June 24, 2013 Kyle Knoeck , Senior Planner Giulio Cescato , Planner

1. June 24, 2013 Kyle Knoeck, Senior Planner GiulioCescato, Planner

2. Downtown East Planning StudyStudy Purpose • Examine land-use planning policy and built form in the area. • Complement a Heritage Conservation District Study • Form part of the Downtown East Revitalization Initiative.

3. How did we get here?

4. How did we get here? July 2010 -- City Council directed staff to conduct an area review • lands bounded by George Street, Dundas Street East, Sherbourne Street and Shuter Street October 2011 -- “kick-off” community meeting November 2011, preliminary report • authorized expanded boundary • nominated area for Heritage Conservation District Study Community Feedback -- a comprehensive revitalization study was needed, not just a land use study

5. How did we get here? • Comprehensive revitalization initiative focusing on six key Principles: • Land Use Planning/Heritage • Safety Planning • Community Services • Local Housing Strategy • Local Economic Development • Public Realm Planning • Information Report went to Community Council on April 9, 2013 updating on work done to date Tonight’s meeting is focussed here

6. What are we doing?

7. What does a land use study look like? • Do the existing policies still serve the area? • Looking at: • Sherbourne Street; • Dundas Street East; • Jarvis Street; and • George Street.

8. What is the future of the Downtown East? What is an appropriate mix of uses? • residential? • commercial and retail? • residential and institutional? • All of the above? What would limit redevelopment? • nearby parks • low scale built form • shadowing and privacy • heritage What role if any can redevelopment play in the Study area? • economic development? • investment in local infrastructure? • improved public realm? • new residents and businesses?

9. Policy Context Official Plan – Land Use

10. Official Plan – Land Use

11. What have we dong to date?

12. Completed background research and Area Profile • Completed Base modelling

13. Where are we going?

14. Inviting Discussion • What kind of Downtown East do you want to see? • Do you think areas of the Downtown East should redevelop? • If so, how? Tall Buildings? Mid-rise? Low-rise? • What are the advantages and disadvantages of these types of development?

15. June 24, 2013 Lauren Archer, Preservation Officer Scott Barrett, Senior Coordinator

16. Contents • What is an HCD? • Why Designate HCDs • Legislation and Policy • Steps to an HCD • How HCDs Work • Garden District Study So Far • Contact

17. What Is An HCD? • HCDs protect and manage change within historic neighbourhoods so as to maintain their heritage value and character. • They are enclosed by a boundary and designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) • They recognize and protect the historic significance and community heritage values of an area • They are evaluated by heritage professionals, planners, urban designers and archaeologists to determine cultural value • HCDs are designated by bylaws that are registered on title of each property

18. Why Designate HCDs • We believe that our historic neighbourhoods and areas are unique and special places that should be protected and maintained • We appreciate the sense of place that is provided by the character of our historic neighbourhoods • We want to maintain and improve the condition, context and surroundings of our neighbourhoods based on existing character • We believe that a strong understanding of, and regard for, the historic significance of these areas helps us to build better communities

19. Legislation and Policy • Ontario Heritage Act (2005) • HCDs are protected under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) • The OHA sets out the provisions for studying, planning and designating HCDs • The OHA also regulates permits for alterations and demolitions within an HCD

20. Legislation and Policy • Heritage Conservation Districts in Toronto: Procedures, Policies and Terms of Reference (2012) • New HCD Procedures and Policy adopted by Council in 2012. • Available on the Heritage Preservation Services website. • Describes all procedures, policies and guidelines of the City of Toronto for HCD Studies and Plans such as: • Community involvement • Nomination process, nomination forms. • Built Heritage and Landscape Survey Form for community volunteers

21. How HCDs Work • HCDs help to manage change in districts by: • Providing policy and guidelines for how to conserve and appropriately adapt contributing resources • Providing policy and guidance on how to build new structures in the district that fit in, but are of their own time • Changes are managed through special permits under the OHA for HCDs. These permits are issued by Council and staff.

