City Planning Staff have commenced an area study of the McCowan Precinct of the Scarborough Centre area. Scarborough Centre, and the McCowan Precinct area, are shown on the below maps.
Background
Scarborough Centre is one of four designated "Centres" in the City of Toronto as shown on the Urban Structure Map (Map 2) of the Toronto Official Plan. The Official Pan describes the Scarborough Centre as an important mix of retail, government, institutional, cultural, employment and residential uses at the core of an established employment corridor along Highway 401.
Since the time of the first secondary plan for the Scarborough Centre (formerly the City Centre Secondary Plan) in 1968, the Centre has grown from a vacant land area to an urban centre. The current Scarborough Centre Secondary Plan, adopted by Council in December 2005, establishes a vision and strategic implementation policies for the Centre. The Plan also sets out broad goals for the future development of the Scarborough Centre.
The Secondary Plan recognizes that the Centre is a large geographical area in which several development areas have emerged, each with a somewhat different character. To enable detailed planning for the Centre, provide for appropriate growth management strategies, and to realize specific employment, housing, recreation, entertainment and community services and facilities objectives, the Scarborough Centre Secondary Plan divides the Centre into four land use precincts, including the McCowan Precinct.
The Scarborough Centre Secondary Plan contemplates the development of detailed "Precinct Plans" for each of the four precincts. A Precinct Plan is a policy document endorsed by Council which further articulates the policies of the Official Plan (and the Secondary Plans) for specific areas of the City.
It outlines specific development principles and guidelines at a level of detail not possible within the broader Official Plan. These principles and guidelines create the “bridge” between Official Plan policies and zoning by-law provisions and standards. In keeping with the intent of the Scarborough Centre Secondary Plan to develop detailed implementation plans for each precinct, Scarborough District Community Planning staff have initiated the McCowan Precinct Plan Study.
Study Purpose
The purpose of the McCowan Precinct Plan Study is to develop a "Precinct Plan" for the McCowan area of the Scarborough Centre. This Precinct Plan would further articulate the policies of the Official Plan (including the Scarborough Centre Secondary Plan), as well as develop a framework to guide future growth and development of the McCowan Precinct. The Precinct Plan is intended to provide implementation and policy changes to:
- inform, evaluate and shape future redevelopment in the area
- guide change and manage growth
- identify necessary public and private realm improvements
- identify needs and opportunities for improvements to parks, transportation and community and social services
- strengthen the employment base within the precinct
- direct infrastructure investment
- provide a foundation for the preparation of any policy and zoning by-law amendments for the McCowan Precinct to manage future development.
Study Process
The McCowan Precinct Plan Study was announced in an information report to Scarborough Community Council on June 2, 2011.
The study is targeted to be completed in the second quarter of 2012. Following its conclusion, a final report will be brought forward to Scarborough Community Council providing details of study findings and recommended implementation actions, which may include amendments to the Official Plan, Scarborough Centre Secondary Plan and implementing zoning.
What's New
A Charrette for the McCowan Precinct Plan Study occurred on January 21, 2012. Please see the Meeting Content section below for a copy of the presentation and images from the event.
Area Mapping
Community Consultation and Working Group Meetings
City Planning staff will be holding a number of community meetings, working group sessions and a design charrette over the course of the study. A larger format community consultation meeting kicked off the study in September 2011, and a second such meeting will take place towards the conclusion of the study.
Community Meeting #1- September 13, 2011
Meeting Content
Community Meeting #1 - Introduction to the McCowan Precinct Plan Study
A general community meeting to introduce the McCowan Precinct Plan Study, and to invite interested parties to join the Community Working Group, took place on September 13, 2011.
Community Meeting #1
Attendees were asked to volunteer what they saw as strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and constraints of the Scarborough Centre and McCowan Precinct, to begin moving towards guiding principles for the McCowan Precinct Plan.
Strengths, Opportunities, Weaknesses & Constraints Summary
Community Working Group Meeting #1 - Economic Snapshot, Profile and Land Use Overview
The first Community Working Group Meeting took place on October 12, 2011. This meeting provided detailed background information on the McCowan Precinct, to assist Working Group members in beginning to develop guiding principles for the McCowan Precinct Plan Study. Discussion centred on area economic characteristics, a demographic profile of residents and workers and a land use overview of the McCowan Precinct and the Scarborough Centre.
Community Working Group Meeting #1
Community Working Group Meeting #2 - Movement
The McCowan Precinct Plan Study's second Working Group meeting on November 16, 2011 focussed on "movement" within the Precinct. Information on transportation planning, cycling infrastructure and traffic operations was provided to assist Working Group members in considering what improvements to transportation infrastructure in the Precinct would be desirable.
Community Working Group Meeting #2
Working Group members prepared two concepts identifying priority improvements to the vehicular, transit and non-motorized transportation infrastructure in the Precinct. Key improvements included new local road connections through existing large blocks in the Precinct, improved off-road trail infrastructure potentially along the East Highland Creek, increasing connectivity between the Precinct and surrounding areas, and improved visual interest and pedestrian services along existing and future streets.
Movement Working Group Concept 1
Movement Working Group Concept 2
Community Working Group Meeting #3 - Building Communities
The Community Working Group met once again on December 14, 2011, discussing a range of topics related to the theme of "building communities". Information on Community Services and Facilities, Parks, Public Art, the Scarborough Centre Civic Precinct Implementation Plan and Urban Design was presented.
Community Working Group Meeting #3
Discussion centred on the working group's strong interest to have a large community park in the Precinct, as well as other community priorities including incorporation of public art into future development within the Precinct.
In addition, the Community Working Group undertook an exercise to refine the vision for the McCowan Precinct Plan area, with guiding principles for the three focus areas of "movement", "building communities" and "managing change" as well as actions that might be taken to further goals identified in each focus area.
Community Working Group #3 - Exercise
Working Group members were provided a set of "Opportunities and Constraints" worksheets to assist in their review and comment on the emerging vision, focus areas and actions.
Community Working Group #3 - Opportunities and Constraints Worksheets
Community Working Group Meeting #4 - Managing Change
The January 11, 2012 meeting of the Community Working Group focussed on the theme of "managing change". Presentations on servicing infrastructure, environmental planning and district energy in the Scarborough Centre were given by staff. The Community Working Group also discussed, and endorsed, the vision and guiding principles for the study in preparation for the January 21, 2012 Design Charrette.
Community Working Group Meeting #4
The final Community Working Group meeting will occur on March 7, 2012.
Charrette
A detailed design charrette for the McCowan Precinct Plan Study was held on January 21, 2012.
McCowan Precinct Plan Study: Charrette
Approximately 35 local residents, property owners and businesses worked cooperatively in groups with City Staff and Councillors De Baeremaeker and Thompson to develop plans for the Precinct's future.
Final visions:
Final Visions - Group Notes:
Links to other City Planning Documents
Contact Us
To add your name to our mailing list, submit comments, request information, or inquire about joining the McCowan Precinct Plan Study Working Group, please contact:
Russell Crooks, Senior Planner
Community Planning, Scarborough District,
t: 416 396-7040
f: 416 396-4265
e: rcrooks@toronto.ca
Perry Korouyenis, Planner
Community Planning, Scarborough District,
t: 416-396-4927
f: 416 396-4265
e: pkorouy@toronto.ca
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