Lower Yonge Precinct Plan April 2016 Prepared By Waterfront Toronto: Rebecca Carbin, Tara Connor, Oxford Properties (10/20 Bay Street & 85 Toronto Centre for Active Transportation - Meg Davis, Trevor Gardner, Chris Glaisek, Renee Harbour Street) - Dion DiFebo, Beverly Tay, Mark Thomas Smahel Gomes, Meghan Hogan, Dave Madeira, Anna Cote Toronto Entertainment District BIA - Janice Palamarchuk, Lisa Prime, Amanda Santo, Mira Pinnacle Condos (12/16 Yonge Street, 33 Bay Solomon, Dana Duncanson Shenker, Tristan Simpson, Rei Tasaka Street, 16/18 Harbour Street) - Grace Wang, Toronto Island Community Association - Pam Cameron Duff, Andy Seto, Karina Perdomo Mazza, Anna Prodanou, Baye Hunter City of Toronto: Barb Carou, Jeff Dea, Noreen 18 Yonge Street - Noeleen Barron, Wayne Howell Transit Advocate - Steve Munro Dunphy, Sean Harvey, Lauralynn Johnston, Caroline (Del Property Management Inc.) Water Club Condos (208/218 Queens Quay, 8 Kim, Kyle Knoeck, Eddy Lam, Kevin Lee, Gregg Ports Toronto/Oxford Properties (60 Harbour York Street) - Daniel Bonea Lintern, Willie Macrae, Allison Meistrich, Andrea Street/30 Bay Street) - Bill Jackman, Mark Cote The Waterfront BIA - Kevin Currie, Carol Jolly Old, John O’Reilly, Sherry Pedersen, Jane Perdue, Menkes (90 Harbour Street) - Alan Menkes, West Don Lands Committee - Larry Webb Jennifer Tharp, Anson Yeun Jude Tersigni, Jennifer McKinlay Westin Harbour Castle - Tim Reardon Pier 27 (Cityzen) - Kristine Janzen YMCA - Leigh Coffey In Collaboration With: Cycle Toronto (formerly Toronto Cyclist Union) - York Quay Neighbourhood Association - Ulla Archaeological Services Inc. Clay McFayden, Alison Stewart, Antony Hilliard Colgrass, Braz Menezes Arup Daniels Waterfront Condos - Neil Pattison, David Cicada Design Inc. Aird Landowners Golder Associates Financial District BIA - Grant Humes, Evan M. Pinnacle International MMM Group Limited Weinberg LCBO/Infrastructure Ontario Perkins + Will Glen Murray’s Office - Matt Edwards Choice Properties REIT Gooderham Worts Neighbourhood Association - Swerhun Facilitation Toronto Port Lands Company Julie Beddoes Office of Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 20); Waterfront Toronto, City of Toronto and the formerly Councillor Ramkhalawansingh - Brent Consulting Team acknowledge the contribution of Gilliard the following to the project: Office of Councillor Pam McConnell (Ward 28) - Note: All graphics contained herein are for illustrative Tom Davidson purposes only. Stakeholders Ontario Motor Coach Association - Dave Carroll The Residences of the World Trade Centre (10 Redpath Sugar - Andrew Judge, George Carter Queens Quay & 10 Yonge Street) - Angela Griffith St. Lawrence Market BIA - Al Smith and Richard Whitelaw St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association - Lorrie Build Toronto/Tridel (10 York Street/ 120 Naylor, David S. Crawford Harbour Street) - Don Logie, John MacIntyre, The Riviera (228/230 Queens Quay) - Vesna Steve Daniels, Gabriella Sicheri Saltagic ii 1.0 Introduction 1 6.0 Community Services and Facilities 87 6.1 School 90 6.2 Childcare 91 2.0 Area Context 7 6.3 Community Recreation Centres 91 2.1 The Area Today 8 6.4 Library Facilities 91 2.2 Evolution of the Area 9 6.5 Emergency Services 92 2.3 Land Ownership 13 6.6 Human Services 92 2.4 Existing and Planned Context 13 2.4.1 Land Use and Development 15 2.5 Heritage and Archaeology 11 7.0 Sustainability 93 7.1 Buildings 95 7.2 Energy 99 3.0 Precinct Plan Vision and Principles 17 7.3 Resiliency and Adaptation 3.1 Vision 19 to Climate Change 102 3.2 Objectives 19 7.4 Mobility 104 3.3 Five Guiding Principles 20 7.5 Biodiversity 105 7.6 Wise Use of Resources 106 4.0 Public Realm 23 7.6.1 Water 106 4.1 Streets and Blocks 27 7.6.2 Waste 107 4.2 Street Types 28 7.6.3 Materials 108 4.2.1 The “Main Streets” 30 7.6.4 Human Health and Well-being 109 4.2.2 Promenade Streets 35 4.2.3 Neighbourhood Streets 38 8.0 Innovation and Economy 111 4.3 Streetscape Design 39 4.4 Transit 41 4.5 Cycling Network 44 9.0 Public Art 113 4.6 Parks and Open Space 47 9.1 Public Art Context 115 4.6.1 Open Space Network 49 9.2 Method and Approach 118 4.6.2 Lower Yonge Park 51 9.3 Site Selection 118 4.6.3 Mid-Block Connections 52 9.4 The Public Art Plan 120 4.6.4 Privately Owned Publicly-Accessible Spaces (POPS) 53 4.6.5 The PATH 56 10.0 Phasing and Implementation 123 10.1 Implementation Tools 124 5.0 Development 59 10.2 Phasing/Funding 127 5.1 Land Use 60 5.1.1 Mixes of Uses 60 5.1.2 Housing 64 5.2 Built Form 66 5.2.1 Base Buildings 68 5.2.2 Tall Buildings 78 5.2.3 Base Buildings - Heritage 78 5.3 Parking and Loading 84 TABLE OF TABLE CONTENTS iii iv 1.0 Introduction 1 Figure 1.1 Aerial Photo of the Lower Yonge Study Area (2006) 2 Lower Yonge Precinct Plan 1.0 Introduction The Lower Yonge Precinct Plan (the “Precinct to be an appropriate mix of uses, services and neighbourhoods and to Lake Ontario. With a Plan”) provides a vision and framework for amenities for future residents and workers. mix of