Category Archives: TBCA Executive

TBCA Meeting Minutes – November 2012 and January 2013

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SUMMARY MINUTES

 

January 28, 2013 Attendees:

 

  • Chair – Chris Walker
  • Ashley Da Silva – Councillor Mike Layton’s Office
  • Elspeth Cassar
  • Tom Dean
  • Ann Dean
  • Bjarne Pedersen
  • Evan Saskin
  • Carol Craighead
  • Ben Pakuts
  • Penny Firth-Eagland
  • John Amoriaex
  • David Martin
  • Tatum Wilson (CAMH)
  • Darlene Giroux
  • Carol Keates
  • Liz Magner
  • Amy Hamblin
  • Blair Hobbs

November 26, 2012 Attendees:

  • Chair – Chris Walker
  • Ashley Da Silva – Councillor Mike Layton’s Office
  • Ross Burnett
  • Sue Campbell
  • Bjarne Pedersen
  • Lubomyr Lahodynskyt
  • Louis Skalar
  • Jennifer Gagner
  • Steven Burkes
  • Stephanie Partson
  • Anne Keary

Agenda items:

  • Origami Lofts
  • Studio Bar
  • 110 Palmerston
  • Urban Forestry Management Plan
  • Mocca Redevelopment
  • Camh Update
  • Dog-Watering Station
  • Fresh Patio
  • Kromer Radio Redevelopment
  • TBCA Executive Business

Origami Lofts

Presented by Lubomyr Lahodynskyt

  • New seven storey condo development at 202-204 Bathurst Avenue (Origami Lofts)
  • Community Information meeting completed on November 21st , approx. 50 participants
  • Concern that development is being assessed under the Mid-Rise Building Guidelines, even though Bathurst is not considered an ‘Avenue’.
  • Primary concerns have not been resolved – parking, height, servicing arrangements, impact on     Wolseley Street. Additional concern with shadows, sewer capacity, etc.
  • Local community blog set up: 202BathurstImprove.org
  • Preliminary Staff Report released.

 Action: TBCA to help direct Wolseley Street residents to Councillor’s Layton’s Office

CAMH Update

Presented by Tatum Wilson

  • Neighborhood liaison committee exists to provide input into development.
    • addressing dust issues, etc.
    • Liaison needs to be refreshed/re-energized.
    • Next meeting April 25th, during work week (6-8pm range). Tours of current new bldgs. May be a part of the meeting. Catherine Zhan, CEO of Development will be attending.
    • Phase 1B complete
    • Phase 2: two years from new construction – 3 new bldgs, placement.
    • Workmans Arts will have a space; full time arts residence to be incorporated, including art, theatre space, new patient beds, etc.
    • Previous concerns addressed by community liason: ~safety, elopees (missing patients), location of gym (available to community at certain times), forensics unit placement, parking of cement trucks, dust/noise issues.
    • Sign up for: “CAMH Connections” newsletter; see blog/twitter. TBCA to post callout for volunteers as well.

110 Palmerston Redevelopment

  • Complaint regarding variance 1 (change of use)
  • Property that currently exists: 1 story, “Queen Anne Cottage” style; but 2 story on paper. Will be adding 2 more stories (3 stories in total).
  • 20 metres is proposed new height.
  • Increase in density proposed.
  • Evan Saskin is the developer
  • Developing a number of projects in the neighborhood (similar property exists on Givens, other being built on Markham).
  • This Variance 1 is a “Use Variance” because a traditional split would be floor based or cut perpendicular to street.
  • Evan received a lot of opposition/letters and has reviewed the concerns.
  • Use Variance ~ regarding how property is divided.
  • House would occupy half of the property.
  • Offset from the street is the same as current property.
  • No height variance is required (~permitted)
  • CW: Other variance is a setback issue (SEE PLANS)
  • Variance being proposed is to match adjacent house #1 (which is much closer to street) rather than having a setback averaged between two adjacent (ie. Adjacent house #2 is much further setback than adjacent house #1).
  • CW: severance is not possible because of shared hallway; thus no danger of property being split into two in the future.
  • Evan: reason for this design is to help to gradually increase intensification.
  • Ashley: anyone can apply for a CofA. Mike’s office can assess input and work with community to make sure everyone is ok.
  • Community concern with lack of substantial backyard; loss of light and airflow (due to lack of stepbacks), future use and possibility of further increase in density (ie. If it becomes a boarding house in the future).
  • Community Question: why not build more appropriately?
  • Evan: Is there anything that we could do to improve community support?
  • Community: yes, a single family house with apartment.
  • CW: technical point that you may not know, density = floorspace/property area.
  • CW: only variance 1 is an issue. The other variances already have precedence.
  • Ashley: CofA Kromer site: MLayton was involved because it was big/massive. For smaller CofAs, community must become informed.
  • Community & CW: Requested shadow study. Evan has agreed to provide.
  • Evan: most of the CofA would be approved; until draft bylaw passes, at which point it would most likely be approved (inferring that this will eventually go through, so best to work with him in a positive, non-antagonistic manner).
  • Evan: proposes changes: to meet front setback requirement (ie. Loss of that variance); and to end 3rd story to match length of adjacent properties.
  • Deliverables: Stepback at back and shadow studies.
  • Evan: is solid on the “Use Variance”; but is amendable to making other changes.
  • Some in the Community: not happy with 2 houses scheme on one property.
  • Request to make 110 Palmerston email group. Interested parties to email CW.

