Request is for a…

Request is for a modification to Official Plan Amendment 653, Site and Area Specific Policy 793, to permit a mixed use development at 4570 Sheppard Avenue East including a significant supply of new housing, and jobs. In the event that the Minister is unprepared to make the requested modifications, the submission seeks to have Site and Area Specific Policy 793 in Official Plan Amendment 653 referred to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a hearing pursuant to section 17 (55) of the Planning Act.

This site is located in the immediate vicinity of the terminus of the Scarborough subway extension - one of the Province's four major subway expansion projects. It is an ideal location for intensification, including residential development and new jobs. The propose development for this site includes an office building, and significant new residential development - expected to yield 1,515 new homes and 837 jobs on site.

The amendment adopted by the City does convert the site, but does so through the application of a Regeneration Area designation. The effect of this designation is to significantly delay the delivery of the proposed development, by requiring a lengthy Secondary Plan Process, with numerous studies required, before the actual development applications can be made. The Regeneration Area designation introduces numerous steps. with the possibility of appeals, that would delay development by as much as ten years or more.

There is little public benefit to be derived by the layering on of a secondary plan process. The site is too small to reasonably justify such a secondary plan. The process will do little more than delay the construction of the new homes and jobs. The requested modified Site and Area Specific Policy ensures that all necessary studies will still be required prior to approval of the rezoning of the site - but will eliminate the duplication resulting from a secondary plan process stage.

The proposed modification will speed the delivery of a significant supply of new homes and jobs in an ideal location. The proposed modification is in conformity with the policies of the Growth Plan, and is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement.