The Staff Report with a recommended zoning by-law amendment for Midtown ‘Villages’ is now available.
Opportunities for public consultation continue to be provided, building on the network of local partners established through the previous work on the Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan. The format of consultation will be modified to align with the advice of the City’s Medical Officer of Health to practice physical distancing to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19. For more information on the current health situation and the City’s response to COVID-19, please visit the City’s COVID-19 page. You may also visit the City Planning Consultations page for information on upcoming consultation events within Midtown and across the city.
Please check back often for upcoming consultation opportunities, or subscribe to Ready, Set, Midtown e-updates below.
Zoning for Midtown ‘Villages’
Revised zoning is advancing in stages to implement the Secondary Plan. The first areas advancing are the ‘Villages’ Character Areas:
The zoning is advancing under the framework presented to Planning and Housing Committee, using city-wide zoning by-law 569-2013 as a basis. The ‘Villages’ zoning is the first phase developed under this framework, through an approach that will be repeated in future phases for other geographic areas within the Secondary Plan.
To learn more about this, and review a high-level summary of what the Zoning By-law does, download this short document.
The full draft zoning by-law was released for public consultation on May 16, 2022. Feedback received was considered in making revisions to the draft and arriving at a final recommended zoning by-law. The Staff Report with a recommended zoning by-law amendment for Midtown ‘Villages’ is now available.
On October 27, staff facilitated two virtual community consultation meetings for the Midtown Zoning Review. This meeting was to share information and receive feedback on directions for implementing an updated zoning by-law in Midtown. Staff presented an overview on the current planning policy and zoning framework in Midtown, reviewed the timeline and objectives for an updated zoning by-law, and discussed how the draft zoning framework may be used to regulate built form. This was followed by a Q&A session where attendees were able to ask questions and provide comments.
A video recording of the two virtual community consultation meetings is available by email request to ReadySetMidtown@toronto.ca.
The virtual community consultation meeting for the Broadway-Erskine Block Study was held on November 10. Staff provided an overview of the Council-directed Block Study including a summary of background and context, built form analysis and potential test cases. This was followed with a Q&A session with questions from the public and a public survey to provide feedback on the next steps for the Block Study.
This MPG was held virtually through WebEx Meetings. Consultants presented the proposed recommendations for the eleven Character Areas under review in the Built Form Study. City staff also provided an update on the implementation of the Midtown Parks and Public Realm Plan. A total of 17 MPG members participated, as well as Councillor Colle (Ward 8), Councillor Matlow (Ward 12) and Councillor Robinson (Ward 15).
Event Materials:
This MPG was held virtually through WebEx Events. Staff provided an overview of major transportation initiatives in Midtown, including the City’s response to COVID-19 through the ActiveTO initiatives, and updates for ongoing transportation studies. A total of 21 MPG members participated, as well as Councillor Matlow (Ward 12) and staff on behalf of Councillor Colle (Ward 8) and Councillor Robinson (Ward 15).
A copy of the meeting summary is available.
This MPG was held virtually through WebEx Events. Staff provided an overview of the Midtown Public Realm Moves and discussed implementation tools and phasing approaches. Plans and renderings were shared for the Eglinton Green Line and Park Street Loop Public Realm Moves. A total of 25 MPG members participated, as well as Councillor Matlow (Ward 12) and staff on behalf of Councillor Colle (Ward 8) and Councillor Robinson (Ward 15).
A copy of the meeting summary is available.
This MPG was held virtually through WebEx Events. Staff provided a refresher on the Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan, an update on the Midtown Implementation Initiatives and a summary of work being undertaken as part of the Midtown Zoning Review. A total of 27 MPG members participated, as well as Councillor Colle (Ward 8), Councillor Matlow (Ward 12) and staff on behalf of Councillor Robinson (Ward 15).
A copy of the meeting summary is available.
E-update 14 – June 16, 2022. Ready, Set, Midtown – Toronto City Planning Division.
We are excited to provide this update on our three key Ready, Set, Midtown initiatives. The Midtown Infrastructure Implementation Strategy and the Midtown Public Realm Implementation Strategy were considered by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on May 25, 2022. As well, the recommended zoning by-law for the five Midtown ‘Villages’ were considered by the Planning and Housing Committee on May 31, 2022. Following their adoption at committee, at its meeting of June 15 and 16, 2022, City Council adopted all three initiatives. Together, these documents represent a collaborative effort by multiple City divisions to respond to growth in the Midtown area with coordinated community benefits and infrastructure improvements. Staff will use the Strategies in the review of development applications and when planning future capital projects.
Staff are proceeding with amendments to the zoning by-laws in the other Character Areas and anticipate reporting back to the next phase in early 2023.
The Ready, Set, Midtown team has launched Next Stop: Davisville – a Special Study on the feasibility of decking the Davisville Yard with a signature park and mix of new land uses, including the redevelopment of the TTC McBrien Building at 1900 Yonge Street. The Davisville Yard is identified as a major public park opportunity in the Midtown Parks and Public Realm Plan. More information can be found on the project website.
On May 26, 2022, staff from City Planning and CreateTO hosted a Virtual Community Visioning Session on the future of the Davisville Yard. The focus of this workshop was to get early input on the Vision and Guiding Principles and three potential park scenarios. Thank you to everyone who attended the workshop! The Study Overview is now available on the website, which details the project background, the draft Vision and Guiding Principles, potential park scenarios, and next steps.
As the study advances, the project team is looking for your feedback! You can provide your input through a short survey and join the conversation on the project Social Pinpoint page, where you can leave public comments and see what others are saying. We will be collecting feedback until the end of June – be sure to visit the project website soon!
Type (don’t copy and paste) your email into the box below, check the box next to the e-update description and then click “Subscribe”. You will receive an email with instructions to confirm your request.