Road Modifications Required for Private

Sector Developments: Various Locations.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of Recommendations Nos. (4), (5) and (6) embodied in the report (May 25, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation, viz:

"(4)approval be given to proceed with the extension of the northbound bus bay on Warden Avenue in the vicinity of 1575 Warden Avenue;

(5)the appropriate City of Toronto by-law(s) be amended accordingly; and

(6)the introduction of any necessary Bills be authorized."

The Urban Environment and Development Committee reports, for the information of Council, having:

(i)deferred consideration of Recommendations Nos. (1) and (2) pending discussions with York Region officials regarding Steeles Avenue; and

(ii)referred Recommendation No. (3) to the General Manager, Transportation Services, with a request that Councillor Brian Ashton be consulted with respect thereto.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee submits the following report (May 25, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council authority to construct various development related road modifications on City of Toronto arterial roads and to advertise the required construction by-law.

Funding Sources:

Funding for these road modifications is the responsibility of the developers.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)approval be given to proceed with centre median modifications on Steeles Avenue West, west of Thompson Boulevard, to provide for an exclusive eastbound left-turn lane on Steeles Avenue West at a new development access to be constructed on the north side of Steeles Avenue West opposite Thompson Boulevard;

(2)approval be given to proceed with the extension of the concrete centre median on Steeles Avenue West, west of Dufferin Street to physically restrict the left-turn movements in and out of the property at 1514 Steeles Avenue West;

(3)(a)approval be given to proceed with the reconstruction of the concrete centre median on Kingston Road, south of Cliffside Drive, to provide for a southbound left turn lane at the southerly entrance at 2235-2245 Kingston Road (Andrews Motel); and

(b)in conjunction with Recommendation No. (3)(a), approval be given to remove or transplant those trees in the centre median which will be affected by the reconstruction of the concrete centre median on Kingston Road, in the vicinity of 2235-2245 Kingston Road;

 (4)approval be given to proceed with the extension of the northbound bus bay on Warden Avenue in the vicinity of 1575 Warden Avenue;

(5)the appropriate City of Toronto by-law(s) be amended accordingly; and

(6)the introduction of any necessary Bills be authorized.

Background and Discussion:

As a condition of approving developments abutting City of Toronto arterial roads and allowing access to them, developers are required to fund road modifications to accommodate the traffic generated by their new developments. Funds for the design, construction, supervision and administration of this work have been received or are about to be received from the proponents in each case. Details of the road modifications required at each location are provided in Table No. 1 and are briefly discussed below. Sketches showing these modifications are appended to this report.

Steeles Avenue West at Thompson Boulevard:

A new access will be constructed on the north side of Steeles Avenue West opposite Thompson Boulevard to service a new mixed-use commercial, recreation and restaurant development. As a condition of site plan approval, the developer, Glen Corporation, is required and has agreed to fund the centre median modifications, in order to provide for exclusive eastbound left-turn lane west on Steeles Avenue at the new access.

1514 Steeles Avenue West, west of Dufferin Street:

As a condition of site plan approval for an expanded kiosk/convenience store, the developer, Petro Canada, is required to fund the extension of the concrete centre median on Steeles Avenue West, west of Dufferin Street, by 7.5 metres. This median extension will physically restrict the left-turn movements in and out of the property and will improve the safety of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The existing accesses will also be modified in order to meet the standards for commercial accesses.

2235-2245 Kingston Road (south of Cliffside Drive):

The owner of Andrews Motel, located at 2235-2245 Kingston Road, has requested a southbound left-turn lane on Kingston Road to provide improved access into their property. The owner is required to fund the reconstruction of the concrete centre median on Kingston Road which is required to provide this new lane. As a result of this construction, six trees will have to be removed or transplanted from the centre median.

1575 Warden Avenue (at Lupin Drive):

The existing Shell Canada Gas station located on the east side of Warden Avenue in the vicinity of Lupin Drive is redeveloping to permit the addition of a convenience store. To accommodate new accesses and circulation patterns, the existing northbound bus bay must be relocated approximately 25 metres to the north so that buses serving the TTC stop will not block the southerly access to the development.

Pedestrian and Cycling Issues:

In requiring that road modifications are made in order to accommodate traffic generated by new developments, pedestrian and cycling issues are always taken into consideration. In cases where road widenings are required, efforts are made to ensure that sufficient pedestrian walking times are provided at all signalized intersections. In addition to requiring road modifications, developers are also required to improve adjacent boulevards through streetscape improvements such as tree and sod planting and the provision of transit shelters. In the case of the road modifications described in this report, all proposals conform with the Department's guidelines for the accommodation of pedestrians and cyclists.

Scope of Construction:

To construct the above modifications the following work will be undertaken:

(a)removal and reconstruction of concrete curbs, gutter, sidewalks and medians;

(b)construction of concrete road base and asphalt pavement;

(c)construction of concrete medians;

(d)removal and reconstruction of catch basins and connections;

(e)removal and planting of trees; and

(f)utility relocations.

These modifications have been developed using current department standards for cyclists and pedestrians and no compromises have been made with respect to the space allocated to these users.

Conclusions:

As a condition of approval of development abutting City of Toronto arterial roads, various modifications are required to the road system. All costs will be borne by the developers.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Ms. K. P. Llewellyn-Thomas, Manager, Project Planning and Design, 392-8590, Fax: 392-4426.

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Table 1

The Urban Environment and Development Committee also submits the following communication (June 11, 1998) from Councillor Brian Ashton, Scarborough Bluffs:

I would be very grateful if the Committee could note my opposition to the above item on the agenda for June 15, 1998.

The application is for the removal of a portion of the median on Kingston Road to allow the creation of a left-hand turn lane. The portion is question currently contains a number of trees and it is my belief that their removal would be detrimental to the streetscape and images of Cliffside Village.

I thank the Committee for its consideration of my request.

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Councillor Brian Ashton, Scarborough Bluffs, appeared before the Urban Environment and Development Committee in connection with the foregoing matter.

(A copy of the location plans, which were appended to the foregoing report, has been forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the June 15 and 16, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)