Studio Bar, 824 Dundas Street

Presented by Chris Walker

  • CofA for restaurant; AGCO liquor licence for a Bar.
  • Tried to sell community on community space/restaurant, when actually a bar.
  • Ashley: AGCO application stopped; conditions added.
  • Spoke to supervisor for bldg. supervisor; concern was that there must be a kitchen.
  • Owners of Studio Bar revised plans have been submitted; proper use must be determined.
  • Noise issue, as residents abut on all sides.
  • Issue: tribunal would allow owners to cancel/redraft the condition(s) if this occurs.
  • CW: we are waiting for new plans to review
  • Ashley: solicitor corrected language pertaining to light pollution/issue on conditions.

822 Dundas “Creatures Collective” http://www.creaturescreating.com/

  • Resident who lives on 2nd floor: issue with special events; special occasions permit (SOP)/liquor license. Thus, regarding 824 Dundas, resident still has serious concerns about 824 as an event space (ie. Does not need to be a bar to be a source of unreasonable sound / smoke / vomit / underage drinking).
  • Ashley, update: if they apply for another SOP (special occasion permit), they will be stringently reviewed.
  • AGCO inspection is random currently.
  • Ashley: to lodge an effective noise complaint, must (1) contact licencing enforcement/main email (2) call customer service at AGCO.
  • SOP pulled by event organizer, not owner. Thus not the same person is involved each time.
  • Jane Letbetter from the AGCO will be attending one of the upcoming TBCA meetings to discuss/inform.

1247 Dundas, Milkglass Gallery

  • Liquor licence application in the works.

Urban Forestry Plan (Presented in November Meeting)

Presented by Jennifer Gagner

  • Area of study is bounded by Bathurst to Dovercourt and College to Queen.
  • Plan will provides an up to date tree inventory for all trees in community (street trees, private trees, parks).
  • Goal is to prepare a strategic 20 year tree protection plan with 5 year sub-plans to allow it to be more flexible and responsive.
  • Sets goals for expanding tree canopy cover, securing appropriate mix of tree types, pest management, heritage tree designations.
  • Will be used as a tool to decide what should be planted at new developments, what should be planted when trees need to be replaced, etc etc.
  • In preparing the study, the group worked with various Parks groups, community associations, parent teacher groups and the Councillors office.
  • Will start with an Operating Plan for Years 1 and 2.
  • When Plan completed, it will be circulated for comment to community groups for comment.
  • Completion of draft is expected mid-December 2012. Comments due by mid-January and final report by end of January 2013.

Urban Forestry Plan (Discussed in January Meeting)

  • Comprehensive, but a lot of work (all trees in the neighborhood must be measured/classified, door to door).
  • To organize a steering committee.
  • 1st meeting Feb 6th.

MOCCA Redevelopment

  • Preapplication meeting was held at the councillor’s meeting.
  • Biggest/highest/densest of all applications put forth in this ward.
  • Plans to demolish entire property, including a non-designated heritage building.
  • New building: retail ground, 8 stories on top
  • 151 units (~700 sq. ft, smallest 400).
  • Curbcut!!! to drive in and out of condo parking.
  • Allan Saskan (Urbancore) developers.
  • Possible precedence setter.
  • Ashley: next step: developers in process of submitting application. Community to be kept informed.

Dog Watering Station

  • Program partnership application form; dog watering station near bottom of east stairway in dog bowl.

Fresh patio

  • Application for permanent patio denied. Use of public land for private gain was an issue for some.
  • Fresh is now proposing a temporary patio structure.
  • CW requested changes to the application:
  • Change “can be dismantled” to “must” at the end of the swing season.
  • Bicycle parking along patio also proposed: but may impede sidewalk traffic.

Kromer Radio Redevelopment

  • Ashley: developer likely to apply for a rezoning application to help minimize degree of variances from major to minor.

