September 2021 Advocacy Update

Ontario Line Subway Construction

Metrolinx released a proposal to manage construction impacts around a new Ontario Line subway station at the Yonge and Queen intersection; the full technical briefing includes key dates.

Next Steps:

• Metrolinx to seek Toronto City Council approval for the proposal at the November 9, 2021 meeting.

LOOKING FOR MORE? Summary and Technical Briefing.

Changes Considered in City Consultation Water Fees, Charges and Programs

As mentioned in last month’s update, the City of Toronto Infrastructure and Environment Committee adopted a motion at its July 5 meeting requiring Staff to provide a supplemental report prior to the July 14-15 City Council meeting. That report has now been released and can be found here.

A supplemental report provided to Council outlines the following:

• Possibilities for an enhanced information campaign regarding stormwater reduction;
• Web based information and social media on actions property owners can take to reduce stormwater on properties;
• Possibilities for an incentives program related to stormwater reduction;
• Stormwater charge credits, stormwater grants or rebates, stormwater management financing, stormwater incentives for development, and awards and recognition programs.

Next Steps:
City staff estimate it will take 18 months to complete a comprehensive citywide review and public consultation on a stormwater charge and credits for all properties. Staff is to report back to the Executive Committee on the outcome of the consultations in the second quarter of 2023.

LOOKING FOR MORE? Staff Report.

NAIOP Participates in Toronto’s Review of Parking Requirements for New Development 

The City is considering the following guiding principle and points:

• The proposed new guiding principle for the parking by-law is: “parking zoning standards should allow only the maximum amount of parking reasonably required for a given land use. Minimums should be avoided except where necessary to ensure equitable access”;
• Removing all minimums except for accessible and visitor parking and adding maximums where they do not already exist;
• In most parts of the City where there are maximums already, these would be lowered to the current minimum standards;
• In areas where there are no maximums, new maximums would be set in line with what is already there and would then be adjusted in future;
• There may be minimums considered for areas of the city with no access to transit.

Next Steps:

• Staff will seek feedback this summer to inform draft proposals and further consultation will be held in September;
• Staff are targeting to bring the final proposals to Committee in November/December.

Waterfront East LRT Online Questionnaire Extension 

The Waterfront East LRT is included in the list of key City of Toronto priorities submitted by Mayor Tory to the leaders of all federal parties in the upcoming election.

The Waterfront East LRT’s first phase from Union Station to a Cherry Street loop in the Port Lands will be eligible for funding for the first time at the end of 2021 with 30% design and engineering completed by the City, TTC and Waterfront Toronto.

Next Steps:

• As of August 30, crews will continue survey, utility and geotechnical investigations, including borehole drilling to accommodate additional streetcar lines to the East Bayfront Area of Toronto’s Waterfront. This will take 3 weeks to complete and is being done on Bay St. between Front St. and Lake Shore Boulevard East.
• Fall 2021 (October/November) – Staff will present their business case and 30% design for Phase 1 to Council, which will make the project eligible for City of Toronto funding in the 2022 Budget process.

TRBOT offers COVID-19 screen kits to businesses SMEs

City of Toronto