Portlands Industrial District Ideas Workshop

The Toronto Community Council recommends that:

(1)a Portlands Community Forum, with even broader representation be brought into being, meet on appropriate locations and become a central vehicle for the City and Port Authority consultation processes;

(2)the draft Letters Patent for the Port Authority be circulated and that everyone be able to comment on them before they are finally adopted; and

(3)the Councillors and City Planning Department pursue the "next steps" which emerged from the forum.

The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services to report directly to Council on the implementation of the above recommendations.

The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (undated) from Councillor Layton:

Councillors McConnell, Bussin, Jakobek and I held a forum of over 90 participants to consider the many plans and ideas which are emerging for the port lands. Most key players were in attendance. The group adopted several recommendations which are outlined below. A complete report on the 5 hour forum is attached.

The key concern which emerged from all the discussions was the upcoming Toronto Port Authority. As the proposed Letters Patent, which will outine the extent of lands to be controlled by the Authority has not yet been released, there is great concern about the fragmentation of decision making which will result. There is also deep concern about the ownership and contemplated transfer because apparently the lands which may be transferred would thereby no longer be subject to City planning processes and Ontario planning law.

There were many positive ideas and much consensus on the vision for the portlands. So, actually, we have lots of reasons to be optimisic. The group is continuing its work and can become a key forum for testing ideas and developing plans.

Recommendations:

(1)That a Port Lands Community Forum, with even broader representation be brought into being, meet on appropriate locations and become a central vehicle for the City and Port Authority consultation processes; and

(2)That the draft Letters Patent for the Port Authority be circulated and that everyone be able to comment on them before they are finally adopted; and

(3)That the Councillors and City Planning Department pursue the "next steps" which emerged from the forum.

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Port Lands Community Forum

Record of Ideas

Sponsored by Councillors Layton, McConnell, Bussin & Jakobek

March 27th, 1999.

The meeting began with presentations from several organizations involved in planning and development within the Port Lands.

Presentations

City of Toronto Planning Department: Mike Major

The City needs to take charge and direct the changes which are to take place in the port area, not the Ontario Municipal Board. That's why there is a 'Part 2' Planning process underway.

Goals:

(i)jobs (expanded film district)

(ii)transportation

(iii)soil cleanup

(iv)green ways

(v)new approaches

(vi)proactive approach, not just zoning

Process to be followed: Reviewing ideas from the past and present, developing a vision.

July Community Concil Meeting: Concept Plan

August - October: public meetings

September: OMB on Home Depot Site

December: Final Plan

Toronto Economic Development Corporation: Steve Willis

(i)Objectives for the Part 2 Plan:

(ii)More flexibility for types of employment

(iii)soil and groundwater strategy for the area has been developed and approved

(iv)greening the portlands, building on the work of the trust

(v)Don River Green Corridor

(vi)remediation for health and safety is underway

(vii)connections with rest of city need improvement --

(viii)transit issues, rail, truck, road, pedestrians, cyclists

(ix)investment plan for infrastructure in the area is required

Old Cabbagetown BIA and T.A.B.I.A Committee on Big Box:

(i)big box will be devastating to local business strips -- thus hurting the neighbourhoods. Retail dollars migrating out of the local business strip will suck the life out of the retail strip. The local shopping is pedestrian, it's environmentally sound. Big box requires cars and is bad for environment. Local shopping strengthens neighbourhoods, you meet your friends. Big Box is devastating to community interaction.

(ii)Big Box is not the highest and best use, not even as a transition.

Toronto Harbour Commission -- Port Authority: John Morand

(i)increasing importance of the port

(ii)Canada Marine Act: provides that the Port Authority shall establish a Land Use Plan

(iii)Expect Letters Patent to be approved in June, 1999.

(iv)Land Use planning process will take place over 12 months after this. Must take account of the zoning on adjacent lands. Full public consultation is required. We'll be involving everyone in this process and working with the city.

(v)Interested in the 'three lenses' concept

(vi)Three areas: stable areas; incremental change; significant change area.

