Please be advised that Aird …

Please be advised that Aird & Berlis LLP are counsel to Woodbine Entertainment Group
(“WEG”), the owner of 555 Rexdale Boulevard in the City of Toronto (“Woodbine
Lands”). The Woodbine Lands are approximately 277 hectares (684) acres in size and
are generally bounded by Rexdale Boulevard to the north, Highway 27 to the east,
Highway 427 to the west and the Metrolinx rail corridor to the south.
The purpose of this submission is to provide the Minister with our comments regarding
the New PPS. In general, WEG generally supports the new definition of “Employment
Area” as well as the policies of the New PPS which promote greater mixed use growth
and intensification in Major Transit Station Areas (“MTSAs”) and the development of
complete communities. However, WEG remains concerned with how the new
definition of “Employment Area” may be interpreted in the absence of clearer
direction on the status of lands that include permissions for and/or have existing
commercial and institutional uses on lands that are currently designated as
Employment Areas in municipal official plans and which are expressly excluded
from the definition. In particular, we respectfully recommend that the Minister include
clear policy guidance that confirms that lands with permitted or existing commercial or
institutional uses are no longer subject to policies requiring Employment Lands
conversions in order to be redesignated and that such lands may amend their official plan
designation by way of an official plan amendment application pursuant to section 22 of
the Planning Act. In addition, we also respectfully recommend that the Minister make
changes to policies relating to intensification in MTSAs and impose timeframes for
municipalities to update their official plans and zoning by-laws to be consistent with the
New PPS.
Please see the accompanying letter for the full commentary and greater detail.