(i) Retention of Existing Turn Restrictions; and

(ii) Reinstatement of Parking Meters in the Cedarvale Area

Ward 28, York Eglinton

The York Community Council recommends that:

(1)the existing turn restrictions on Eglinton Avenue West between Strathearn Road and Peveril Hill Road North be deemed appropriate and retained, as requested by CityCouncil on December16and 17, 1998, in adopting the report dated November27,1998 from the Managing Director, Economic Development, embodied in Clause No. 1 of Report No.15 of the York Community Council;

(2)a minimum of 25 parking meters be reinstated on the south side of EglintonAvenueWest between Westover Hill Road and Rostrevor Road; and

(3)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The York Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having:

(a)requested the President of the Toronto Parking Authority to:

(i)install additional parking meters in the Cedarvale area, where feasible;

(ii)meet with the local business and residential community and the local Councillors, to discuss ways and means to increase the number of parking spaces in the area; and

(iii)attend the next meeting of the Community Council on February 17, 1999;

(b)requested the Director, Transportation Services, District 1, to:

(i)monitor the speed and volume of traffic, and the impact of the turn restrictions in the affected Cedarvale area, for a period of six (6) months and to report back to the Community Council; and

(ii)report on the installation of additional turn restrictions, on completion of the foregoing study.

The York Community Council also reports having had before it the following, during consideration of the foregoing matter:

(i)Clause No. 1 of Report No. 15 of the York Community Council, as adopted by City Council on December 16 and 17, 1998;

(ii)Clause No. 12 of Report No. 13 of the Urban Environment and Development Committee (UEDC), as adopted by City Council on November 25, 26 & 27, 1998, wherein the Urban Environment and Development Committee recommended the adoption of the recommendation of the York Community Council with respect to the removal of parking restrictions on residential side streets in the Cedarvale Area, as embodied in Clause No. 3 of Report No. 10 of the York Community Council, viz:

"The York Community Council recommends that:

(1)the newly implemented parking restrictions on the residential side streets in the Cedarvale area be removed; and that the regulations which were in place prior to August 1998 be reinstated; and

(2)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto."; and

(iii)Submission by Dr. George Milne, requesting that:

-the parking meters be reinstated on Eglinton Avenue West, prior to the subway construction;

-the existing turn restrictions be maintained;

-the turn restrictions and traffic flow within the residential community be reassessed in six months; and

-the local Councillors participate in a brainstorming session with representatives from the business and residential communities to deal with the concerns.

________

Dr. George Milne, Chiropractor, and Chair of the Upper Village BIA, appeared before the Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter.

(Clause No. 1 of Report No. 15 of The York Community Council

referred to in the foregoing communication)

(City Council on December 16 and 17, 1998, adopted the following recommendation:

"It is recommended that:

(1)the report dated November 27, 1998, from the Managing Director, Economic Development, be adopted, subject to appropriate turn restrictions to be recommended to City Council by the York Community Council for implementation between Strathearn Road and Peveril Hill Road North; and

(2)the installation of the parking meters and the implementation of the turn restrictions take place simultaneously.")

The York Community Council submits, without recommendation, the report (November17,1998) from the Managing Director, Economic Development.

The York Community Council reports having directed the Director, Transportation Services, District1, to:

(1)forward his further report on the traffic and parking situation, directly to the December 16, 1998 meeting of Council; and

(2)meet with representatives of the Upper Village BIA, the Cedarvale Traffic Committee; and the Director, Small Business and Local Partnerships, in an effort to find mutually beneficial solutions to the parking situation.

The York Community Council submits the following report (November 27, 1998) from the Managing Director, Economic Development:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to determine the economic impact on the businesses in the Upper Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) as a result of the removal of on-street parking on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West, between Menin Road and Rostrevor Road.

Funding Sources:

It is anticipated that some minor costs will be incurred by the City of Toronto Parking Authority for the reinstallation of 17 parking meters.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)metered parking be reinstated on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West between MeninRoad and Rostrevor Road;

(2)the City of Toronto Parking Authority be directed to meet with the Board of Management of the Upper Village BIAs to review current parking issues and to investigate the possibilities for added off street parking spaces or facilities; and

(3)appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

At its meeting held on June 25, 1997, the former City of York Council adopted the Cedarvale Neighbourhood Speed and Traffic Management Plan, as prepared by Delcan Corporation. The Plan was based on the principles set by a local Traffic Task Force Committee which concluded that future Traffic Task Force measures should:

-enhance and promote the sustainability of the community life on all the neighbourhood streets;

-reduce vehicular speeds within the neighbourhood and promote safety of all road users; school children and other pedestrian, and cyclists;

-discourage non-local traffic, while improving the internal and external access for the community; and

-support the needs of the business community.

