20/Nov/2016

On November 17, 2016 the South Rosedale Residents’ Association (SRRA) held its Annual General Meeting at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club. There was an unusually large crowd in attendance, many of whom were supporters of the MyRosedaleNeighbourhood petition opposing the proposed Dale Avenue development, the details of which were filed with the City of Toronto for consideration in August 2016.

The AGM was also attended by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and members of her staff, who stayed a full two hours and answered residents’ questions and explained some of the City processes regarding the Dale Avenue development proposal.

Representatives of the developer also attended the AGM.

The Dale Avenue proposal was the focal point of the evening and generated extensive and at times heated discussion during which many members of the South Rosedale community expressed their concerns and opposition to the project in no uncertain terms.

Numerous questions were fielded by SRRA directors, who pledged that the SRRA would be at the forefront of a thorough planning process in which community concerns, questions and issues would be fully aired and considered. This process includes organizing special SRRA members’ meetings on the development proposal, the upcoming November 22 community meeting organized by the City of Toronto, the possibility of City-sponsored working group meetings between now and the Fall of 2017, and a charrette process discussed informally at a recent meeting between representatives of the SRRA, MyRosedaleNeighborhood and the developer.

During the AGM, questions were asked about a letter written in July 2016 by the SRRA Heritage Subcommittee to City Heritage Preservation Services (HPS). This letter was written in response to a normal course request from HPS for comment on certain heritage issues. In keeping with prior longstanding practice, the Subcommittee communicated directly and independently with HPS. (The Board intends to reconsider this practice as it relates to any current and future planned multi-unit development projects).

Contrary to rumours apparently circulating in the community, this letter did not express general support for the development proposal but rather focused specifically on heritage issues, as opposed to the broader planning issues (e.g. height, density and trees) raised by the redevelopment of the Dale Avenue site. Subsequent to the Subcommittee’s July heritage letter, the developer acknowledged that the SRRA had not issued a letter of support for the development proposal (further details below). The SRRA recognizes that certain issues addressed in the July heritage letter need to be reconsidered and addressed by the SRRA Board based on input from a heritage expert.  The July heritage letter is set out below.

Download (PDF)

Subsequently, in early August, the developer submitted a formal redevelopment application to the City for a 4-storey residential building with 26 dwelling units, together with a large number of studies and reports prepared by the developer to support its proposal.

Since that time an increasing number of South Rosedale residents have expressed serious concerns regarding the proposed development, and as noted above, community members expressed their concerns forcefully at the AGM.

In September, it came to the attention of the SRRA that the developer had advised some members of the community that the SRRA had written a letter supporting the developer’s application. This representation was incorrect, and the SRRA immediately demanded a retraction and passed by unanimous resolution a motion affirming that the Board at no time had expressed support for the development proposal. In its response, the developer apologized and acknowledged that no such letter of support had been written by the SRRA. After referring in some detail to the formal development proposal filed in August, the developer’s response to the SRRA stated as follows:

“…Naturally, the design is subject to further modification  … through the normal processes that are typical of any development application.”

Over the past two months, as opposition to the Dale development has grown, the SRRA Board has devoted many hours of time and has held numerous internal discussions regarding the proposal, including in relation to all of the issues referred to above. As a result, on November 10, 2016 the SRRA issued a Statement of Principles  regarding the proposal, approved by resolution of the Board. In this Statement of Principles the SRRA reiterated that it “has not supported, and does not support, the proposed Development in its current form.” This was emphasized on several occasions during the recent AGM.

Next Steps

The entire SRRA Board and a Board Subcommittee that is focused exclusively on the Dale development proposal are now considering all aspects of the proposal, including heritage issues.  As stated at the AGM, the SRRA intends to retain professional services as may be required in connection with the proposed development, including the services of a heritage expert to assist the Board in determining its position on heritage issues. All relevant issues, including heritage, will be addressed by the SRRA Board.

