Request for a Minister’s Zoning Order for a long-term care facility in the City of Toronto

An MZO, made pursuant to clause 47(1)(a) of the Planning Act, regulates the use of land and the erection, location and use of any building or structure on the land, and prevails over the existing municipal zoning by-law to the extent there is any conflict.

The Minister is considering a request from the Minister of Long-Term Care to make an MZO for the lands at 92 Island Road in the City of Toronto. The site is approximately 1.65 hectares in size and is situated to the west of East Avenue, north of Island Road, east of Port Union Road, and south of Highway 401. See link to location map below.

The site is currently occupied by an existing single-storey long-term care facility (Glen Rouge Community). The subject lands are currently designated in the City of Toronto’s official plan as Neighbourhoods and zoned C (Commercial) under the former Township of Pickering (West Rouge) By-law 1978.

The requested MZO seeks to permit a new long-term care facility integrating 131 beds from the existing long-term facility on the Subject Lands, 172 beds from another facility in Toronto (Rockcliffe Community), and 145 new beds (for a total of 448 beds).

Specifically, the requested MZO seeks to permit the following uses: 

• long-term care facility for 448 LTC beds between 8 to 10 storeys in height;
• outdoor amenity space; and
• 162 parking spaces

As well, the requested MZO establishes zoning requirements including setbacks, maximum total gross floor area (30,000 square metres) of the building, and vehicular and bicycle parking spaces.

This MZO was requested to expedite approvals for the proposal as it supports the provincial priority of providing more long-term care beds.

To help ensure decisions are made in a transparent manner and support government priorities, the Ministry is seeking feedback on whether this request should be considered and any additional information that may help inform a decision. In particular, any potential environmental risks, financial impacts on the municipality or implications for other approved developments and how these can be mitigated.