Public Meeting Held Under Section 34 of The Planning Act

with respect to an Application for a Temporary Use

By-law Amendment submitted by G-Tek Automotive Corp.

regarding 26 Cranfied Avenue

The East York Community Council, after considering the deputation and based on the findings of fact, conclusions and recommendations contained in the following report (June 10, 1998) of the Commissioner of Development Services, East York, and for the reason that the proposal is an appropriate use of the lands, recommends the adoption of the following report (June 10, 1998) from the Commissioner of Development Services, East York:

The East York Community Council reports having held a statuatory public meeting on June 24, 1998, in accordance with Section 34 and Section 39 of the Planning Act, and appropriate notice of this meeting was given in accordance with the Planning Act and the regulations thereunder.

Purpose:

This report to the June 24, 1998 East York Community Council provides Council with Staff recommendations on the application for a Temporary Use By-law amendment at 26 Cranfield Road.

Source of Funds:

No financial implications.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that Council:

(1)Approve the application to temporarily amend zoning by-law No. 6752 permitting the continuance of the existing automotive repair shop for a renewable two year period;

(2)Enact the requisite zoning by-law amendment; and,

(3)Authorize Planning Staff to prepare a collateral agreement to secure site improvements.

Background:

Introduction:

G-Tek Automotive Corp. has been operating an automotive repair shop out of this location since March 1993. The applicant has recently applied for a Toronto License for the property and while processing this application was advised that car repairs are not permitted at this location. To rectify this situation, the applicant applied in January 1998 for Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments to legally establish the use.

Staff advised the applicant that this application could not be supported by the department as the completion of an Industrial Lands Review is pending by the Economic Development Department. Furthermore, the Planing Division proposes to review the O'Connor Industrial Areas policies this year. We advised the applicant that until these studies are completed, we would only be prepared to support a Temporary Use Zoning By-law.

Proposal:

The Temporary Use Zoning By-law would allow the applicant to continue operating the garage at 26 Cranfield Road for a renewable two year time period. By the end of that time, the Industrial Area policies should be resolved, enabling a comprehensive re-evaluation of this application.

Official Plan:

The East York Official Plan designates this property "Light Industrial". The policies governing this designation allow primarily manufacturing uses. Motor vehicle repair shops are specifically excluded.

As regards temporary uses, the Official Plan enables Council to pass temporary use zoning by-laws provided it is satisfied that:

-the use can be removed and the site restored to its original condition ;

-the use is compatible with the surrounding land uses;

-adequate parking and access is provided; and

-the use would not have adverse traffic impact.

These issues, as they relate to this site, will be addressed in the comments section below.

The Official Plan also requires that such by-laws be passed for a maximum 3 year renewable time period which may only be extended for up to 6 years.

Zoning By-law:

The property is zoned HPI - High Performance Industrial. This zoning permits its use for manufacturing, warehousing and wholesaling uses, printing establishments, research and development operations as well as technical trade and service uses; however, motor vehicle repair shops are specifically prohibited.

Comments:

Agency Circulation:

The proposal was circulated to the requisite municipal agencies. Comments provided by these agencies included the following:

Economic Development Department expressed support for processing this proposal as temporary use by-law.

Parks Recreation and Operation Department request the provision of front yard landscaping.

Planning Staff have discussed the upkeep and appearance of these premises with the applicant, and he is prepared to make some general improvements to the building's facade and to landscape the front yard and to clean up and re-organize the rear parking area.

We are recommending that this be done via a collateral agreement secured by a $1,000.00 guarantee which can be released once the municipality is satisfied that the required agreed upon improvements have been completed.

Comments:

(1)Impact on Property

The applicant does not propose to make any structural changes to the existing building. However, as noted above, the applicant is prepared to make some general improvements to both the building's facade and the to the front yard. This in turn should improve the appearance of this portion of Cranfield Road.

(2)Compatibility With Surrounding Land Uses

G-Tek Automotive Corporation has been in operation at 26 Cranfield Road for 5 years. During this time there have been no complaints regarding the property or the use lodged with the Complaints Administrator of the Development Services Department.

(3)Adequate Parking

G-Tek Automotive Corp. will be demarcating the rear on-site parking area to show the required 9 (3 x 6 metres) parking spaces and 1 (3.7 x 6 metres) loading space. Based on a parking requirement of 1 space for every 47 m² of GFA, these nine parking spaces will conform to by-law requirements.

(4)Traffic Impact

The traffic impact of this existing business will be nominal given the size of the operation.

Public Input:

Notice of the Public Meeting was circulated to ratepayers within two hundred metres (600 feet) of the subject site. Any comments received as a result of this circulation will be made available at the public meeting.

At the time of this writing, no comments had been received.

Conclusions:

 This temporary rezoning, if permitted, would enable the applicant to continue to operate his car repair shop for a two year time period. He then will have an option of applying for an extension of this permission or for the legalization of the operation. By the end of this two year time frame, the Planning Staff should be in a better position to advise the applicant about any Council decision resulting from this area's review.

Contact Name:

Susan Fall

Planning Technician

778-2040

 Appendix 1

Site and Building Statistics:

Lot Area:0.25 Acres

Frontage:60 ft.

Depth:182 ft.

Gross Floor Area:4,414 sq.ft.

West Side Yard:11.88 ft.

East Side Yard:3.02 ft.

Rear Yard:68.63 ft.

Off Street Parking:9 provided in the rear (10 ft. x 20 ft.)

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Mr. Tim Mew, Toronto, on behalf of the applicant, appeared before the East York Community Council in connection with the foregoing and advised that he was in agreement with the recommendations contained in the report (June 10, 1998) of the Commissioner of Development Services, East York.

(Copy of map attached hereto, is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)