Overview: Dufferin Street Secondary Plan

The City of Toronto has initiated an Avenue Study to examine mixed land use and built form potential along Dufferin Street, between Highway 401 to just south of Lawrence Avenue West. This part of Dufferin Street has been identified as an Avenue in the City of Toronto Official Plan. The intent of the study is to develop a planning framework and recommendations which implements this.

Key map of for the Dufferin Avenue Secondary Studyresultant vision.

The Dufferin Street Avenue Study will review:

  • location of various densities and built forms
  • improvements to transportation network and servicing infrastructure
  • how the streetscape and pedestrian amenities environment can be improved;
  • improvements to existing community facilities, parks and open space or locations for new facilities; and
  • implementation strategies that can best achieve the vision for the area.

The results of the Dufferin Street Avenue Study will establish recommendations that include: area wide zoning changes, area specific urban design guidelines, area specific planning tools, a Transportation and Infrastructure Master Plan, and a Community Services and Facilities Strategy.

Study Area

The Study Area for the Dufferin Street Avenue Study is bounded by Highway 401 to the north to just south of Lawrence Avenue West, and includes those lands with frontage on Dufferin Street.

 

Key map of the Dufferin Avenue Secondary Study Boundary

The Study Area encompasses approximately 32 hectares and includes the Yorkdale Shopping Centre frontage in the north-east segment of the study area, the Dufflaw development site at the northeast corner of Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue West and part of the lands owned by Villa Charities in the south-west segment of the study area.

Consulting Team

The consulting team working on the Study is led by DTAH and includes RE Millward, ARUP, Fabian Papa & Partners, N. Barry Lyon Consultants Limited and SWERHUN.

Environmental Assessment

The Study examined the need for new infrastructure in the area such as new streets, water mains and sewers. In accordance with the Master Plan process, the Study satisfies Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Planning and Design Process. This process included clearly establishing the problems and/or opportunities to be addressed, and developing and evaluating a reasonable range of alternative solutions. Further, public consultation was an important part of this process. While your comments and involvement were welcome at any time, the process ensures that there was public meetings held at key decision points.

Study Process

The Dufferin Street Avenue Study will be executed in four phases, as outlined below.

Phase 1: Understand Dufferin Street and Establish a Vision (Sept. 2013 to Nov. 2013)

  • Project Purpose and Schedule
  • Understand Context and Existing Conditions
  • Local Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting #1 – October 23, 2013
  • Public Meeting #1: Establish the Community Vision – November 6, 2013

Phase 2: Generate Ideas (Nov. 2013 to Dec. 2013)

  • Local Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting #2 – November 20, 2013
  • Design Charrette – December 11, 2013

Phase 3: Test and Confirm Ideas (Dec. 2013 to Mar. 2014)

  • Local Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting #3 – February 12, 2014 (Rescheduled)
  • Public Meeting #2: Potential Options – February 26, 2014

Phase 4: Synthesis and Report (Mar. 2014 to Apr. 2014)

  • Prepare Draft Report
  • Local Advisory Committee (LAC) Meeting #4 (March 26th, 2014)
  • Public Meeting #3: Draft Recommendations (April 23rd, 2014)
  • Confirm Actions to Follow