Request is for a…

Request is for a modification to Official Plan Amendment 644 to permit the conversion of the lands at 33-39 Davies Avenue. In the event that the Minister is not prepared to make such a modification directly, we request that the matter of the conversion of this site be referred to the Ontario Land Tribunal for a hearing pursuant to section 17 (55) of the Planning Act.

The conversion would allow an addition to the existing long-term residential complete community. The proposal is to construct a residential building with a base building consisting of non-residential job-creating uses like offices.

The immediate area is one of the oldest employment areas in Toronto, located alongside the Don River. This location was favoured by industries in the City in the 1800's due to the ability to use the river as a location to dispose of effluent from industrial processes. This has ceased to be the case for some time. Most of the similar former industrial areas in this Lower Don vicinity have already transitioned to residential or mixed use forms.

The existing building has no appeal to potential warehousing or manufacturing users - the users for which employment areas are intended to provide protection. This is in large part due to the small size of the site. This location is no longer suitable to the needs of such space-extensive manufacturing or warehousing users.

The conversion request is in conformity with the policy 2.2.5.9 test for a conversion in the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The proposed development will respond to the Provincial Priority to increase the housing supply by delivering an estimated 164 new homes, as well as 130 jobs (considerably more than is the case currently on site) in an existing complete community, which is well served by community infrastructure and services. This will help to advance Ontario's efforts to improve the supply of housing in an ideal location.