Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date: April 21, 2009

SUBJECT: Information Report

Seven Star Plaza Inc

Official Plan and Zoning By-Law Amendment Applications

for 8495 McCowan Road

File: OP 08-120413 and ZA 08-120455

PREPARED BY: Marg Wouters, Manager of Development - East District, ext. 2758

RECOMMENDATION:

1) That the report entitled “Information Report. Seven Star Plaza Inc. Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Applications for 8495 McCowan Road” be received;

2) And that staff bring forward a recommendation report regarding the Official Plan amendment and zoning by-law amendment for 8495 McCowan Road, after a site plan application is submitted and a community information meeting is held;

3) And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial

5. Others (HR, Strategic, Affected Units) 6. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the status of Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications by Seven Star Plaza Inc for 8495 McCowan Road, and to recommend that the timelines for bringing a recommendation report to Development Services Committee be adjusted.

BACKGROUND:

Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments were submitted by Seven Star Plaza Inc for 8495 McCowan Road in July, 2008 and the applications were deemed complete in September, 2008. The purpose of the applications is to redesignate and rezone the property from residential to commercial, so that the property may be developed as part of the redevelopment of the Seven Star Plaza on the abutting property to the north. A similar proposal had been submitted by the owners in 2003 for both 8495 McCowan Road and the Seven Star Plaza site (5261 and 5293 Highway 7), but was not pursued after the statutory Public Meeting was held.

Although a concept plan was submitted with the current applications, a formal site plan application was intended to be submitted after approval of the Official Plan and zoning amendments. At the Public Meeting held on February 3, 2009 for these applications, a number of concerns with the proposal were raised by Committee and neighbouring residents, including the need for submission of a formal site plan application. At this meeting, Development Services Committee resolved that the Ward Councillor hold a community information meeting once a site plan application was received, and directed staff to prepare a recommendation report that included the proposed site plan by April, 2009.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Following the Public Meeting, staff and the Ward Councillor met with the applicant on February 18, 2009 to discuss changes to the site plan that would address some of the concerns raised at the Public Meeting, and to also discuss urban design requirements for the Highway 7 corridor. The applicant was agreeable to revising the site plan to reflect the suggested changes prior to the community information meeting. As a revised site plan has not yet been submitted, the Ward Councillor has not had an opportunity to hold the community information meeting.

The applicant has recently advised staff that they expect to submit a site plan application for review in the near future. It is recommended that staff bring forward a recommendation report regarding the Official Plan amendment and zoning by-law amendment for 8495 McCowan Road, as soon as possible after a site plan application is submitted and a community information meeting is held.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS:

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

RECOMMENDED BY:

_____________________________ _____________________________

Biju Karumanchery, MCIP, RPP Jim Baird, MCIP, RPP

Senior Development Manager Commissioner, Development Services

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1 – Location Map

APPLICANT/AGENT: Mark Eplett

Otis Group of Companies

20 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 1402

P.O. Box 2040 Toronto, ON M4R 1K8

Tel: 416-489-2833

Fax: 416-486-6017

Email: markeplett@rogers.com

FILE PATH: Amanda\File OP 08-120413\Documents\Information Report

Figure 1 - Location Map