applicant:
Goodman Phillips & Vineberg
250 Yonge St. #2400
979-2211 |
Agent:
Goodman Phillips & Vineberg
250 Yonge St. #2400
979-2211 |
Architect:
|
PLANNING CONTROLS (For verification refer to Chief Building Official)
| Official Plan
Designation: |
FDS - Area A |
Site Specific
Provision: |
612-85; 568-91 |
| Zoning District: |
CR BLOCK 6 |
Historical Status: |
No |
| Height Limit (m): |
137.0 |
Site Plan Control: |
Yes |
PROJECT INFORMATION
| Site Area: |
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Height: |
Storeys: |
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| Frontage: |
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Metres: |
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| Depth: |
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Indoor |
Outdoor |
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| Ground Floor: |
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Parking
Spaces: |
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| Residential
GFA: |
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Loading
Docks: |
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| Non-Residential GFA: |
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(number,
type) |
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| Total GFA: |
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| DENSITY |
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| Residential Density: |
Non-Residential Density: |
Total Density: |
| Status: |
Application received. |
| Data
valid: |
March 19, 1999 |
Section: |
CP South District |
Phone: |
392-7333 |
APPENDIX A
Comments of Civic Officials
1.Works and Emergency Services (August 6, 1999)
Location
South side of former Station Street, west of York Street (the CN Express Building) forming a portion of the pedestrian
walkway system (SkyWalk) between Union Station and SkyDome.
Proposal
To amend the Precinct 7 Precinct Agreement and the Development Agreement for the site to allow the portion of the
SkyWalk located within the CN Express Building to be used for programmed activities. The applicant's proposal involves
occupying portions of the SkyWalk through the building with displays, furnishings, etc. to accommodate temporary
programming activities except on days when a "major" event is occurring at SkyDome.
Agreements
The Development Agreement for the site was registered on October 18, 1988 as Instrument Nos. C512661 and CT984969,
and the Precinct 7 Precinct Agreement was registered on October 28, 1988 as Instrument No. C515235.
SkyWalk Requirements
The subject portion of the SkyWalk has a minimum width of about 9 m. The York Street Bridge, which connects the
SkyWalk to Union Station is required to be maintained with a minimum width of 8.2 m, and the Simcoe Street portion of
the walkway, which connects to the west end of the subject portion of the walkway, has a minimum width of 9 m.
Notwithstanding the above-noted widths, it is acknowledged that there are certain constraints to pedestrian flow along the
SkyWalk, in particular, the doorways between the various SkyWalk sections. These constraints reduce the width of the
pedestrian walkway to about 5.5 m at these locations. As a result, the temporary closing of portions of the SkyWalk
through the subject building, to a limited extent, does not appear to be problematic from a pedestrian capacity perspective.
Accordingly, I have no objections to amendments to the applicable agreements to permit the temporary narrowing of the
SkyWalk through the subject building provided that a minimum 6 metre clear unobstructed width is maintained at all
times, that all displays, furnishings, and any other obstructions are temporary in nature (i.e. not permanently fixed to the
structure) and that the temporary closings satisfy all referent "Code" requirements, all as more particularly set out in the
recommendations below. I note that the 6 metre clear width required should not include any areas likely to be used by
people viewing displays or engaged in any activity associated with the temporary closing.
Finally, any proposal to close off, entirely, the SkyWalk within this building, or to reduce the clear width of the SkyWalk
to less than 6 metres, will require a separate application to this Department for review and approval.
Recommendations:
1.That the Precinct 7 Precinct Agreement and the Development Agreement be amended, as they apply to the pedestrian
walkway through the site, to permit temporary reductions to the SkyWalk width, subject to the following conditions:
(a)A minimum 6 metre clear width be maintained at all times;
(b)All displays, furnishings, exhibits or any other obstructions be temporary in nature and not permanently affixed to the
structure;
(c)Any areas likely to be used by people viewing the displays, exhibits, etc. or engaged in any activity associated with the
temporary closing, shall not be included as part of the 6 metre clear width requirement;
(d)The temporary closing shall be permitted only within the area between a point 6 metres west of the stairs identified as
"Stair #8" to a point 6 metres east of the doors identified as "West Doors to Platform" and in any case, shall not obstruct
"Stair #2" and "Stair #3" within the building on the north side of the SkyWalk;
(e)The owner demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official that the revisions will satisfy all relevant
"Code" requirements, including Building Code and Fire Code, with particular reference to exit capacity and occupant load
requirements; and
2.That the owner be advised that any proposal to reduce the clear width of the SkyWalk to less than 6 metres, or to close
off the SkyWalk entirely, will require a separate application to Works and Emergency Services for review and approval.