22. How HCDs Work • An HCD designates an area or neighbourhood in the city enclosed by a boundary • Every property within the HCD boundary is designated under the OHA • Every HCD has a unique plan written that defines how the area is to be managed • The HCD plan will also identify the properties in the boundary as contributing or non-contributing to the heritage value, character, and integrity of the district.

23. Steps to an HCD • NOMINATE • STUDY • PLAN

24. Garden District Study So Far • July 2010: Downtown East Planning Study commences. • November, 2011: City Council directs staff to authorize the Garden District area for an HCD Study. • October 2012: The Garden District HCD Study area authorized and identified as a high priority study area at City Council. • April 2013: MHBC Planning Ltd. retainted to complete the HCD Study and Plan for the Garden District HCD Study area.

25. Contact Heritage Preservation Services Urban Design, City Planning Division 100 Queen Street West Scott Barrett Senior Coordinator sbarret3@toronto.ca 416-338-1083 Lauren Archer Preservation Officer larcher@toronto.ca 416-392-2653

26. Garden District Heritage Conservation District Study Introductory Public Meeting June 24th, 2013

27. Who is MHBC? • Multidisciplinary land use planning and landscape architecture company headquartered in Kitchener. • Extensive experience conducting HCD studies, and preparing plans and guidelines. • We will be responsible for the preparation of the Garden District Heritage Conservation District Study.

28. Study area overview

29. Ontario Heritage Act requirements PART V: HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT SCOPE OF STUDY • Examine the character and appearance of the area subject to study, including buildings, structures and other features of the area; • Examine and make recommendations as to a potential district boundary; • Consider and make recommendations on the objectives of the designation and the content of the heritage conservation district plan; • Make recommendations as to any changes to the official plan and any other relevant by-laws.

30. Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport guidance on HCDs • A concentration of heritage buildings, sites, structures; designed landscapes, natural landscapes that are linked by aesthetic, historical and socio-cultural contexts or use. • A framework of structured elements including major natural features such as topography, land form, landscapes, water courses and built form such as pathways and street patterns, landmarks, nodes or intersections, approaches and edges. • A sense of visual coherence through the use of such elements as building scale, mass, height, material, proportion, colour, etc. that convey a distinct sense of time or place. • A distinctiveness which enables districts to be recognised and distinguishable from their surroundings or from neighbouring areas.

31. HCDs in Toronto • New Policy adopted by Toronto City Council in 2012. • Creates consistent approach to studying and identifying areas for potential designation. • Draws from Heritage Act, Ontario Heritage Toolkit, and other applicable documents.

32. Phase 1 Work Plan Summary • Meet with community to discuss project and obtain feedback. • Complete historic research. • Complete fieldwork (building and landscape survey). • Present findings in HCD Study. • Present draft HCD Study to community. • Prepare final draft of HCD Study and present to City of Toronto Preservation Board.

33. Planned community engagement • Initial meetings with City staff, local Councillor, and community. • Meetings with focus groups to obtain additional public feedback and input. • Online presence. • Public meetings and Council / Preservation Board meetings throughout project.

34. Outline of HCD Study • Background and introduction. • Character and appearance of the study area: • Physiography; • Historical settlement; • Built heritage character; • Landscape character; • Typologies and community character. • Area analysis and recommended boundary. • Recommended objectives of designation and plan content. • Recommended potential changes to planning mechanisms and by-laws.

35. Project Schedule

36. Contact for information Scott Barrett Senior Preservation Coordinator Heritage Preservation Services City of Toronto 17th Floor, East Tower, City Hall 100 Queen Street West Toronto ON M5H 2N2 T: 416-338-1083 E: sbarret3@toronto.ca Thank-you.

37. Questions and comments? • Any initial feedback from community about project? • Concerns or questions?