As part of the Plan, several measures were recommended which included turning restrictions, road narrowing, speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings, community signs, the introduction of parking on residential streets, and the removal of parking on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West between Menin Road and Rostrevor Road.

As a result of the implementation of the Speed and Traffic Management Plan, business representatives and several area residents appeared before York Community Council on September16, 1998, to express concerns relating to the negative impact to the businesses resulting from the removal of metered parking on Eglinton Avenue West between Menin Road and RostrevorRoad. The matter was subsequently referred to Toronto Council on October 1 and 2, 1998 and to the Urban Environment and Development Committee on November 1 and 2, 1998, and has since been referred back to York Community Council for further consideration and recommendation to Toronto Council.

Comments:

Historical Perspective

Within the Upper Village area there are two Business Improvement Areas, with separate Boards of Management. One is located on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West, in the former City of York, the other is located on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West, in the former City of Toronto.

Both of the BIAs are currently attempting to address the negative impacts caused by the excavation and remedial construction relating to the Eglinton West subway station. The construction involved sidewalk closures, removal of elements of previous improvements including benches and trees, road excavation and the removal of parking for businesses. During this period, businesses along both sides of the Allen Road suffered loss of customers and business revenue and in some cases leading to bankruptcies. According to many businesses they have never fully recovered from this project. Since then significant capital investment has been made on behalf of the provincial and municipal levels of government in addition to contributions from local businesses. Approximately $515,000.00 has been invested in the area on streetscaping, including promotional campaigns to attract customers back to the area. The BIAs average annual budget of $182,000.00 is anticipated to be at the same level for 1999. The area is now experiencing a progressive level of growth and investment, which is evident through the number of building permits issued and reduced vacancies. However, there is still the perception that construction is ongoing and that parking is scarce.

The area is successfully now emerging as a regional destination for dining and specialty food shopping and is promoted through festivals, newspaper advertisements, brochures (Celebration of Food) and flyers. The October 3, 1998, Festival of the Arts, attracted approximately 15,000 people. Arts related businesses and personal services also play a strong role in complimenting the area's mix of businesses and are promoted as means to draw new customers and visitors to the area. Economic Development staff and the BIA membership have worked closely over the past five years in developing a theme and initiatives to attract customers, and are currently discussing the possibilities of merging the two associations.

Economic Impact

Property owners along this one kilometer commercial retail strip collectively pay over $1.6 million dollars in realty taxes. The current loss of parking could eventually lead to a significant decline in revenue for the City as a result of vacancies, bankruptcies and a decline in reinvestment. The Chair of the Upper Village BIA (Toronto) has estimated that approximately 80 percent of the customers to this area come from communities to the north such as Woodbridge, Thornhill and RichmondHill. Based on these characteristics, any reduction in parking would have an immediate effect on businesses particularly those within the immediate area where parking has been eliminated.

According to John C. Williams of the J.C. Williams Group Limited, the value of one parking space is equivalent to between $40,000.00 to $60,000.00 in gross sales for each business within the subject area. Accordingly, it is estimated that as a result of losing 17 parking spaces, the businesses in the area could lose up to an estimated $1 million dollars in gross sales per year.

Current Pressures

The drawing power of the Upper Village BIAs is not only based on the quality of goods and services offered to the public, but also on the availability of parking that is affordable and convenient. Competition for clients in the immediate area and regionally is high. The Eglinton Way BIA, a retail strip immediately to the east, where on-street is available, markets itself to the same target customers. One of the biggest competitors is the Yorkdale Mall to the north which provides parking at no cost to its clients. Typically, retail strips north of Eglinton Avenue take the form of strip malls with ample on site parking offering proximity to goods and services.

Another issue is The Village Shule, located at the north side of Eglinton Avenue West at OldParkRoad, which is currently under construction and scheduled for occupancy in early 1999. This development is three times the density of the site, totalling 1,480 square metres of gross floor area, with no on-site parking. It is anticipated that this development will further reduce the supply of convenient parking for local businesses.

According to the Toronto Parking Authority staff, short term parking demand for the area is high in the case of all three Toronto Parking Authority lots. One of these lots is subject to a short term lease and is therefore vulnerable to redevelopment which could result in a further loss of 43 parking spaces. A further demand results from commuters to the area, reflecting high rates of occupancy for the two Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) owned commuter-parking facilities located adjacent to the Eglinton West subway station. As these spaces are used by commuters, there are few spaces, if any, left for shoppers.

Conclusions:

As customers prefer shopping in areas where parking is close and accessible, any removal of parking spaces within the two Upper Village BIAs would seriously impact on the business health of the area, including the significant work that has already been invested in the area through reconstruction and streetscaping. Economic Development staff is therefore recommending, that the 17 metered parking spaces be reinstalled, and that the City of Toronto Parking Authority requested to meet with representatives of the two BIAs to review current parking issues and to investigate ways of adding parking spaces or facilities to the area.