Next TBCA Meeting is Monday February 25th, 7pm – 9pm
Note NEW meeting place:
The Tampered Press — B-256 Crawford Street (entrance on Dundas Street West)
PLEASE JOIN US!

News from the ‘hood – November

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Hello hoodies

A November update ensues!

1) West Queen west BIA

Congratulations goes out to West Queen West. Online New York Magazine, Complex Style, chose 50 of the World’s most Stylish Neighbourhoods…WQW came 18th!!

http://www.complex.com/style/2012/10/the-50-most-stylish-neighborhoods-in-the-world/west-queen-west

2) Dundas BIA

Plans for Do Design 2013 (January 26-January 29) continue. Do Design is a unique, street wide event occurring during design week as part of the Toronto Design Offsite Festival. The works of contemporary designers (furniture, objects, architectural or graphic) are showcased in a diverse variety of storefronts/cafe’s/walkups/windows of participating business venues in the Trinity Bellwoods Business Improvement Area ( Dundas St West between Bathurst and Grace streets).

3) The Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park

The Friends  Adopt A Tree program recently wrapped up its sixth watering season.  Thanks and hurrahs to the 73 neighborhood volunteers who each kept one or more of the 92 saplings watered through the 2012 summer of (mostly) drought.  Four new cherry trees were recently planted in the north end of the park and will be seeking adopters in the spring.

Check the FoTBP website for latest on Adopt a Tree Program, fabulous photos of various activities and more Friends/park info. http://www.trinitybellwoods.ca/about-us/about-ftbp/past-meetings.html

In conclusion with congratulations:

The Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park received the ’2011 Volunteer Group of the Year’ award from Parks, Forestry & Recreation. The event was held on Nov. 3rd.

4). Friends of Roxton Road Parks

The First Annual Night of the Living Fred was wonderful in spite of the rain. The BBQ was a great hit as were the pumpkins and loot bags for the kids. Thanks to all the members of the Events committee for the planning and hard work — Tim, Rhea, Roumen, Zac, Naomi, and Bob. A special thanks goes to Metro and Starbucks for donating pumpkins and tea.

The November 7th meeting was quite fruitful. Fred Hamilton, his wife Joan and their daughter Marnie were in attendance. They are the immediate descendants of Fred Hamilton, for whom FORRP’s largest park is named. Hearing about the elder Hamilton directly from his son and other family members gave the community a much greater sense of this former athlete turned alderman and then city controller (similar to today’s deputy mayor).Final plans for new ramps at Fred Hamilton north and south playgrounds were shown at the meeting and can be seen on the FORRP website. Construction is underway.

Also at the meeting U of T Conservation students and FORRP agreed to collaborate on developing an Urban Forest management Plan for the neighbourhood.

5) Ossington Visioning Working Group/ Ossington Avenue Area Study/ 109 OZ Development Application

Ossington Ave signIn July, Councillor Mike Layton invited 17 members of the community to join him in developing a vision for future development on the Ossington Avenue strip. This unofficial process was meant to inform to official processes, both underway; the Ossington Avenue Area Study & the 109 OZ development proposal. TBCA Chair Chris Walker is a member of the Working Group.

With the 3 processes working in parallel, there has been much overlap and some fast-tracking. A set of proscriptive principles was developed by the Working Group, but only in response to the 109 OZ development proposal; an over-arching set of principles for the whole street was not developed to the same level of nuanced proscriptive language that can be seen in the principles developed for 109 OZ below:

Ward 19 Working Group recommendations for 109 Ossington

The principles for 109 OZ were presented to the applicant and the applicant then returned a redesign to the Working Group. Some of the principles were addressed, most weren’t. The major issue of how to transition from stable residential neighbourhoods to midrise development without negatively impacting the surrounding residents remains. Shadows, traffic, parking, loading, garbage, big box retail, and unit mix/size appear to be universal concerns among residents with midrise development.

Chris Walker has been urging the City to simply adopt a harder line in defending our good growth management plan (The Official Plan) and its design guidelines, namely the Midrise and Avenues Design Guidelines.

The Ossington Avenue Area Study continues, and the 109 OZ proposal is still under consideration by the City. We’ll be sure to keep the Community updated on these exciting developments.

6) Studio Bar

At the end of October, TBCA members Chris Walker, Anne Keary & Ben Pakuts, along with several members of the community met with Councillor Mike Layton and the applicants for Studio Bar, a newly proposed establishment on Dundas Street West. The applicants presented their proposal for a new restaurant. The Community expressed our concern over the differences in the use of the space between the Committee of Adjustment application and the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario application; the former appearing to be a gallery and restaurant and the latter a concert hall and event space. The property is unique in that it is deep and abuts residential backyards on all sides without a laneway.

