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Bloor Dundas 'Avenue' Study |
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At its March 2008 meeting, City Council approved an 'Avenue' study for the portion of Bloor Street West between Keele Street and Dundas Street West and for Dundas Street West between Glenlake Avenue and Boustead Avenue (see inset map).
The City Planning Division is coordinating this study. The consulting firm of Brook Mcllroy Planning & Urban Design/Pace Architect (BMI/Pace) has been retained as the lead consultant to prepare the study report, targeted for completion at the end of 2008.
 The Bloor Dundas 'Avenue' study will make recommendations for implementing the policies of the City of Toronto Official Plan. Recommendations may include area wide zoning changes, urban design guidelines and other area specific planning tools. City Planning staff will be responsible for developing new policy, zoning and urban design guidelines as appropriate to implement the recommendations.
What's New
Notice of Adoption
On December 4, 2009, the City of Toronto adopted Amendment No. 100 and passed Zoning By-law No. 1222-2009 to implement a number of the recommendations from the Bloor-Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study. An explanation of the purpose and effect of the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law is attached to the Notice of Adoption. Copies of the Notice of Adoption, Official Plan Amendment No. 100 and Zoning By-law No. 1222-2009 are available below:
City Planning's Final Report
City Planning staff have prepared a final report recommending approval of amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law 438-86, and adoption of Urban Design Guidelines to implement the findings and recommendations of the Bloor-Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study. The report also provides recommendations and an implementation strategy to help advance the revitalization of Bloor Street West and Dundas Street West within the Study Area. The report is available below:
Final Report by Consultants
The Final Report submitted by the consultants for the Bloor-Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study is available below:
- Final Report by Consultants
(Full document: Please note that this document is 31 MB and may take a few minutes to load depending on your download speed)
You can also view each section of the Final Report:
City Planning conducted a Community Services and Facilities Assessment as part of the Bloor-Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study. Its findings are highlighted in the above Final Report. The Assessment is available below:
(NOTE: You will need to have the latest version of the  FREE Acrobat Reader to view PDF files linked on this page.)
Background
The purpose of the Official Plan is to direct physical growth by:
- Identifying areas where the City wishes to see that growth occur (Downtown, Centres and Avenues and employment growth in Employment Districts);
- Focusing civic resources to ignite that change; and
- Creating a new regulatory framework (i.e. zoning by-law and design guidelines) that allows development to proceed in a timely manner with a degree of design flexibility while continuing to provide the broader community with a level of certainty about the character and form of development.
Why an Avenue Study?
| The Official Plan identifies selected corridors along major transit routes as Avenues where transit-supportive reurbanization is intended to create new jobs and housing while improving local streetscapes, infrastructure and amenities. Avenues are intended to gradually accommodate development as Toronto continues to grow. |
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Bloor Street West and Dundas Street West are identified as Avenues.
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Because each Avenue is different in terms of lot sizes and configuration, street width, existing uses, neighbouring uses, transit service and streetscape potential, Section 2.2.3 of the Official Plan directs that a framework for change be tailored to the situation of each Avenue through a local Avenue study. |
Study Purpose
The Bloor Dundas 'Avenue' study will identify a vision for the future development of the area, as well as develop an implementation program to achieve this vision.
The study will identify:
- Where and how mid-rise, mixed-use buildings can be located;
- How the streetscape and pedestrian environment can be improved;
- Where public open space may be created and existing parks improved;
- Where trees should be planted; and
- How use of the road allowance can be optimized and transit service enhanced.
Bloor Street Visioning Initiative
The seven guiding principles developed through City Planning's recent Bloor Street Visioning Initiative will inform the study's work and help shape a vision for the area.
The seven guiding principles are: |
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- Encourage community vitality through a mix of uses that includes retail/commercial at-grade;
- Enhance the pedestrian and cyclist experience along Bloor Street West;
- Encourage opportunities to green the public and private realms;
- Improve and integrate transit services and facilities;
- Encourage development at an appropriate scale and density that is compatible with the existing built form, street width and neighbourhood context;
- Encourage high quality architecture that builds upon the positive attributes of the area; and
- Protect existing neighbourhoods from negative impacts.
Study Process
The study is divided into three phases with community engagement occurring in each phase:
- Phase One: Research
- Phase Two: Design Alternatives
- Phase Three: Synthesis and Final Report
 This study is targeted to be completed near the end of 2008. Following completion of the review, City Planning staff will prepare a report that may include area-specific zoning regulations to guide development, which could include a mix of uses, heights, densities, setbacks and other zoning standards. The report may also contain urban design guidelines, a streetscape plan, landscaping, road improvements and improved access to public transit.
Community Consultation
 City Planning staff and the consulting team will be holding several community consultation meetings and a design workshop for the study.
Local Advisory Committee
City Planning staff and the consulting team will also consult with a Local Advisory Committee (LAC). The LAC is comprised of local stakeholders including residents, business owners and property owners. The role of the LAC is to advise City Planning staff and the consulting team of issues and opportunities within the area and to provide feedback throughout the study process.
LAC membership includes representation from:
- Area Residents
- Bishop Marrocco / Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School
- Bloor By the Park B.I.A.
- Councillor Gord Perks, Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park
- Friends of Dundas and Bloor
- High Park Community Advisory Council
- High Park Residents Association
- Lithuanian Lutheran Church
- Loblaw Properties
- Loyola Arrupe
- Roncesvalles Macdonell Residents Association
- Roncesvalles Village B.I.A.
- South Junction Triangle Residents Association
- The Crossways Complex
- Vilnius Manor
- WestBend Community Association
LAC Meetings
The public are welcome to attend the LAC meetings and observe the LAC discussions. To ensure a focused discussion at these meetings, we ask that members not appointed to the Local Advisory Committee reserve their comments for the Bloor Dundas 'Avenue' Study public meetings or submit their comments directly to the City (see Contact Us section).
All residents, business and property owners, and stakeholders are encouraged to participate fully in the larger community meetings for the Bloor Dundas 'Avenue' study because your comments and questions spark further discussion at the LAC meetings and assist with the study's progress. You may also want to connect with your area Resident's Association, Business Improvement Area or community agency (see list of LAC members above) to ask that your comments be included in the LAC discussions.
Meeting Schedule:
Meeting 1 - Thursday, June 26, 2008
Meeting 2 - Tuesday, September 3, 2008
Meeting 3 - Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Meeting 4 - Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Kick-Off Public Meeting - Tuesday July 8, 2008
Design Workshop - September 20, 2008
Community Meeting - Tuesday November 18, 2008
Community Meeting - Monday, January 26, 2009
Links to other City Planning documents
Contact Us
To submit comments or questions, please contact:
Corwin Cambray
Senior Planner, Official Plan
Policy & Research, City Planning Division
City of Toronto
Metro Hall, 23rd Floor, 55 John Street
Toronto, ON M5V 3C6
Tel: 416-397-0244
Fax: 416-397-4080
Email: ccambra@toronto.ca
You can also contact your Ward Councillor:
Councillor Gord Perks
Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park
Tel: 416-392-7919
Email: councillor_perks@toronto.ca
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