Several members of the SRRA Board will be attending an informal follow-up meeting about Dale Avenue with Councillor Wong-Tam on Monday and will also be attending the community meeting at St. Simon-the-Apostle Church on Tuesday evening (7-9 PM).

As promised at the AGM, the SRRA looks forward to seeing interested community members at the Tuesday meeting and to working together over the next 10-12 months to respond responsibly and thoroughly to the South Rosedale community’s issues and concerns about this project. Above all, the SRRA is highly committed to achieving an outcome that meets the needs and wishes of the South Rosedale community.

10/Nov/2016

SRRA Statement of Principles Regarding Proposed Development at 5, 7, 9 Dale Avenue

In its Preliminary Report dated September 15, 2016, the City of Toronto Planning Division identified numerous unresolved issues of concern regarding the proposed condominium development at 5, 7 and 9 Dale Avenue (the “Development”). These include:

• Conformity with the Official Plan policies and development criteria for Neighbourhoods and OPA 320;
• Compatibility with the surrounding neighbourhood land uses;
• Whether the Heritage Impact Statement sufficiently addresses heritage concerns associated with the site and whether any on-site conservation of heritage resources is required;
• Appropriateness of demolishing three contributing buildings within the Heritage Conservation District;
• Appropriateness of the proposed built form siting, height and massing;
• Proposed public realm and the relationship of the building at grade;
• Landscaping and lighting features;
• Appropriateness of the proposed tree protection and tree removal on the tableland and ravine edge;
• Adequacy and suitability of the amount and location of the proposed indoor and outdoor amenity space;
• Adequacy of the proposed vehicular parking supply and whether the proposed vehicular access is appropriate;
• Adequacy of the proposed loading space to service the Development and whether the access to this space is appropriate;
• Supply and location of proposed bicycle parking spaces;
• Capacity of existing servicing to accommodate the proposed Development;
• Compliance to the TGS Tier 1 performance measures; and
• Confirmation that the proposed Official Plan Amendment is appropriate and maintains the intent of the Natural Environment policies.

Furthermore, the City noted that additional issues may be identified through the review of the Development application, agency comments and the community consultation process.

The proposed Development and the above issues have generated significant concerns and interest within the South Rosedale Community.

The South Rosedale Residents’ Association (“SRRA”) Board of Directors shares many of the concerns expressed by the City Planning Division and the Community. There are many outstanding issues that require further review and resolution. Accordingly, the SRRA has not supported, and does not support, the proposed Development in its current form. In addition, the SRRA intends to do everything possible — whatever form the proposed Development may ultimately take — to ensure that appropriate protections are in place to avoid any implication that redevelopment of this unique site sets any kind of general precedent for South Rosedale or the surrounding residential areas.

The SRRA Board has established an internal subcommittee to focus on the proposed Development. The Board, and specifically the subcommittee, has and continues to obtain feedback from the Community and conduct due diligence regarding the key issues, and will obtain appropriate professional advice as required. The SRRA intends to actively participate in the planning process for the Development, prior to the final City Planning Report, which the City has indicated it will issue in late 2017. This approach is consistent with the leadership role the SRRA has taken historically on both major and minor development matters within and on the borders of South Rosedale, as well as the initiation of the process and the commissioning of the Heritage Study which resulted in the designation of South Rosedale as a Heritage Conservation District.

The next formal step in the planning process is a Community Consultation Meeting scheduled for 7:00 PM on November 22, 2016 at St. Simon-the-Apostle Church, 525 Bloor Street East. This is an important meeting and the SRRA encourages all interested South Rosedale residents to attend.

The SRRA expects that this public meeting will be the start of a robust consultation process over the next year, and will actively advocate for such a process. The SRRA hopes that this process will lead to a reasonable outcome that meets the needs and wishes of the South Rosedale Community and all concerned parties, and that it will avoid the need for a potentially protracted and costly Ontario Municipal Board hearing regarding the Development.

