Partial Property Acquisition - Ontario Conference
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Portion of 3846 Ellesmere Road
(Ward 16 - Scarborough Highland Creek)
The Corporate Services Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (June 12, 1998) from the
Commissioner of Corporate Services:
Purpose:
Property acquisition to accommodate the re-naturalization of the Centennial Watercourse, north of Ellesmere Road,
Scarborough.
Funding:
The land acquisition to be charged to Capital Account No. 57837-00000-85040-481 and funded from the following
sources: 1994 to 1997 Projects: No. 8504-0, No. 8549-0, No. 8505-0 and No. 8559-0.
Sources:No. 72394 Capital Levy Reserve Fund $1,710,000.00
No. 70293 Development Fees - residential$1,270,000.00
No. 70294 Development Fees - non-residential$ 430,000.00
(a) Approved $3,410,000.00 (b) Spent to Date $2,766,810.00, (c) Pending Approval $110,000.00, (d) This Request
$120,000.00 (d) Balance $413,190.00
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)City Council approve the acquisition of the 39 m X 38 m (128 ft X 125 ft) parcel shown as Part 1 on the attached sketch
at the price of $120,000.00;
(2)the City Solicitor be authorized to complete this transaction and pay any costs incidental to the closing for land transfer
tax or otherwise;
(3)the City pay the owner's reasonable legal fees to complete this transaction; and
(4)the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Background:
In 1994 - 1997, the City of Scarborough initiated a program to bring into public ownership lands within the valley of the
Centennial Creek, a small watercourse which extends from Lake Ontario to Highway 401, between Port Union Road and
Morningside Avenue (see attached sketch). For much of its course the stream is unregulated by conservation authority
regulations, and therefore the valley was in danger of being destroyed by filling to facilitate development. In 1996
Scarborough Council authorized negotiations with the owners of nineteen properties to acquire a 20 metre wide corridor
centred upon the watercourse. These properties were targeted for acquisition from a significantly larger number, based
upon their proximity to development and their environmental sensitivity. To date all or part of ten properties have been
purchased. A summary of the status of the acquisitions is attached as Appendix 1.
Comments:
The owner of the subject property is The Ontario Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist church. It is rectangular with
frontage of 39m (128 ft.) on the north side of Ellesmere Road and a depth of 122.5m (402 ft.). Total area of the property is
4,818m2 (51,858 ft2). The rear portion, which the City requires, has an area of 1,482m2 (15,952 ft2), leaving a residual of 3
336 m2 (35,908 ft2). The property is improved with a 146 m2 (1,572 ft2) bungalow.
The Official Plan designation for the property is Low Density Residential, with an area adjacent to the watercourse as
Environmental Impact Zone. The Official Plan, which was revised in 1997, contains a policy statement indicating that the
City will negotiate the acquisition of lands within the E.I.Z. as though the old Official Plan Designation, which permitted
development of the watercourse area, remained in place.
The subject property is Zoned S - Single Family Residential, with development standards permitting the construction of
one single-family dwelling per parcel of land with a minimum of 15m (49.21 ft.) frontage on a public street, and a
minimum area of 696 m2 (7,492 ft2).
The property the City wishes to acquire was appraised by an independent appraiser at $120,000.00. Subject to the approval
of Council, the owners have agreed to sell the property to the City for the appraised value. In addition, the municipality will
be responsible for the owner's reasonable legal costs.
Conclusion:
The purchase of the rear portion of this property for the appraised value will enable the City to protect the Centennial
watercourse, and approval of the transaction is recommended.
Contact Name:
R. Mayr, AACI, Director, Real Estate Services, Telephone (416) 396-4930, Fax (416) 396-4241
mayr@city.scarborough.on.ca (cs98080.wpd)
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Appendix 1
Acquisitions Approved
