Provincial priority request for a Minister’s Zoning Order for a Transit-Oriented Community (Gerrard-Carlaw South) in the City of Toronto

The Minister of Infrastructure is proposing to make one or more Minister’s Zoning Order(s) (MZOs) at 10 Dickens Street and 388 Carlaw Avenue in the City of Toronto. Together, these lands are referred to as the Gerrard-Carlaw South Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) and have been designated as transit-oriented community lands under section 2 of the Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020.

Pursuant to Order-in-Council 589/2025, the Minister of Infrastructure shares authority, with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to make MZOs under s. 47 (1) (a) of the Planning Act for transit-oriented community lands. 

The proposed MZO(s) will include exceptions to the requirements of the City of Toronto’s zoning by-law including building height, setbacks, maximum lot coverage, dimensions of accessible parking, and any requirement for inclusionary zoning. This approach is designed to better reflect evolving market conditions and support the delivery of the TOC. 

The Minister of Infrastructure is also proposing to use enhanced authorities, pursuant to clauses 47(4.3) (a) and (b) of the Planning Act, to remove site plan approval and require the landowner to enter into one or more agreements with the City of Toronto dealing with matters listed in subsection 47(4.4) of the Planning Act on the subject lands.

The area of the site is approximately 2.07 hectares. It is bounded by the Metrolinx-owned GO-Ontario Line rail corridor to the north, Carlaw Avenue to the east, Dickens Street to the south, and Logan Avenue to the west (see map below for an aerial view of the site location). 

The properties are currently used for Metrolinx construction staging (10 Dickens Street), and for housing existing retail and commercial tenants (388 Carlaw Avenue).

The proposed MZO(s) would permit three mixed-use towers of up to 26 storeys on the Carlaw parcel and up to 41 storeys on the Dickens parcel. The proposed transit-oriented community includes the adaptive reuse of existing buildings to respect the site’s heritage character, and would integrate space for light manufacturing, craft and creative industries. It would include space for approximately 472 jobs, in comparison to the approximately 340 jobs currently located on the site.

The proposed transit-oriented community would add approximately 1,315 residential units, of which at least 25% are planned to be two and three-bedroom family units. It would enhance the public realm along Carlaw Avenue and create pedestrian-friendly streets along Thackeray Street and an extension of Badgerow Avenue. It would also create approximately 6,700 square metres of landscaped open space along with a multi-use path along the rail corridor.

To help ensure decisions are made in a transparent manner and support government priorities, the Ministry of Infrastructure is seeking feedback on this proposal that may help inform the decision.