United Castan -- leased land on Polson Quay: Don Given

(i)concerns about Olympic Village

(ii)Have selected a significant area within which a new plan could be developed, in the west end of the portlands

(iii)Extensive studies and plans were proposed: land use, economic, noise, odour, transportation, engineering, environmental issues. We have submitted these to the city. We do not want to be confrontational

(iv)These quays have the opportunity to create a new neighbourhood. Cherry street is the key main street dividing residential on the west side and employment on the east side.

(v)Opposed to Home Depot proposal as an underuse of the key site.

Task Force To Bring Back the Don: John Wilson

(i)1989 vision included re-naturalizing the mouth of the river.

(ii)1991 vision report included an artists concept of this concept.

(iii)A river mouth is one of the most important biological areas of the river and is key to the restoration.

(iv)Estuary or marsh feature at the mouth will be key

(v)Many groups and organizations have supported this concept

(vi)Task Force has begun to implement strategies

(vii)Further elaboration of green infrastructure network through the entire port area has been done -- to allow natural functions to flow through the port area, migratory animals, etc.

(viii)Most recent Vision Statement includes a future concept for the mouth of the Don

(ix)Green performance standards for all lands, developments and activities in the port should be developed and applied.

T.O. Bid: Sean Goetz-Gadden

(i)Olympic Village is meant to be the centrepiece of the bid.

(ii)During Games -- best standards

(iii)After Games: a new neighbourhood on the waterfront

(iv)15,000 atheletes; residential and non residential uses; 60-70 acre site; 278,000 sq. m. required.

Port Lands Citizen Action Peter Smith and Elizabeth Borek:

(i)get growth industries, high wage and labour intensive

(ii)clean and green businesses

(iii)community consultation, liaison and input

(iv)pleased to see so much involvement at today's session

(v)current air quality study for the Gardiner Expressway is an example of the inadequacies in current decision making

(vi)protect what we have -- protect a wildlife corridor. Much of this land is empty so that allows us to get our wish list in and have a wonderful environment here.

(vii)portlands is in the middle of a major song bird route

(viii)an anonymous design competition should be held.

(ix)source control: air, soil and water. Anything brought here will have to improve te situation, not worsen it. A wholistic perspective is required. Cummulative effects should be studied.

(x)Recreation -- a design competition should integrate cycling, water resources, hiking, continuous waterfront resource. Additional swimming and athletic possibilities should be pursued. Why not a bird watching facility? Perhaps a butterfly greenhouse. A research centre on bird migration patterns.

Citizens for a Safe Environment: Karen Buck, Paul Young

(i)citizen involvement is key

(ii)closing the incinerator was a key step

(iii)another huge problem - Ashbridges Bay incinerator should be closed by end of year 2000

(iv)as a part of the activities -- we did a community consultation called Riverdale 2000 Vision -- available in local libraries. Long range strategic plan. Over 300 people involved. Uses healthy community model. History of Riverdale is discussed.

Toronto Bay Initiative: Leslie Woo

(i)History and background given

(ii)Five Objectives outlined

(iii)Improved Water Quality

(iv)Habitat Regeneration: "Living Place" outlines strategies and techniques

(v)Shorterm Clean up

(vi)Pike Spawning wetland on the former parking lot.

(vii)swimming in the ship channel

(viii)make turning basin accessible and renaturalize

(ix)ecological literacy

Break-out Group Reports:

Here are just some of the ideas from the group reports,

Common Threads from Presentations:

(i)Creative / Open Zoning for Certain Sites (Mixed Use)

(ii)Protect Certain Areas and Greenspaces

(iii)Identify North and South Corridor

(iv)heritage features (but they need a community voice to protect)

(v)sustainability should guide the whole process

(vi)There were no proposals which were unconcerned with the environment

(vii)Enthusiasm for putting in place some projects quickly

(viii)Everyone who presented welcomed and invited participation

(ix)There was consideration of the whole lands in the planning of development

(x)There was respect for citizens' desires for green development

(xi)Leaving the Portlands empty and undeveloped is wasting resources

Conflicts Emerging:

(i)too many jurisdictions involved and not cooperating. How are all the processes being coordinated and integrated?

(ii)Clarity on ownership / control and decision-making.

(iii)Port Authority Letters Patent require that City's voices will be heard.

(iv)Viable business for the port versus viable communities -- how can these be integrated?

(v)Scope and scale of land uses.

(vi)Land ownership seems unknown or in dispute

(vii)land use planning should not be federally controlled

(viii)who is ultimately in authority?