Contact Names

Ron Nash, Economic Development Officer

York Civic Centre

Tel:394-2889

Bill Steiss

Director

Small Business and Local Partnerships

Tel:394-2613

Brenda Librecz

Managing Director

Economic Development Division

Tel:397-4700

The York Community Council also reports having had before it the following communications during consideration of the foregoing matter:

(i)(December 9, 1998) from Mr. Hersh Forman, Toronto, to Councillor Joe Mihevc, advising that as a member of the Cedarvale Traffic Committee and Task Force, it is imperative that the Committee have an opportunity to be heard prior to any measures being taken to reinstate the parking meters on Eglinton Avenue West; and that this would be directly against the recommendation of the Task Force, subsequently approved by the former Council, which has spent two years developing and considering all the ramifications of the plan, in consultation with members of the community; and

(ii)(December 9, 1998) from Mr. Farley Cohen, advising that part of the process for dealing with the Cedarvale traffic issues, was an integrated plan, including the removal of meters on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West which is very important to the effectiveness of the overall plan; that in exchange for removing the meters, other components of the plan included and have been implemented, new parking spaces on side streets, reduced turn restrictions into the neighbourhood, and free on-street parking on Eglinton Avenue West in the evenings (no parking meters); that consideration was also given to reduced parking rates in the neighbourhood parking lots and possible acquisition of further parking facilities; that the BIA was involved in the deliberations and meetings throughout the past two years and was aware of the proposed changes; that any changes considered to the current plan should be in consultation with the Cedarvale Neighbourhood Traffic Plan Steering Committee, and possibly with the entire Cedarvale Traffic Plan Committee; and that it would be inappropriate to make changes without the input of the neighbourhood residents.

The following persons appeared before the York Community Council in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Dr. George Milne, Vice Chair, Upper Village BIA;

-Ms. Grace Russo, Retail Coordinator, Upper Village BIA.

-Mr. Phil Hutchinson, Property Manager, 989 Eglinton Avenue West;

-Mr. George Calabrese, Toronto;

-Ms. Esme Temple, Toronto;

-Mr. Bruno Lopardo, Toronto;

-Mr. Leon Taomina, Toronto;

-Dr. Lionel Goldstein, Toronto;

-Mr. Bernie Good, Toronto;

-Ms. Diana Sideris, Toronto;

-Mr. Francis Mulle, Toronto;

-Mr. Paul Coulbeck, Toronto;

-Mr. Joe Aaron, Toronto;

-Mr. Alex Petrocco, Toronto.

(City Council on December 16 and 17, 1998, had before it, during consideration of the foregoing Clause, the following report (December 16, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services Division, Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

To respond to a request by the York Community Council, at its meeting of December 9, 1998, for staff to report directly to City Council at its meeting of December 16 on the issue of parking on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West between Strathearn Road and Rostrevor Road and on local residential streets in the Cedarvale Community after consulting with various stakeholders. Before and after vehicular volume studies undertaken on the adjoining side streets are also provided.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)on-street parking on the side streets within the block between the municipal lanes and Dewbourne Avenue, as approved previously within the Cedarvale Neighbourhood Speed and Traffic Management Plan be reinstated, to provide all day parking for a maximum two hours; and

(2)the City of Toronto Parking Authority review and report on the feasibility of providing additional off-street parking within the Upper Eglinton Village Area, including reducing the current parking rates.

Background:

York Community Council at its meeting of December 9, 1998, in considering a report (November17,1998) from the Managing Director, Economic Development recommending that metered parking be reinstalled on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West, has submitted the matter to Council without recommendation, and requested staff of Works and Emergency Services (ClauseNo.1 in Report No. 15 of York Community Council) to:

(1)forward a report to the December 16, 1998, meeting of Council, and

(2)meet with representatives of the Upper Village BIA, the Cedarvale Traffic Committee, and the Director, Small Business and Local Partnerships, in an effort to find mutually beneficial solutions to the parking situation.

Comments:

As Council will recall, the issue of parking on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West, from Strathearn Road to Rostrevor Road and related parking provisions on local flanking residential streets in this area, all as park of the Cedarvale Area traffic management plan, was referred by Council to the Urban Environment and Development Committee (UEDC) (Clause No. 3 in Report No. 10 of the York Community Council).

The Urban Environment and Development Committee, at its meeting of November 2, 1998, recommended the adoption of the York Community Council recommendation, namely that:

"the newly implemented parking restrictions on the residential side streets in the Cedarvale area be removed and that the regulations that were in place prior to August 1998 be reinstated."

The UEDC also referred the matter of the re-installation of parking meters on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services with a request that he conduct a comprehensive review thereof and submit a further report to York, North York and Toronto Community Councils. City Council endorsed these recommendations at its November 25, 1998 meeting (Clause 12 in Report No. 13 of the UEDC).

