East Bayfront Precinct Plan November 2005
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East Bayfront Precinct Plan November 2005 Urban Design Consultant Parks & Public Space Consultant PHILLIPS · FAREVAAG · SMALLENBERG Precinct Planning Coordinator/ Urban Strategies Inc. Program Manager East Bayfront Precinct Plan Prepared for Stakeholder Group City of Toronto Staff Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation Julie Beddoes Rita Brooks and Agencies Frank Burns Elaine Baxter-Trahair Consultant Team John Campey Carlo Bonnani Koetter Kim & Associates Michael Cornstock Angus Cranston Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg Michael Cruickshank Bill Dawson BA Group Kevin Garland Robert Freedman LEA Consulting Brenda Hariman Mark Guslits GHK Randee Holmes Sean Harvey Sustainable Edge David Jackson John Kelly Tim Jones Ann Larkin Brian Knoll Tim Laspa Precinct Planning Coordinator / Joe Lobko Hon Lu Bruce MacMillan Jamie McEwan Program Manager Rod McPhail Urban Strategies Inc. Alan Marsh Pam Mazza Jayne Naiman Michael McClelland Eric Pedersen Environmental Assessment Edward Nixon Jeff Steiner Nigel Trahair Master Plan Coordinator Marilyn Roy Nancy Sheppard Ted Tyndorf Marshall Macklin Monaghan Judy Stewart Gary Wright Terri Tenberg Michelle Buckley Public Consultation Jim Valfiades Councillor Pam McConnell Cindy Wilkey Facilitators John Wilson LURA Consulting Ane Christensen Rollo Myers Special Advisors Anthony Coombes Michael Kirkland Table of Contents Overview Precinct Planning 4 Structure of the Plan 4 Extent of the Precinct Plan 5 Interpretation of the Plan 5 Section 1 The Vision for East Bayfront 6 Section 6 Ground Floor Strategy All-Weather Arcades 39 Ground Floor Public Engagement 40 Section 2 Consultation Process 8 Section 7 Development Guidelines Built Form as a Structuring Element 42 Section 3 Analysis Streets, Laneways and Passages 43 An Evolution of Planning Efforts 10 Parcel Plan 44 Heritage 11 Building Types 45 Existing Conditions 12 Streets and Signalization 46 Initial Analysis of the site 13 Parking and Servicing 47 Section 4 Community Character A Truly Mixed-Use Community 14 Section 8 Gardiner / Lakeshore Corridor 48 Sustainability is Key 15 A Commitment to Affordable Housing 16 Quality Community Services 17 Section 9 Phasing and Implementation Phasing 49 Implementation 50 Section 5 Plan Components and Concepts Principles 18 Parks and Public Open Space 21 Water’s Edge Promenade 24 Jarvis Slip Special Use Site 28 Aitken Place 32 Parliament Slip Park 33 Queens Quay Boulevard 34 Transit Network 36 Streets 36 Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation 36 Green Infrastructure 37 History as Design Inspiration 38 Overview Precinct Planning Precinct Planning is an important step in achieving Toronto’s vision Section 1 The Vision for East Bayfront, sets out the goals and for a revitalized waterfront. In adopting the Central Waterfront aspirations for this new community as well as the Secondary Plan, Toronto City Council outlined a Precinct Planning general framework for the public realm and new Process intended to further articulate the policies of the Secondary development. Plan for specific areas of the waterfront. The Precinct Plans are Section 2 Consultation Process, provides an overview of the intended to outline development principles and guidelines at a stakeholder public and municipal consultation process. level of detail not possible within the broader Secondary Plan. The Section 3 Analysis, provides an overview of the investigation intent is that these principles and guidelines form the bridge that into the East Bayfront’s strengths, weaknesses and allows the city to move from Official Plan policies to Zoning By-law opportunities. provisions. Section 4 Community Character, sets out the various TWRC objectives in relation to issues of sustainability, The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) has affordability, and community services. been given the role of preparing Precinct Plans for the area Section 5 Plan Components and Concepts, outlines the within its waterfront mandate. The East Bayfront Precinct Plan framework and describes in greater detail the vision for is one of the initial precinct plans undertaken by the TWRC and the precinct including the public realm, transit, streets has undergone extensive review with the City of Toronto and its and green infrastructure. East Bayfront Precinct Planning study area agencies, and extensive public and stakeholder consultations. Section 6 Ground Floor Strategy, describes the ground floor Focus for initial East Bayfront policies and regulations The plan as represented in this report is a collaborative effort of programing, building uses necessary to create a many individuals and organizations. diverse, high quality and animated public realm. Section 7 Development Guidelines, describes