Request is for a…

Request is for a modification to Official Plan Amendment 653, to permit a mixed use development at 4040 Finch Avenue East and 15, 17 & 19 (the Station Centre Site) 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 the policies respecting the Station Centre Site 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 immediately beside the proposed Finch-Kennedy Smart Track GO Station - one of the City's priority Transit infrastructure investments, currently under development. It is an ideal location for intensification, including residential development and jobs. The proposed concept for this site includes mixed use development including office, retail, and service uses and significant new residential development - expected to yield 1,500 new homes and 500 jobs on site - immediately attached to the GO Station.

The amendment adopted by the City does convert the site, but does so through the application of a Regeneration Area designation, which also binds the Station Centre Site to many much more challenging development parcels. 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 Station Centre Site is compact, and reasonably stands apart as a location for transit-supportive development - making it difficult to justify a secondary plan requirement before it can develop. The process will do little more than delay the construction of the new homes and places for jobs. The requested modified separate 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 1500 new homes and 500 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.