(ix)Cherry Street entrance -- crucial and needs to be sorted out

(x)land-use in general is an area of conflict

(xi)Gardiner Expressway -- some want it down, others want it to stay up

(xii)Home Depot project and other big boxes

(xiii)All of those wanting to develop wanted the same piece of land

(xiv)Competing development visions: * industry, * commercial, * residential, * recreational, * natural

Missing Items from the Presentations:

(i)transportation

(ii)piecemeal approach has been taken

(iii)Vehicle access, particularly commercial vehicles

(iv)cycling (6,500 cyclists on Martin Goodman Trail!!)

(v)LRT E-West in order to help solve local air quality problems

(vi)stormwater treatment -- we want advanced appropriate ecological solutions

(vii)no-one from TTC

(viii)no-one addressed us from Leslie Spit

(ix)clarity on who is in control: city or federal government. How do we ensure that control is in the hands of a "responsible" accountable group. All groups identified this as a key problem.

(x)Are there several processes, with one having more power than others

(xi)Public processes should identify what people want to see -- not just what they are opposing

(xii)Density of development could raise issues of concern and requires careful study

(xiii)The Hearn: Ontario Hydro - major land owner - should be involved

(xiv)Lnk between the Portlands and the rest of the City

(xv)Site remediation discussions

(xvi)Not many portland industries

Ideas Questions / Comments / Concerns:

(i)economic status and studies need to be done

(ii)Big Boxes seem at odds (concern about the TEDCO proposal

(iii)recreation potential needs to be enhanced. Too few people know of the possibilities

(iv)no statistics on industry, jobs, environmental indicators. Data is important to develop good plans

(v)wetlands to improve water quality

(vi)Buffers between uses

(vii)Future of the industries currently in the portlands

(viii)get banks and corporations to reinvest in the community

(ix)start from the many good and existing documents outlining visions for the waterfront and re-construct our vision

(x)alternative forms of energy

(xi)Green performance standards for all lands, developments and activities in the port should be developed and applied.

(xii)Air Quality improvement should be a high priority

(xiii)A design competition for the entire portlands should be

(xiv)Why not a 25 year environmental plan -- especially given the public ownership of so much of the land.

(xv)Olympic Bid should have a backup process in case we do not get the bid

(xvi)Short term timelines and targets are fine but we have to be very considered in our planning.

Next Steps:

This process was good. We were heard. Need to keep this going and ensure community involvement. Public Consultation could be the unifying link to bring all these competing plans together in an integrated, sustainable workable plan.

The following next steps were proposed by the break-out groups:

(i)set up process to inform community and involve them

(ii)put a master plan in place for community reaction (a city plan)

(iii)site tours to raise awareness and increase our level of knowledge

(iv)a special session of the group on the topic of transportation

(v)a special working session on air quality

(vi)get some examples from Barcelona (projects, not just planning). Small projects as a form of urban accupuncture(!)

(vii)Criteria: checkpoints, capacities, benchmarks, monitoring

(viii)Map and document ownership so that this is clear

(ix)Map areas where there is consensus for more rapid actions

(x)Map or chart decision-making processes and timelines

(xi)More workshops and brainstorming sessions to produce positive results like this meeting did

(xii)Constitute ourselves as an on-going Port Lands Community Forum: mandate for regular review, idea workshops, feedback, and consultation. Open Membership. Community / Agency / Councillor Collaborative Leadership for Agenda setting, meeting chairing, minutes, etc.. Invite Port Area businesses to participate as well. (Consider liaison through the South Riverdale Environmental Liaison Committee.)

(xiii)Create a Web site will all these presentations and on-going discussion materials, meetings, agendas, etc. Lots of data and graphics

(xiv)A Full presentation of the "Greening the Toronto Port Lands" Waterfront Regeneration Trust (Michael Hough) -- approved by former City Council.

(xv)Draft Letters Patent for the Port Authority of Toronto should be circulated to all of us and other interested parties for comment and public hearings by City Council Committees. The Letters Patent should be accompanied by clear explanations of the impact of this legislative instrument on the planning, development and environmental infrastructure processes of the City.

(xvi)The Planning Department and Councillors should convene a meeting of this Port Lands Community Forum