Councillor Grimes proposed this motion below at Etobicoke York Community Council (EYCC) on February 26th. The motion will be going forward to City Council on March 21.
Should you wish to send comments on this motion and be part of the public record, please send them to the City Clerk at clerk@toronto.ca.Your Email Subject line should specify: Comment for distribution on Item EY22.44 – Report Request on the Feasibility of a West Concrete Campus to be considered by City Council on March 21st, 2013.
Development Feasibility of West Concrete Campus
Recommendations
City Council request the Economic Development & Culture Division in consultation with City Planning, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Facilities and Real Estate, Build Toronto, Industry representatives and stakeholders to explore the feasibility and financial mechanisms to encourage the development of “Concrete Campus West”, to assist and promote the relocation and consolidation of concrete production facilities within a state of the art campus with up to date environmental controls and appropriate buffering as necessary. A report, including potential sites, is requested for the Etobicoke York Community Council meeting of May 14, 2013.
Summary
Concrete Batching Facilities have posed a number of challenges in the South Etobicoke area of Toronto yet are an integral part of the construction industry, requiring a central location within the city to support development being undertaken downtown and in the west end of Toronto. However, when located close to residential/sensitive uses there may be inherent land use conflicts and, as such, their location requirements need to be addressed.
This is not a new issue to the City. In 2004 when these conflicts began to emerge in the Fort York Neighbourhood, the City via the then Economic Development Culture & Tourism Division and the Toronto Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO) took a comprehensive look at the establishment of a concrete campus in the Port Lands, undertaken through a recognized Planning process with appropriate community consultation and Council input. Separately, in 2007 the City finalized an agreement with Toronto Redi-Mix to do a land swap and re-situate a planned concrete batching plant and salt depot from 207 New Toronto Street to 200 Horner Avenue.
In South Etobicoke, there is a limited permission for concrete batching facilities. Two facilities at Judson and New Toronto Streets are grandfathered as permitted uses in an area that was rezoned to prohibit this industrial use because of proximity to sensitive residential land uses.
With these existing conflicts in mind, along with the Port Lands example, action should be taken to review mechanisms to encourage both better environmental controls on these sites, and most importantly, opportunities to promote relocation of these industries to more appropriate lands.
Background Information
(February 26, 2013) Letter from Councillor Mark Grimes, Ward 6, requesting the development feasibility of West Concrete Campus http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-56399.pdf
Hi’
I ‘m still waiting after 8 years for affordable housing ‘ n as of last year was put on the Priority List n still nothing. Can you look into why it’s taking so long for me to get into HOUSEING PRIORITY………
So much focus on Condo’s n Water front up grades n building new new new ‘ to buy……..
We as in LOTS of People still need affordable housing.
Please can you help’ look into this for us THE PEOPLE ……..
thank you.
Randy Leblanc
Dear Randy,
Thank you for your recent comment on the Mimico Residents Association website.
The City provides the following link that may help: http://www.211toronto.ca/fs_housing.jsp
The City’s Affordable Housing page is: http://www.toronto.ca/affordablehousing/
You may also want to contact the Affordable Housing Committee:
Mayor’s Designate and Chair: Councillor Ana Bailão
Committee Member: Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes
There is also an affordable housing/tenants advocacy group in our area called Ward 6 CAT which you may be interested in connecting with – garnering support with other residents in your situation may get more traction in political channels. Ward 6 CAT website is: ward6cat.wordpress.com
Ward 6 CAT has a tenant meeting tonight, so this might be an opportunity for you to connect with them. I have copied the details below.
Unfortunately the MRA cannot look into any one persons particular issue as the Residents Association deals with issues that relate to the entire community. It would also be against privacy issues. Hopefully the above information is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Mary Bella
Secretary, MRA
==
Ward 6 CAT TENANT WORKSHOP
Next Thursday, Feb. 28th, 2012 | 6-8 pm
Mimico Centennial Library, 47 Station Rd.
Childcare Available call to reserve 416-252-9701 ext. 405
A light dinner will be served.
Contact ward6cat@gmail.com for more information
Wartd6 CAT Website: http://ward6cat.wordpress.com/