the guidelines for Structure of the Plan regulating open space and built form with respect to The Precinct Plan provides design concepts and development location, size, height and building relationships. guidelines for the implementation of public infrastructure (streets, Section 8 The Gardiner / Lakeshore Corridor, describes the parks and trails, and community facilities) as well as the built considerations made in preparing the Precinct Plan with form of new development. As such, the Precinct Plan will direct the existing condition of the Gardiner Corridor as well public infrastructure investment and provide the foundation for as future alternatives. the preparation of a comprehensive Zoning By-law to regulate Section 9 Phasing and Implementation, provides a strategy for future developments. The Precinct Plan is organized in nine main achieving the full build out of the East Bayfront. sections. Adjacent waterfront initiatives p.4 EAST BAYFRONT PRECINCT PLAN | TORONTO NOVEMBER 2005 TORONTO WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION CORPORATION Next Steps Interpretation of the Plan Following this precinct planning exercise will begin a more detailed a future amendment to this Precinct Plan document will be made This plan should be interpreted as a guiding document meant to block planning exercise, as was done at the conclusion of the West once the eastern area studies are completed. provide a flexible framework within which to achieve the vision Don Lands precinct planning effort. In the case of East Bayfront, set out for East Bayfront. It is not a static plan but a description timing permits the TWRC’s waterfront Design Review Panel to Two Environmental Assessments are currently underway for the of principles, frameworks and opportunities. Numerical and get fully engaged in this second design phase. They will help lands east of Parliament. The first is the naturalization of the mouth quantitative provisions set out in the Plan are not to be taken as strengthen the plan further. The ultimate goal of the block planning of the Don River and related flood protection requirements for the rigid standards but are meant to illustrate ideas and concepts. effort is to provide the foundation for a comprehensive zoning by- Port Lands. The second is the design and alignment of Queens Exact standards (e.g. building heights, street right-of-ways) will law. This will make new development possible in this area. Quay Boulevard (as it extends east of Parliament Street) and its be set out in the Zoning By-laws for the development of buildings intersection with Cherry Street. These Environmental Assessments and in Environmental Assessments for the development of public Extent of the Precinct Plan are expected to take approximately two years to complete. infrastructure. The TWRC will continue to work with the City in The East Bayfront Precinct extends from Jarvis Street in the the preparation and presentation of those standards for Council west to Cherry Street in the east, between the lakefront and the The TWRC, working with City staff and private landowners, will consideration. Gardiner corridor. This Precinct Plan document focuses on the establish an East of Parliament Working Group for that area, in area between Jarvis and Parliament Streets. In the eastern portion order to study specific design and development options while the of this territory, between Parliament Street and Cherry Street, there two Environmental Assessments are being conducted. A Zoning are two complex infrastructure and design elements which require By-law for those lands will be brought forward as soon as sufficient further study before precinct study can be completed. Therefore information about the required public infrastructure is known. East Bayfront Precinct in relation to central waterfront p.5 VISION Section 1 Toronto is Canada’s largest city, a rapidly growing metropolitan Initially, precinct plans have been developed for the two areas clos- region on the north shore of Lake Ontario. To counter urban sprawl est to the downtown, West Don Lands and East Bayfront. These | CONSULTATION | ANALYSIS | CONSULTATION The Vision for East and revitalize the waterfront, the three levels of government created two precincts connect the downtown to the lake and the Don River the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC), charged corridor, as well as create gateways to future precincts and pub- Bayfront with coordinating the redevelopment of a vast tract of waterfront lic open spaces in the Port Lands. The Don River corridor will be property adjacent to downtown Toronto. The TWRC’s mission is to improved as a natural open space system with its terminus in a transform the Toronto waterfront into a series of sustainable, mixed naturalized river mouth. The water’s edge will become a continu- use urban precincts integrated with parks and