The best source of information about what is happening with the planning and design of Toronto's waterfront is available at Waterfront Toronto.

 

 Waterfront Toronto

Councillor McMahon believes in Waterfront Toronto and has been hosting Councillors with on site tours and will continue to educate on the spectacular and sustainable work being carried out by Waterfront Toronto.

You may be interested in this youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEQiNXXgu4g

In addition Follow @codeblueTO on Twitter or log on www.CodeBlueTO.com ( http://www.codeblueto.com/%20 ) 

Also please encourage your friends to get in touch with their local Ward Councillors. Spread the word to as many as possible.

If you would like to speak to Councillor McMahon directly, she can be reached at 416-392-1376.

 

Boardwalk Cafe and Woodbine/Ashbridges Bay Park Update

Councillor McMahon hosted a community drop-in at the Boardwalk Café  on Saturday December 3. Over 50 local residents attended, saw the site plan drawings, walked the perimeter and spoke with city staff and cafe owner George Foulidis. People said that they appreciated the opportunity to learn more first hand and have their questions answered directly by the city staff responsible for the park and the cafe owner.

Councillor McMahon noted that this drop-in was an important step towards establishing more open and transparent lines of communication with the community. She thanks everyone for coming out and states that will be more events like this in the coming months. "These parks are valuable and cherished by local residents and people from across the city. Keeping everyone in the loop about how they're managed and maintained is critical for good community relations."

Councillor McMahon is also in the process of forming a 'Friends of Food' group of local residents who want to help think through and promote great food policies and practices in the ward. For more information on Friends of Food, get in touch at Councillor_McMahon@toronto.ca

A number of important questions are being made available here that explain how the building permit process works and what exactly is being built by the Boardwalk Cafe. Please let us know if you have other questions and we will do our best to get questions answered promptly.

 

Planning and Permits at Boardwalk Café/ Woodbine-Ashbridges Park

Who issued the building permits for the renovation and addition at the Boardwalk Café? Toronto Building Department's role in this building approval process is one of ensuring the proposed renovations comply with the Ontario Building Code and all applicable law, including the zoning by-law, Toronto Region and Conservation Authority as well as Site Plan Approval.

Toronto Building Department does not control nor can they authorize the construction in parks - that task falls under the responsibility of City Council and Parks Division who entered into an agreement set out in PE1.3 adopted by Council at its meeting held on February  5, 6, 7 and  8 2007 as amended by GM30.20 and adopted by Council at its meeting held on May 11 and 12, 2010. At that time Sandra Bussin was the councilor for Ward 32.

Does the building renovation at Boardwalk Café require a new zoning classification or are the renovations permitted within the existing zoning and footprint?

The renovations / addition comply with all the zoning by-law requirements.

The construction authorized under the building permit issued by Toronto Building DIvision on Sept 15, 2011 would see the existing building expand to a size of approximately 10,000 sq.ft. The proposal complies fully with all of the zoning provisions and no minor variance or amendment to the zoning by-law was required. Total new floor area of 596 sq. m. NOTE 28 sq. m. of existing being demolished . A partial second floor addition is being constructed, which complies with the zoning by-law.

The development of the property falls into an exempt form of development in the Site Plan Approval By-law (Chapter 165 of the Toronto Municipal Code) and as such site plan approval was not required for the proposed expansion.

A PDF of the relevant clause in the Municipal Code [165-36 - Exempt Mixed-use and non-residential development Clause A. (2) (a) is available by requesting it from Armando Barbini at abarbini@toronto.ca.  As noted in this document, additions of less than 600 sq.m. do not require site plan approval. In the case of the Boardwalk Café, the addition proposed by the owner increased the size of the existing building by 596 sq. m. and thus is exempt from the site plan approval process.

Will there be outdoor seating on patios in the new renovation?  Yes, a second floor patio is proposed and a ground floor patio is being maintained, all in compliance with the zoning by-law.

Who is paying for the renovations at the Boardwalk Cafe?

The owner of the Boardwalk Café. No public monies are being spent on the renovation at the café.

How does the parking area work near the Boardwalk Café?

As part of the Council approved agreement, Tuggs has the use of 90 parking spaces immediately in front of the restaurant. Cafe customers do not pay for parking. The lot is open to the public outside of restaurant hours.

Tree Removals 

The removal of the four healthy trees was approved by parks and forestry to accommodate the turning circle.  The turning circle was vetted through the previous GM and parks staff months ago.  There are ten times the number of necessary number of trees being planted.  40 trees will be planted in the spring with the approval of forestry.

What is the Parks Department planning to do in the parking lot area with a turn around?

This has been a major pinch point for vehicles, TTC buses and our parks operations.  In the peak season we try to limit vehicles on the trail as much as possible and this is one of our major entry points into the park.  This area is frequently backed up over the summer and the planning was put in to alleviate this concern.

City Council Background Brief

In mid-2006, the Boardwalk Café (Tuggs Incorporated) approached the City with an unsolicited proposal to extend the agreement for a further 20 years.  City Council at its meeting in September 2006 directed staff to consider the proposal and to report back on appropriate terms for a twenty-year extension to the agreement with Tuggs.  This report can be viewed at:

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2006/agendas/council/cc060925/edp6rpt/cl022.pdf

At its meeting of February 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2008 Council considered and adopted Item PE1.3 of the Parks and Environment Committee and authorized City staff to negotiate and enter into a new agreement with Tuggs Incorporated to finalize a 20 year agreement.  This report can be viewed at:

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/cc/decisions/2007-02-05-cc02-dd.pdf

At its meeting on May 11 and 12, 2010, Council considered and adopted Item GM30.20 accepting the revised business plan from Tuggs Incorporated. The City and the Tenant entered into the Agreement by virtue of and in order to implement Council's decision at its meeting on February 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2007 as amended by its decision at its meeting on May 11 and 12, 2010.

 

City Council Approved Terms

The Term of the agreement between the City and the Boardwalk Café (Tuggs Inc.) is twenty-one years less a day commencing with effect from September 16, 2007 and terminating on September 14, 2028.  Tuggs Incorporated is to pay a Base Rent of $4,750,000 to the City over twenty-one years less a day

Tuggs shall provide payment of $200,000 to the City by no later than December 31, 2011 to be used for capital improvements in Woodbine Beach Park. The City will consult with the Tenant on the use of the funds provided that the General Manager shall have the final approval of the use of the $200,000.

A portion of this $200,000 will be used to construct the turn around. The turn around is deemed as a park improvement as it improves the overall traffic movement of the park and is an improvement that Parks would have made at some time in the future. The turn around is a positive for all park users. This has been a major pinch point for vehicles, TTC buses and our parks operations.  In the peak season we try to limit vehicles on the trail as much as possible and this is one of our major entry points into the park.  This area is frequently backed up over the summer and the turn around was put in to alleviate this concern.

Tuggs has the right to expand the building and the surrounding area subject to the approval of design and construction drawings by the City. The capital improvements valued by the Tenant at $2,150,000 shall be completed in accordance with plans and designs to be approved by the General Manager in a timely manner.