The SRRA will continue to communicate on a clear and timely basis with the South Rosedale Community regarding these matters through postings on its website, email blasts, periodic Newsletters and other communications, as may be warranted.

BY RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE SOUTH ROSEDALE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

4/Nov/2016

November 22 Community Consultation Meeting re Proposed Development at 5, 7, 9 Dale Avenue

A community consultation meeting regarding the proposed development at 5, 7, 9 Dale Avenue will take place from 7 to 9 PM on November 22 at St. Simon-the-Apostle Church at 525 Bloor St. East. For more information regarding the proposed development, see here.

24/Oct/2016

Proposed Development at 5, 7, 9 Dale Avenue

A developer is proposing to construct a residential condominium building on the three properties at 5, 7 and 9 Dale Avenue, on the south side of Dale Avenue, east of the Glen Road Footbridge.

The proposed development consists of a 4-storey building with a rooftop mechanical level, and 26 residential units with a floor area of approx. 95,000 square feet and 58 underground parking spaces.

The South Rosedale Residents’ Association Board is currently considering the proposal and its implications for immediate neighbours and for the neighbourhood as a whole. The Board is gathering input from the community, especially homeowners who live near the proposed development, and is reviewing the City Planning Division’s preliminary report.

The City will schedule a community consultation during the fourth quarter of 2016. SRRA will notify members of the meeting via email and web posting.

Further information regarding the proposed development can be found here.

Among the preliminary issues identified in the City Planning Division’s report are:

– Conformity with the Official Plan policies and development criteria for Neighbourhoods and OPA 320;
– Compatibility with the surrounding neighbourhood land uses;
– Whether the Heritage Impact Statement sufficiently addresses heritage concerns associated with the site and whether any on-site conservation of heritage resources is required;
– Appropriateness of demolishing three contributing buildings within the Heritage Conservation District;
– Appropriateness of the proposed built form siting, height and massing;
– Proposed public realm and the relationship of the building at grade;
– Adequacy of the proposed vehicular parking supply and whether the proposed vehicular access is appropriate;
– Adequacy of the proposed loading space to service the development and whether the access to this space is appropriate;
– Confirmation that the proposed Official Plan Amendment is appropriate and maintains the intent of the Natural Environment policies.

Committee Of Adjustment Rejects House-Behind-A-House Despite Previous Ontario Municipal Board Approval

On March 28, 2010, the Committe of Adjustment (the “Committee”) rejected the Application by the owners of 80 Crescent Road for consent to sever the property and to approve 7 minor variances arising from the proposed construction of a house-behind-a-house.

Previously, in March 2009, the Ontario Municipal Board (“OMB”) approved an Application to permit the building of a house behind the present dwelling at 80 Crescent Road in a condo­minium arrangement. One reason for this approval was that the City’s “new” Official Plan was silent on the issue of house-behind-a-house, while the “old” zoning by-law prohibited it. The SRRA and several neighbours opposed the Application and disagreed with the decision of the OMB.

The owners of 80 Crescent Road subse­quently decided to create a separate lot at the rear of the property. This triggered 7 variances from the zoning by-law that had to be approved by the Committee. Most of the variances were quite extreme; decid­edly not the “minor variances” typically requested at the Committee.

Despite the advice of lawyers and civil servants, the SRRA Executive decided, on the basis of previous experience, that the non-minor character of the variances provided a small chance that the Committee would reject the Application.

SRRA Director Alex Murray submitted two letters to the Committee, one on the sever­ance and one on the variances. He spoke briefly on the flawed logic of the OMB decision and rejected the assumption that such a gross pack­age of variances had to be accepted “the OMB has spoken”.

Mary Lou Flynn-Guglietti, a lawyer who was on our team at the OMB, made a crisp, hard hitting presenta­tion demolishing the Applicant’s lawyer’s defence of the variances as being minor and already approved by the OMB.

The Committee voted unanimously to reject the applications, ruling that the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law were not maintained. It also stated that the variances were not minor and “were not considered to be desirable for the appropriate development of the land.”