In accordance with the most recent York Community Council directive, a meeting was held on December 14, 1998, at the York Civic Centre attended by representatives of the Upper Village BIA, the Cedarvale Traffic Committee, staff from the Economic Development Department and Works and Emergency Services, Transportation Division to explore mutually acceptable solutions to the parking situation.

The Cedarvale Neighbourhood Speed and Traffic Management Plan consists of a blend of various traffic management measures, as well as numerous traffic calming elements to encourage a more hospitable community environment for residents, by discouraging speeding vehicles and excessive volumes of through traffic. The plan is illustrated in Appendix 1. One element of the plan involved the transfer of on-street metered parking from the south side of Eglinton Avenue West and the municipal lane. Appendix 2 details on an individual block basis the total complement of curb side parking spaces pre and post meter transfer. (The parking meters were removed from Eglinton Avenue West on September 9, 1998 and the side street parking established concurrently, although parking meter heads were not available.)

Coupled with the transfer of the parking meters from Eglinton Avenue West to the first block of the side streets (i.e., north of the municipal lanes), additional parking (not metered) was also provided on these streets between the lane and Dewbourne Avenue. The combined supply was increased from 48 to 95 spaces for an increase of 47 spaces. Appendix 3 details the total number of curb side parking spaces on each of the side streets between the municipal lane and Dewbourne Avenue pre and post meter transfer.

The idea of transferring on-street metered parking from the south side of Eglinton Avenue West onto the adjoining side streets was to provide two continuous unimpeded eastbound vehicular traffic lanes during the weekday daytime periods. This in turn was intended to encourage the use of Eglinton Avenue West and make the adjoining side streets less attractive as a through route.

Assessment

In order to assess the impact of providing two unimpeded eastbound vehicular traffic lanes on Eglinton Avenue West, vehicular volume studies were undertaken on each of the side streets pre and post meter relocation. Summaries of these counts, which reflect average 24-hour weekday volumes are contained in Appendix 4. The results indicate that volumes on 3 of the streets declined (based on the 1998 counts). However, it must be recognized that a number of adjustments were made to turn restrictions for/to Eglinton Avenue West as part of the overall Cedarvale plan, and these would likely have a greater effect on volumes than the parking arrangements. In particular, two full-time turn prohibitions were introduced; northbound left from Flanders Road and westbound left onto Peveril Hill Road North. As well, traffic counts are subject to daily and seasonal variation.

Results of December 14, 1998 Meeting

As noted above staff of the Economic Development Division and Works and Emergency Services met with representatives of area businesses and residents to consider the parking conditions, as directed by York Community Council.

Generally, members of the Residents' Steering Committee had concerns with respect to how the Cedarvale Neighbourhood Speed and Traffic Management Plan had been implements. Specifically they noted that although the parking was transferred from Eglinton Avenue West, meter heads were not available for the new side street spaces. In addition, they indicated that the peak period parking prohibitions on the side streets between the municipal lanes to Dewbourne Avenue from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (see note no. 4 on Appendix 1) were not appropriate. The residents also indicated that they were unaware of the recent decision to restore the pre-August 1998 parking regulations on the side-streets from the municipal lane to Dewbourne Avenue. Accordingly, they feel that the evaluations are premature and require further study.

On the other hand, the business representatives continue to strongly support the reinstatement of metered parking on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West between Strathearn Road and RostrevorRoad.

Although the issue of parking on Eglinton Avenue West was not resolved, there was consensus with respect to the recommendations contained above.

Conclusion:

As has been pointed out in numerous past reports, the problems related to traffic within the Cedarvale community are long standing and complex. The Cedarvale Neighbourhood Speed and Traffic Management Plan was prepared by a steering committee of residents through a lengthy process and involves numerous inter-related elements. However, it has been evident throughout, and was again apparent at the December 14, 1998 meeting that consensus on solutions, particularly related to the parking issues, has not been achieved.

It has been demonstrated that from a capacity perspective, the provision of off-peak parking on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West is feasible. The analysis of traffic volumes on the side streets as described above does not quantitatively substantiate that the removal of parking on the arterial route and corresponding additional eastbound through lane has had a major impact on reducing through volumes on local streets.

Contact Person:

Director

Transportation Services District 1

(A copy of each of Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4, referred to in the foregoing report, is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

(City Council also had before it, during consideration of the foregoing Clause, the following communications in support of parking on the south side of Eglinton Avenue West in the Upper Village Business Improvement Area:

(i)(December 14, 1998) from Ms. Joan Doiron and Ms. Helen Hansen, Feet on the Street; and

(ii)December 14, 1998) from Mr. Alex Ling, President, Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas.)