Transparency at the ARA Reviewing Projects in the Annex: Guidance for Proponents 14 June 2018 The Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) is often asked to review and comment on development proposals in the Annex, and to work with proponents, neighbours, the City, and the Councillor to address any contentious aspects of a proposal. This is done through ARA’s Planning and Development Committee*(P+D) that generally meets on the first Tuesday of every month, including throughout the Summer. P+D meetings often include representatives from neighbouring Residents’ Associations and community groups, City staff, and the Councillor or a representative from his office. P+D therefore expects project proponents and their representatives to provide the following information to the Committee before and/or during the P+D meeting:
Proponents are welcome to make PowerPoint presentations to the Committee (a notebook computer, projector with VGA connection, and screen are available). Proponents should either send PPTs one week in advance of the meeting or, if proponents are still at a preliminary stage and do not want to circulate written or graphic information on their project, to bring the presentation to the meeting on a USB stick or external drive. * There are currently 20 volunteer members of P+D. At each P+D meeting, 10-15 members generally attend. P+D is prepared to acknowledge at the start of a proponent’s presentation that the Committee’s review and discussions are ‘without prejudice’ to future actions by any party. For further information and to arrange for a presentation to ARA’s Planning and Development Committee, please contact: or Ko VanKlaveren Co-chair, Planning and Development Committee jac.vanklaveren@hotmail.com or planninganddevelopment@theara.org
What do you think about the proposal to redevelop Mirvish Village? We would like to hear from you. An application for the redevelopment of Mirvish Village was filed in July of this year and it is now proceeding through the approvals process with the City. The City Planning Department hopes to write their final report in the second quarter of 2016.
Although the redevelopment is located just outside the Annex boundaries, it will have a significant impact on our neighbourhood. Not only does it encompass one and a half city blocks, it proposes building heights up to 29 stories, setting a precedent for the neighbourhood. Two members of the Annex Residents' Association will participate in a Discussion Group which will consider all the major issues around the project. The group is chaired by Graig Uens, the city planner responsible for the file. It includes two members from each of the four residents' associations which converge at Bathurst and Bloor, local Councillors Mike Layton and Joe Cressy, a representative of the Bloor Street BIA as well as residents from the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Please contact Jim Jacobs (jameskjacobs@gmail.com) or Terry Montgomery (tmontgomery@montgomerysisam.com) with your questions or comments.
This provides all of the plans, elevations and perspectives which were submitted with the application. The work of the ARA's Planning and Zoning Committee
One of the functions of the Annex Residents' Association is to monitor and, if necessary, intervene in proposals such as new construction or renovations that might affect the integrity and quality of life in the neighbourhood.
The ARA's Planning and Zoning Committee works with the Councillor, other neighbourhood associations or citizen organizations to ensure that zoning and heritage regulations are not violated; to review requests for exemption from planning by-laws that go before the City's Committee of Adjustment; and to intervene in City planning deliberations that could affect the Annex. The committee also works with institutions such as the University of Toronto, when their development plans affect us. The Committee is currently looking for ways to deal with the recurring problems that occur in Committee of Adjustment applications: applicants who hire lawyers and professional consultants have an advantage over residents association; applicants increasingly ask for and retroactive approval of construction already built; and major variances are being classified as minor ones. Bloor Corridor Vision Report, November 2007 The purpose of this study was to develop a shared vision for the Bloor Street West corridor between Avenue Road and Christie Street for the next ten years, through consultation with area stakeholders including residents, businesses and landowners. BloorStreetVision summary (PDF) For more information on Planning and Zoning, or to join the committee, please contact Co-Chairs Edward Leman and Ko Van Klaveren at planningandzoning@theara.org. |