Solaris
Senior Member
Novae Res Urbis
earlier yesterday evening (prior to AG's CBC article above...):
PRECEDENT-SETTING PROPOSAL
Mixed use on Don Mills
October 2, 2009
A controversial settlement offer related to a mixed-use development proposed for the southern and western portions of the land hugging the newly-opened Shops at Don Mills was before council late in the day Thursday. Council went in camera to discuss confidential parts of the application and a decision was not made before NRU’s deadline.
Some councillors questioned the precedent that would be set in the Lawrence Avenue East and Don Mills Road area should the offer be accepted and the application approved.
City planning staff—some staff has worked on this file for nearly eight years now—recommended council reject the application for 1,387-residential units and 7,530-square feet of retail and office space.
The application was made by Cadillac Fairview Realty Holdings Limited in November 2001 and is not subject to new provisions of The Planning Act or the City of Toronto Act, though it has been revised over the years.
Staff said that the proposed buildings, at heights of 12 to 26 storeys, and the proposed built form do not respect the existing character in the surrounding neighbourhood. In the Central Don Mills Secondary Plan, the west parcel of the site has a height restriction of six storeys and the east side is eight storeys.
Staff are concerned with “overdevelopment†of the site and suggested that the footprint and heights of the buildings be reduced.
Most of the proposed residential units would be in new buildings while some would be in a converted existing 13-storey office building at 75 The Donway West with retail at ground level.
Cadillac Fairview recently offered to build a two-storey community centre next to a public park in the area. Currently, Don Mills Civitan arena is located on an adjacent city-owned property. Staff told council that the arena is due for about $1 million worth of repairs and it is estimated to cost about $5 million to replace as a single-pad arena or $7.5 million as a two-pad arena.
Since no decision was made on the application for official plan and zoning by-law amendments, Cadillac Fairview appealed to the OMB in 2007 and prehearings have been held over the last two years.
Staff told council that a seven-week hearing is scheduled for next April but another pre-hearing is set to begin on October 16.
earlier yesterday evening (prior to AG's CBC article above...):
PRECEDENT-SETTING PROPOSAL
Mixed use on Don Mills
October 2, 2009
A controversial settlement offer related to a mixed-use development proposed for the southern and western portions of the land hugging the newly-opened Shops at Don Mills was before council late in the day Thursday. Council went in camera to discuss confidential parts of the application and a decision was not made before NRU’s deadline.
Some councillors questioned the precedent that would be set in the Lawrence Avenue East and Don Mills Road area should the offer be accepted and the application approved.
City planning staff—some staff has worked on this file for nearly eight years now—recommended council reject the application for 1,387-residential units and 7,530-square feet of retail and office space.
The application was made by Cadillac Fairview Realty Holdings Limited in November 2001 and is not subject to new provisions of The Planning Act or the City of Toronto Act, though it has been revised over the years.
Staff said that the proposed buildings, at heights of 12 to 26 storeys, and the proposed built form do not respect the existing character in the surrounding neighbourhood. In the Central Don Mills Secondary Plan, the west parcel of the site has a height restriction of six storeys and the east side is eight storeys.
Staff are concerned with “overdevelopment†of the site and suggested that the footprint and heights of the buildings be reduced.
Most of the proposed residential units would be in new buildings while some would be in a converted existing 13-storey office building at 75 The Donway West with retail at ground level.
Cadillac Fairview recently offered to build a two-storey community centre next to a public park in the area. Currently, Don Mills Civitan arena is located on an adjacent city-owned property. Staff told council that the arena is due for about $1 million worth of repairs and it is estimated to cost about $5 million to replace as a single-pad arena or $7.5 million as a two-pad arena.
Since no decision was made on the application for official plan and zoning by-law amendments, Cadillac Fairview appealed to the OMB in 2007 and prehearings have been held over the last two years.
Staff told council that a seven-week hearing is scheduled for next April but another pre-hearing is set to begin on October 16.