The Community asked the applicant to provide a few clarifications which they did; hours of operation (5 – 2), maximum number of occupants (300), and a seating plan.

After the meeting, the applicants invited the group to walk around inside the space, which we did. Construction work was underway. The City has informed us that the work so far is only considered decorating and that a Building Permit is forthcoming. That application will make 4 differing floor plans! TBCA Chair Chris Walker & local resident Craig Daniels are urging the City and the AGCO better align their application processes.

At the October TBCA monthly meeting, the City presented a set of draft conditions to the Community which were then discussed. We await the final set of conditions from the City. In the meantime, of their own accord, the City has successfully requested the AGCO suspend the liquor licence application until the matters of concern are resolved.

7) Origami Lofts

At the October TBCA monthly meeting, local residents along Wolseley Street raised concern over a new midrise development along Bathurst Street; Origami Lofts. Unique concerns include sewer back-flow, wind & tree loss, as well as height, set-backs, transition, appearance, parking and shadow.

The condominium will have as many units as there are houses on the street; 23. The concern over the sewers is that the new development will be protected from sewer back-flow while being the major contributor of storm water on the street where the other homes are not protected from sewer back-flow.

The Public Consultation meeting was held on November 21 and I look forward to hearing how it went and what the next steps are. See the 202bathurstimprove.tumblr.com blog for more details.

8) 765 Dundas Street West

TBCA chair Chris Walker & local resident Craig Daniels met the owner of 765 Dundas Street West, Dustin Keating, to discuss his plans for a new cocktail lounge & restaurant at that address. Having previously been on the other side of the bar-resident opposition, Dustin wanted to be pro-active in gaining Community support for his concept at the beginning stage of the approvals process. The proposal was welcomed as an improvement to the block and we hope to see Dustin’s dream come true.

Currently the establishment does not have a name and is being referred to as “765”. Dustin has agreed to keep the Community informed of his applications through the approvals process.

9) Trinity Bellwoods Urban Forest Management Plan

This is an exciting new positive initiative for the Community with far-reaching benefits. The Trinity-Bellwoods Community has been chosen by 5 Masters of Forest Conservation students at the University of Toronto to implement a 20 year Urban Forest Management Plan with the goals of improving urban forest diversity, canopy cover, community stewardship and adaptation.

TBCA chair Chris Walker met with students Jennifer Gagne and Natasha to discuss the plan in more detail and understand the TBCA’s potential involvement. The students have already discussed their plans with the Councillor, Parks and Recreation, Friends of Trinity Bellwoods, Friends of Roxton Road Parks and LEAF. All have been supportive. The students would like to see the TBCA be the main point of contact in consulting with the various groups and/or set up a steering committee to guide the process along.

Volunteers will be needed. Contact the TBCA to see how you can show your support for this great project.

The students will be presenting their proposal to the rest of the TBCA executive at the upcoming November monthly meeting.

TBCA Urban Forest Management Plan

 

TBCA Executive position update.

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TBCA Treasurer, Sandy Stagg has stepped down and will continue with the group as a Member-at-Large. Local resident Bjarne Pedersen has been appointed by the TBCA Chair to take over as interim Treasurer.

TBCA Media Secretary, Matt Bremer has stepped down and will not be able to continue participating with the group. Local resident Ben Kaputs has been appointed by the TBCA Chair to take over as interim Media Secretary.

TBCA Liaison & Membership Secretary, Paula Capela has stepped down and will not be continuing to participating with the group. TBCA Member-at-Large, Lois Sklar has been appointed interim Liaison & Membership Secretary.

In the next term (Elections are on November 26, 2012) the TBCA will separate out the position of Liaison from the position of Membership Secretary. Anyone interested in volunteering for the position of TBCA Membership Secretary for the 2013 term should contact the TBCA Chair.

New TBCA Executive elected

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On Monday October 24, the new Executive committee for the Trinity Bellwoods Communty Association was elected. The TBCA would like to extend a hearty thank you to the following members who have served the community for the past year:

  • Liz Magner
  • Sue Campbell
  • Josh Shang
  • Derek Chadbourne

The 2011 / 2012 executive:

Co-Chairs — Chris Walker / Chris Shulgan
Treasurer — Sandy Stagg
Minutes secretary — Ross Burnett (elected in absentia after Ross signalled he’d like to remain in the position)
Membership secretary — Paula Capela
Media Secretary — Matt Bremer
Members-at-large — Anne Keary, Lois Schklar, Ed Dosman and Michael Sims

TBCA Liasons:

CAMH – Michael Sims
Interim Police liaison – Sandy Stagg
BIAs – Paula Capela