September 14, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:Preliminary Report on Application No. 299010 to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law 438-86 to permit the construction of a 7,410 square metre Canadian Tire store at 2681, 2701, 2721 and 2575 Danforth Avenue. (East Toronto - Ward 26)

Purpose:

To introduce an application for Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments to permit a new and larger Candian Tire store to replace the existing store at the above noted addresses.

Source of Funds:

Not Applicable.

Recommendation:

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

Background:

An existing Canadian Tire store has occupied this 1.1 hectare site for approximately 25 years. Canadian Tire is now proposing to replace the existing store with a new store on a larger 2.1 hectare property.

To allow for the construction of the new store, Canadian Tire proposes to demolish its existing retail building on the site, secure the small parcel of land to the south of the store abutting the self storage facility by entering into a long-term lease with the owners of that property, demolish the video store which is located on an adjacent site to the east at 2701 Danforth Avenue and consolidate the driveways for the new store and the adjoining Main Square development into a mutual drive. Canadian Tire also proposes to move the existing pedestrian signal light to this driveway location to allow regulation of pedestrian circulation as well as vehicular movement.

Comments:

1. PROJECT: to permit the construction of a 7,410 square metre Canadian Tire store with approximately 250 parking spaces on site.
2. LOCATION: the site is located on the south side of Danforth Avenue east of Main Street and east of the Main Square commercial/residential development.
3. SITE: the site is comprised of municipal addresses 2681, 2701, 2721 and 2575 Danforth Avenue. The applicant currently owns 2681(occupied by the existing store) and 2701 Danforth Avenue. No. 2701 is vacant land.

Canadian Tire has a long-term lease securing 2721 Danforth which they in turn sub-lease to Blockbuster Video. Canadian Tire proposes to enter into a long-term lease with respect to the vacant land at 2575 Danforth Avenue which is located to the rear of its existing store. Those lands are part of the Main Square property to the east and have a small strip of land located along the south property line which is subject to a sub-lease with the City of Toronto.

1. REASONS FOR THE APPLICATION:

The site is currently split designated and zoned. The front third of the property along Danforth Avenue is designated Low Density Mixed Commercial Residential Area while the rear two thirds are designated Medium Density Residence Area under the Part 1 Official Plan.

The front third of the property is zoned Mixed Commercial Residential (MCR T3.0 C2.0 R2.5) and the rear two thirds are zoned I1 D1.

The applicant is seeking an Official Plan amendment and a rezoning for the rear two thirds of the lot to permit the proposed commercial use.

1. REASONS FOR FURTHER CONSIDERING THE APPLICATION:

1. The application proposes to replace an existing 6,300 square metre Canadian Tire Store with a new store of 7,410 square metres which represents only 1,110 square metres of additional gross floor area on the site.
2. As a replacement store the new facility will continue to serve an established Canadian Tire market and will service the local area related to the retail strip.
1. The new store is designed to be more integrated than the existing store into the Danforth Avenue retail strip by:

-bringing the storefront out to the street in a typical urban retail configuration, and by

-concealing the parking and the open garden supply compound with a structure that appears to the street as a continuation of the building facade.

d)Contrary to a stand alone location, the replacement store will act as a mainstreets retail anchor which will continue to attract shoppers to the Danforth retail strip.

e)The application incorporates an area (2775 Danforth Avenue) which is currently poorly maintained within the redevelopment.

f)The proposed parking area will provide lighting and establish pedestrian and vehicular activity in and around an area which is currently poorly lit and hidden from view from Danforth Avenue.

1. ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED:

The applicant has participated in an extensive pre-application process with Planning staff and many of the development issues, particulary with respect to the siting and orientation of the project have been resolved. Canadian Tire understands that studies will be required to document that the proposed development is compatible with the surrounding area and that it will not adversely affect the economic activity of any shopping districts within the Central Core or retail strips throughout the City.

The applicant is aware that other issues may arise during the public meeting in the neighbourhood on this application.

Conclusions:

I am recommending that a meeting be held in the neighbourhood to describe the proposal to local residents and to be advised of any comments or concerns that they may have with respect to the application.

Contact Name:Tim Burkholder

Community Planning, East Section

Fax:392-1330

E-Mail:tburkhol@toronto.ca

      Beate Bowron

Director, Community Planning, South District

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APPLICATION DATA SHEET

Site Plan Approval:	Y		Application Number:	299010
Rezoning:	Y		Application Date:	July 21, 1999
O. P. A.:	Y		Date of Revision:

Confirmed Municipal Address:2681, 2701 and 2721 Danforth Avenue.

Nearest Intersection:	Southwest corner of danforth Avenue and Guest Avenue.
Project Description:	To replace an existing retail store with a new retail store (Canadian Tire).

Applicant: Craig Hunter 30 St. Patrick St. #1000 593-4786

Agent: Hunter & Assoc. Ltd. 30 St. Patrick St. #1000 593-4786

Architect: Quadrangle Architects 380 Wellington St. W. 598-1240

PLANNING CONTROLS (For verification refer to Chief Building Official)

Official Plan Designation:		Site Specific Provision:	No
Zoning District:	MCR T3.0 C2.0 R2.5 ; I1 D1	Historical Status:	No
Height Limit (m):	14.0; 12.0	Site Plan Control:	Yes

PROJECT INFORMATION

Site Area:	20720.0 m2		Height:	Storeys:		1
Frontage:				Metres:		7.60
Depth:
				Indoor		Outdoor
Ground Floor:	7077.0 m2		Parking Spaces:			251
Residential GFA:			Loading Docks:			2
Non-Residential GFA:	7410.0 m2		(number, type)
Total GFA:	7410.0 m2

					FLOOR AREA BREAKDOWN
					Land Use	Above Grade	Below Grade
					Retail	6524.0 m2
					Service Area	886.0 m2

PROPOSED DENSITY
Residential Density:	Non-Residential Density: 0.36	Total Density: 0.36

Data valid:

July 21, 1999

Section:

CP South District

Phone:

392-7333