residential, institutional, civic, office and comprehensive development of this central retail uses, the Precinct will provide homes, waterfront area. This Precinct is expected to The Precinct Plan is the blueprint for a workplaces, and local services and facilities for accommodate significant height and density which functional, complete community that supports thousands of Torontonians, balancing residential makes it imperative to provide a framework to a high density by providing a sustainable mix and commercial development to create an active ensure that new development is appropriately of uses, and a fine-grained network of varied mixed-use community. Lower Yonge will meet the planned and sensitive to the Precinct’s prominent and distinct public spaces. These spaces are high standard for comprehensive planning and location on the waterfront. The public realm must aimed at drawing people into and around the development set by previous waterfront precinct be generous and well designed, and there needs Precinct and connecting it with surrounding planning initiatives. Rendering Figure 1.2 Artistic Rendering of the Toronto Skyline 3 Introduction The Central Waterfront Secondary Plan (“CWSP”) identifies “Precinct Implementation Strategies” (Precinct Plans) as a tool for comprehensive planning and as a prerequisite for the transformation of Regeneration Areas in the waterfront. Through incorporating the elements and strategies of precinct planning, as outlined in the CWSP, this Precinct Plan establishes objectives for the Lower Yonge area’s built form and public realm, the overall urban design vision, and how the precinct will relate to adjacent neighbourhoods and districts. The CWSP identifies the foot of Yonge Street as an ‘Inner Harbour Special Place’ which is to be designed with developments that will contribute to the special nature of this area. With this as a guiding principle, the precinct has been comprehensively planned to turn these lands into a gateway to Toronto’s Waterfront and into a vibrant, connected, landmark community. The Precinct Plan was developed in two phases. Phase One addressed the larger structural elements of the precinct plan. It focused on a new streets and blocks plan, local and regional Figure 1.3 Artistic Rendering of the Lower Yonge Precinct transportation network changes, land use and The City Staff report contained a set of draft Additional work has been conducted on community compatibility, built form and massing, and public Planning and Policy Directions for this Precinct services and facilities, affordable housing, active realm considerations. The first phase culminated Plan. transportation measures and implementation in the receipt and endorsement, in part, by City mechanisms. Council in August 2014, of three reports: The recommendations contained within the TMP were further endorsed by City Council in March A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment 1. The Lower Yonge Transportation Master Plan 2015 and accepted by the Ministry of Environment (MCEA) has been initiated to move forward (“TMP”) Environmental Assessment (“EA”) and Climate Change shortly thereafter. These three phases 3 and 4 the TMP EA, building on the Report, prepared by Arup, dated August 2014; reports established the foundations on which the recommendations made in phase 1 and 2 of the precinct planning process was based and set the TMP EA. As part of the MCEA, an Environmental 2. The Lower Yonge Urban Design Report: stage for the second phase. Study Report is required to fulfill the applicable Principles and Recommendations, prepared by Environmental Assessment (EA) requirements Perkins and Will, dated August 2014; Phase Two focused on refinements to the earlier under Schedule C of the Municipal Class EA Phase One work, particularly with respect to built process. 3. The Lower Yonge Precinct Plan – Proposals form and massing, public realm, compatibility with Report (“Proposals Report”), dated August 5, existing uses and transportation infrastructure. 2014. 4 Lower Yonge Precinct Plan Figure 1.4 Flow Chart of Phases Also required are the complete functional designs 2. Transportation infrastructure changes identified It is anticipated that the MCEA will completed by for: in the already completed TMP. the end of 2016. 1. Preferred alternative design concepts that will Overall, the MCEA will focus on refinements to The Precinct Plan is built upon the Phase One and be identified from the completion of Phase 3 of the TMP EA, as well as introduce a public realm Two work, which included extensive consultation the MCEA for the Precinct; and concept, local servicing options, costing and with community members, landowners and other phasing recommendations for the ultimate design. stakeholders. 5 Introduction Implementation 1.0 Introduction The Plan is intended to be read in conjunction with, and be implemented through, the CWSP, the Area Context Lower Yonge Official Plan Amendment (“OPA”), and 2.0 the City Planning staff report dated April 22, 2016.