PRELIMINARY EVALUATION REPORT AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING CODE RUTLEDGE
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SOUTHWEST CORNER OF EGLINTON AVENUE WEST AND BLACK
CREEK DRIVE - FILE NO. R99-002
(York - Humber)
Purpose:
To provide preliminary comments on an application by Rutledge Development Corporation, received January 28, 1999, to
amend the zoning of lands located at the south west quadrant of Eglinton Avenue and Black Creek Drive (Exhibit No. 1).
The applicant proposes a phased, mixed use development containing 9 300 square metres (100,108 sq. ft) of retail floor
space and a 150-unit residential apartment building. Future phases of the project could contain office development.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
City funding is not required. No impacts on capital or operating budgets have been identified.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that:
(1)this report be received and that the application continue to be circulated.
(2)following the submission of all required information and when a staff report is available, a public meeting to consider
the application be scheduled.
(3)A community information meeting be arranged in consultation with the local Councillors.
(4)In accordance with item 13, City of Toronto Corporate Services Committee Report No. 2, adopted by Council on
March 2, 1999 (Exhibit No. 2), staff, the Ward Councillors and the applicant consult with the York City Centre Citizens
Committee regarding the proposal.
Comment:
Reason for Application:
The subject lands are located within the York City Centre area. The Plan encourages the development of a civic/corporate
centre with a multi-dimensional character and a variety of uses established around an upgraded transportation network
comprising a rapid transit line, Go station and bus terminal. The lands were zoned City Centre Mixed Use with a holding
provision (CCM-H) in 1993, in accordance with an application made by the former owners of the site, Dumez Real Estate
North America (DRENA). The site specific By-law [Section 16(336)] allows for mixed use development containing a
maximum of 7 500 m2 of retail floor area, 850 residential units, 87 500m2 of office floor area and 11 613 m2 of institutional
floor area, all arranged in accordance with certain block configurations and specific development provisions. The type and
amount of development permitted in the first phase is also specified.
The application proposed by the Rutledge Development Corporation requires amendments to the existing By-law in areas
generally related to the amount of retail floor space, the type and amount of development permitted in the first phase, the
configuration of the development parcels, and the location of parking and other development provisions.
Project Information:
Existing Use:Vacant lands, Photography Drive and Keelesdale Road
Official Plan:City Centre Mixed Use (York City Centre Specific Area Policy 21.8)
Zoning:City Centre Mixed Use Subject to a Holding Provision (CCM-H) [S. 16(336)]
Site Area:4.7 ha (12 ac.) including public road allowances
Retail Component
Gross Floor Area:9 300 m2 (100,108 sq. ft.)
Floor Space Index:0.3
Residential Component
Total Units:150
Density:326 uph (132 upa)
Transportation Facility
Lot Area0.60 ha (1.5 ac.)
Issues:
No City-wide issues have been identified in respect to the zoning amendment application. Staff note that the project is
premised on the applicant assembling additional lands owned by the Ministry of Transportation and exchanging lands with
the City to create the development parcels. The proposed land exchange would allow the City to assemble a 0.6 hectare (1.5
ac.) parcel of land for a potential future transportation facility consisting of a GO station, and facilities ancillary to the
future York City Centre Subway station, including a bus terminal and passenger pick-up/drop off facilities, at no cost to the
City. On March 2, 1999, Council adopted a report from the Commissioner of Corporate Services, authorizing staff to
proceed with negotiations to formalize terms and conditions for the exchange of lands, subject to a future report back to
Council, among other matters (Exhibit No. 2). Matters with regard to the land exchange, road closures and the creation and
retention of an appropriate parcel of land for a future transportation facility have City wide implications, and will be
addressed through the Corporate Services Committee, prior to Council.
Local issues that must be addressed by the applicant include the following: context for future redevelopment of the site;
urban design issues (siting of the buildings, relationships with other proposed uses, compliance with design guidelines and
landscaping); transportation issues (future road networks, traffic impact, access driveways, parking, and on-site
circulation); soil contamination; storm water management; and, CN/CP operational requirements.
Status:
The application is in circulation. A community meeting will be arranged in consultation with the Ward Councillors. A staff
report is expected to be available in the spring of 1999. Corporate Services staff have been authorized negotiate with the
applicant regarding the proposed land exchanges.
