Description

The City of Toronto began to take stock of the planning framework and infrastructure capacity of Downtown in 2016. While Toronto’s Downtown is (comparatively, in North America) an example of successful city building, the pace of change raised important questions that needed examination:
•Where can growth be accommodated in Downtown Toronto?
•What is the right scale for infill development within the various neighbourhoods of Downtown?
•What are the physical and social infrastructure needs to support future growth?
•Where are the opportunities to acquire new parkland and to improve the quality of existing parks and public spaces?
•How might we reduce congestion by improving conditions for walking, cycling and surface transit?
•What community services and facilities are needed to ensure that Downtown remains inclusive, healthy and livable?
•How can we reinforce Downtown’s important role within the regional economy and as a generator of jobs for city residents?
•What can we do to encourage growth that is more resilient and sustainable?

TOcore was a two-year initiative that started late in 2016. It covered the entire downtown area identified in the Official Plan: from the CPR tracks north of Dupont to the waterfront, and from Bathurst to the Don Valley Parkway, i.e. including the Annex.

Outcomes were expected to be a new Secondary Plan for the downtown area; public realm and transport strategies; and an infrastructure (soft and hard) investment program.

ARA engagement: ARA was very active throughout the two-year process of preparing the new Downtown Plan under the City’s TOCore initiative, including the lowering of density designations along parts of Bloor Street west of St. George, and Avenue Road north of Davenport – two important edges of the Annex. City Council enacted a bylaw to adopt the Downtown Plan Official Plan Amendment (OPA 406) on July 27, 2018. OPA 406 includes amendments to the Toronto Official Plan, a new Downtown Plan, and accompanying infrastructure strategies. The City submitted OPA 406 in August 2018 to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for review and approval pursuant to Section 26 of the Planning Act. The Minister can adopt, reject, or modify OPA 406. According to the Act, Minister's action on OPA 406 were due by 11 April 2019 but he has extended his review by 90 days. http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTM1Nzk1&statusId=MjA2NzU2&language=en
link: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=222101f2e9745410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD