COMMUNITY FORUMS

 

Community Planning Session - Open House

 

Monday April 30, 6:30 to 8:00 pm

Re: 1960-1962 Queen Street East development application

Glen Ames School, 18 Williamson Rd,

 

The final planning report on the development application for 1960-1962 Queen Street East is almost complete. It is due to be made available to the public by the clerk on the City of Toronto website for the Toronto East-York Community Council shortly.

The next stage in the planning process is the submission of the final planning report to the Toronto East York Community Council.

Councillor McMahon invites you to attend an open house-drop in to learn more about the building being proposed and how it is evaluated by the city staff. Representatives from planning, technical services, heritage, water, transit and other departments will be on hand to answer your questions about the development and explain the planning process in detail.

Councillor McMahon will be present to discuss the issues with concerned constituents.

 

Queen Street East Visioning Study Announced

On January 10, 2012 Councillor McMahon got the green light from Toronto East York Community Council to conduct a study and review of Queen Street east planning and design guidelines. The visioning study, tentatively set for the summer/fall of 2012, will convene a neighbourhood wide conversation about the past, present and future of planning, development and community consultation.

"There's been lots of development activity, resident engagement and frankly confusion at every level about what kind of developments and designs are appropriate for the neighbourhood," says Councillor McMahon. This was happening before I got to city hall and it's not going to stop until we sit down, talk, and make some decisions together. Everyone needs greater clarity."

The fact that the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) can overrule local planning decisions contributes to an overall sense of instability and distrust.  "No one feels they can trust anyone or any plan because they fear that a six storey buildings opens the way for eight storeys, ten storeys, and so on. It's no way to plan a neighbourhood" says Councillor McMahon.

The Queen St East visioning study will cover a wide area, from Coxwell Ave. to Neville Park, focussing on getting input from as wide a range of stakeholders as possible - residents, the BIA, planners, designers, developers, advisory panels, architects, business owners, renters and local organizations. "Everyone who cares about the neighbourhood can be at the table and have their say," she emphasizes.

Councillor McMahon proposed the study as a way for the community to have a plan in place ahead of proposed developments. "Most people I speak with are not opposed to development at all, they just want a clear plan and sensible height limits." The visioning study will also provide an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to explore their ideas about what 'positive' development would look like, what the benefits might be, and even start building a 'wish list' of amenities and improvements the community wants.

"I'm impressed by the skating path they have out in South Etobicoke (Ward 6) and want to know if others are intrigued about having something like that by the lake. On a smaller scale, we need better signage on the Martin Goodman trail that seperates cyclists, skaters and walkers. And lots of residents feel the beach and boardwalk needs more tending and clean-ups. We need to figure out a vision for the Queen East neighbourhood that brings us together, and not one that  pits us against each other."

 “Developers, like the community, also want clarity," says Councillor McMahon. "They don't actually want to head to the OMB for expensive legal battles, they just want to build things. But when confusion reigns, the OMB is almost inevitable. This vision study and community consultation is a welcome development for all."

Discussions around parameters for the vision study will get underway in February, with many details to be worked out between now and the tentative summer/fall schedule. Please send us an email to councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca if you'd like to be on the dedicated email list for regular updates about the vision study. There will be extra communiqués in the coming months for anyone interested in following the process and being part of the study. Hope to hear from you soon.

Background and Recommendation by Councillor McMahon passed by Toronto East York Community Council

It is recommended that the City Planning Division undertake a visioning study in 2012 of Queen Street East between Coxwell Avenue and Neville Park Boulevard, in consultation with the ward Councillor, local community and other appropriate City Divisions to develop appropriate Design Guidelines that balance the policies of the Official Plan with the desire of the local community to maintain the existing character of this portion of Queen Street East.

Summary

The "Queen Street East – The Beaches" Design Guidelines were originally written and adopted by City Council of the former City of Toronto in 1987.

Zoning By-law No. 438-86 for the former City of Toronto zones the majority of the properties along this section of Queen Street East as Mixed Use with a height limit of 12 metres.

 City Council adopted the current Official Plan in 2002, which targets growth to Mixed-Use areas and to Avenues, both of which are the designations along Queen Street East between Woodbine Avenue and Victoria Park Avenue. The adopted Official Plan includes Built Form policies to shape and guide growth.

The City Council adopted the "Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study" in 2010, to articulate through performance standards the development criteria of the Official Plan for Mixed-use areas on Avenues.

Queen Street East in Ward 32 was excluded from the Study Map attached to the "Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study" resulting in them not applying to this portion of Queen Street East.

Development applications in the form of Rezonings have been submitted within this area of Ward 32 that are compatible with the policies contained in the "Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study" and are being processed by the City Planning Division as required by the Planning Act.

 

 

Queen Street East Segment Study Walk

Saturday Feb 25, 10:00 am to 11:30 am

Meet at corner of Herbert Avenue and Queen East, by the fire station.

Councillor McMahon invites all interested local residents to join her on an interactive walk of Queen Street East that aims to get people talking and thinking about planning and development in the neighbourhood. The walk will centre on an active strip of Queen East that was recently the subject of a 'segment study' undertaken by an independent planning firm Hunter Armstrong. The objective of the study and this walk is to identify and discuss the sorts of development opportunities that may exist on Queen East from Woodbine to Lee Avenues.

This segment study was requested by Councillor McMahon in order to better understand the development pressures, planning challenges and local opportunities that are present. The walk is a chance to discuss the findings of the study and engage local residents in local planning. It is part of an ongoing series of events put on by Councillor McMahon to activate and engage local residents in planning consultations and feeds into the larger Queen Street East Visioning Study that will be happening this coming summer and fall, 2012.

We invite all local residents, business owners and stakeholders to join us in this lively and informative walk and talk. To reserve a spot drop us a line at councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca or call the office: 416-392-1376.