Information & Reports

City Council – December 6, 2017

At the December 6, 2017 meeting, City Council considered items EX29.2 and TE28.7 together. Council adopted the Rail Deck Park Secondary Plan (Official Plan Amendment 395), and directed staff to advance the Stage 2 Work Plan for Rail Deck Park. The adopted recommendations in EX29.2 are summarized as follows:

  • Council authorize the Deputy City Managers and the Interim Chief Financial Officer, in consultation with City Solicitor, to:
    1. advance the Stage Two Work Plan for Rail Deck Park in 2018 and 2019
    2. utilize the City-owned lands in the rail corridor only in a manner consistent with a comprehensive park
  • Council request Metrolinx to work in partnership with the Deputy City Manager, to advance the Spadina-Front GO station, the Rail Deck Park proposal and other aligned capital projects in the rail corridor.
  • Council authorize the Deputy City Manager and the Interim Chief Financial Officer to advance the development of a growth-focused financial strategy for Rail Deck Park, and to proactively consult with the development and business communities on the principles of the financial strategy.
  • Council direct the Interim Chief Financial Officer to engage land development and legal expertise in assessing the financial strategy, and report back to City Council with the implementation strategy once the cost for securing properties is known and capital cost estimates have been refined.
  • City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Director, Toronto Office of Partnerships to undertake public and stakeholder engagement to inform early-stage design; develop a fundraising strategy and evaluate sponsorship potential; and evaluate governance options for long-term programming, operations and maintenance.

Toronto and East York Community Council – November 14, 2017

At the November 14, 2017 meeting, Toronto and East York Community Council adopted item TE 28.7 which introduced a draft Official Plan Amendment and the proposed Rail Deck Park Secondary Plan. The adopted recommendations are summarized as follows:

  1. City Council amend the Official Plan for the lands located within the Rail Corridor between Bathurst Street and Blue Jays Way including Northern Linear Park and Mouth of the Creek Park, substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment 395 attached as Appendix 1 to the report (October 27, 2017) from the Acting Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.
  2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Official Plan Amendment as may be required.

Toronto and East York Community Council – June 13, 2017

At the June 13, 2017 meeting, Toronto and East York Community Council adopted item TE25.57, which provided preliminary findings and emerging directions for the updated planning framework for the rail corridor by way of a preliminary report as directed by City Council’s adoption of EX 17.1. The adopted recommendations were as follows:

The Toronto and East York Community Council directed that:

  1. The Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, conduct consultation with the public and other stakeholders on proposed Official Plan Amendments and Zoning By-law Amendments for park uses over the rail corridor extending from Bathurst Street to Blue Jays Way, and from Front Street West to the southern boundary of the rail corridor and that notice be given in accordance with the Planning Act.
  2. The Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District report back to the Toronto and East York Community Council in the Fall of 2017 on the results of the consultation process and any proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments and any other implementing documents for consideration at a statutory public hearing under the Planning Act.

City Council – October 5, 2016

At the October 5, 2016 meeting, City Council adopted item EX17.1, which provided direction for development of an updated planning framework for the rail corridor. The adopted recommendations are summarized as follows:

City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to initiate Official Plan Amendments for both the Railway Lands West and Railway Lands Central Secondary Plans, informed by community and stakeholder consultation, to provide a planning framework for park use over the rail corridor.

  1. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to initiate Official Plan Amendments for both the Railway Lands West and Railway Lands Central Secondary Plans, informed by community and stakeholder consultation, to provide a planning framework for park use over the rail corridor.
  2. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to initiate amendments to the applicable Zoning By-laws as necessary to implement the Official Plan Amendments for both the Railway Lands West and Railway Lands Central Secondary Plans.
  3. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, in consultation with the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, to report back in 2017 with an Implementation Strategy for a major park space above the rail corridor between Bathurst Street and Blue Jays Way (“Rail Deck Park”).

Planning Study

A Planning Study was undertaken by the City of Toronto and consultants Urban Strategies Inc. to inform the updated planning framework for the rail corridor area. The study provides a comprehensive planning analysis in support of the draft Official Plan Amendment and proposed Rail Deck Park Secondary Plan.

Engineering & Costing Study

As part of the Rail Deck Park Implementation Strategy, an Engineering and Costing Study for Rail Deck Park was undertaken by Build Toronto and consultants WSP Canada Group Ltd and McMillan Associates Architects, in consultation with the City of Toronto.

November 21, 2017 – Technical Briefing

City Staff hosted a technical briefing on the results of the feasibility analysis and to outline next steps for implementation of Rail Deck Park that will be considered at the City’s Executive Committee on Tuesday, November 28.

November 14, 2017 – Toronto and East York Community Council

A meeting held by Toronto and East York Community Council provided an opportunity for the public to give comments on the final draft OPA and proposed Rail Deck Park Secondary Plan.

September 25, 2017 – Public Consultation Meeting #2: Rail Corridor Official Plan Amendment

City staff held second Public Consultation Meeting on the Rail Corridor Official Plan Amendment on September 25th in City Hall Council Chambers to present the draft amendments and gather community feedback.

June 13, 2017 – Public Consultation Meeting #1 – Rail Corridor Official Plan Amendment

City staff held a Public Consultation Meeting on June 13th at Metro Hall to present preliminary findings and gather community feedback on the City-Initiated Rail Corridor Official Plan Amendment.