Yonge-Summerhill: Urban Square Design (Midtown)

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1 Yonge-Summerhill: Urban Square Design (Midtown) (City Council on April 11, 12 and 13, 2000, adopted this Clause, without amendment.) The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (March 6, 2000) from the Commissioner of Urban Development Services: Purpose: This report recommends approval of the Urban Square design (Phase I and II) submitted by the developer of the Yonge-Summerhill lands. The approval of the Urban Square's design is required by the Station Shaftesbury Subdivision Agreement. Financial Implications and Impact Statement: There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report. Recommendations: It is recommended that: (1) City Council approve the design for the Urban Square as shown on Plans L02 Site Plan and L02 A Site Design Phase 1, date stamped as received on January 20, 2000, prepared by Du Toit Allsopp Hillier Landscape Architecture, Urban Design as on file with the Commissioner of Urban Development Services, as fulfilment of the requirements of Section 20.1 of the Station and Shaftesbury Subdivision Agreement and as a condition of approval the owner shall: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) complete the public art program for the Urban Square, as outlined in the Yonge- Summerhill Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan, and approved by the Public Art Commission and the former City of Toronto Council in July 1997; upon the completion of the public art program, submit to the Commissioner of Urban Development Services a plan of the Urban Square showing public art features as approved by the owner's Art Advisory Committee; prior to any occupancy of buildings submit the Final Plan of the Urban Square design to the Commissioner of Urban Development Services for approval in consultation with the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Toronto Transit Commission; and construct and maintain the Urban Square substantially in accordance with the approved design.

2 Background: 1. Location The Urban Square is the open space to the south of the North Toronto Train Station, located at the intersection of Yonge Street and Scrivener Square. Scrivener Square is a new public street, which was established as part of the subdivision registered as 66M The Urban Square has an approximate area of 0.25 hectares. 2. Station and Shaftesbury Subdivision Agreement Section 20.1(a) of the Station and Shaftesbury Subdivision Agreement, as amended, requires the owner to submit a design for the Urban Square for approval. Section 20.1(b) requires a Neighbourhood Urban Square Consultation Committee to be established to advise and assist the Commissioner of Urban Development Services in assessing the design of the Urban Square. Section 20.2 of the Subdivision Agreement requires the design of the Urban Square to have regard for Urban Design Guidelines and be consistent with the general approach to development shown in the Urban Square Concept Plan attached to the Agreement. 3. Master Plan/ Urban Design Principles and Guidelines for the Yonge-Summerhill Area The Master Plan and the Urban Design Principles and Guidelines for the Yonge-Summerhill Area were prepared to help facilitate the orderly development of the Yonge-Summerhill Area and to ensure that it will contribute positively to the surrounding neighbourhood. For the Urban Square, the Master Plan and Urban Design Principles and Guidelines describe a high quality, pedestrian oriented extension of the North Toronto Railway Station. The design of the Urban Square should include hard and soft landscaping materials, street furniture, and detailing appropriate to the scale of the space and the character of the train station. The surface of the Urban Square should, where possible, consist of a safe, unified paving material with a simple pattern consolidating the space. The surface of any street that passes through the Square should generally match the surface of the rest of the Square. Tree planting and other soft landscaping will emphsize and reinforce the Square. 4. Community Input A Neighbourhood Urban Square Consultation Committee was established in accordance with Section 20.1(b) of the Station and Shaftesbury Subdivision Agreement. The committee was made up of representatives from the South Rosedale Ratepayers Association, Summerhill Residents Association, ABC Residents Association and Summerhill Stores. Marc Hewitt of IBI Planning Group originally chaired the committee. Due to a conflict Marc Hewitt resigned as chair and was replaced by George Baird. The committee met approximately 15 times since December of The committee completed its mandate at its meeting of January 10, 2000.

3 The issues addressed by the Committee related to the design of the Urban Square, the use of the private lane under the bridge, the design and configuration of the new public street (Scrivener Square) passing through the Square, parking for commercial uses in the area, the public art process and the Square s relationship to the North Toronto Train Station and the proposed residential development to the east. At its January 10, 2000, meeting the Neighbourhood Urban Square Consultation Committee endorsed the design put forward by the owner. Comments: As required by the subdivision agreement the owner has submitted a design for the Urban Square (Figures Nos. 1 and 2). The proposed design for the Urban Square is consistent with the principles set out in both the Master Plan and Urban Design Principles and Guidelines for the Yonge-Summerhill Area. The design submitted by the owner consists of two phases. A two phased approach was necessary due to the timing of the development of the lands to the south of Scrivener Square. At this time it is not known when theses lands will be developed. Phase I of the design would exclude lands south of Scrivener Square and would be implemented in conjunction with the development of the North Toronto Station Building and Blocks C1 and C2. Phase II would be undertaken in conjunction with the development of the lands to the south of Scrivener Square. Phasing of the Urban Square is consistent with the provisions of the subdivision agreement. The Urban Square design submitted by the developer (see Figures 1 and 2) illustrate the proposed grades, unit pavers for the entire Urban Square and location of street trees. With the approval of this design the process of designing the public art features for the Yonge-Summerhill Area can begin. The public art process for the Urban Square was outlined in the Yonge- Summerhill Private Developer Percent for Public Art Plan, and approved by the Public Art Commission and the former City of Toronto Council in July of The public art plan is intended to reinforce the overall design philosophy as stated in the Master Plan for the development project. The artist, Bruce Mau, will work with the owner s team of landscape architects and architects to develop the public art component of the project. As outlined in this plan, the owner's arts advisory committee will review drawings and models and approve the final design of the art elements. The obligation that the owner submit the final design of the Urban Square for my approval and that the owner agree to construct the Urban Square in accordance with the approved Urban Square design will be secured in the agreement arising from the approval of the Site Plan Application for the North Toronto Train Station (10 Scrivener Square, formally Yonge Street) Application No The Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services has advised that given the width of the mouth of Scrivener Square, coupled with the high degree of pedestrian activity in the area, it would be desirable to incorporate a pedestrian refuge island within the Scrivener Square pavement, at its intersection with Yonge Street, if feasible. This could have engineering implications as well as impact on the proposed curb lines of the Urban Square. This matter will

4 be examined in greater detail in the context of the final approval of the Urban Square design, referenced in Recommendation No. (1)(iii) above. Conclusions: The proposed design for the Urban Square meets the requirements of the Station and Shaftesbury Subdivision Agreement and is consistent with the principles set out in the Master Plan and Yonge- Summerhill Development Urban Design Principles and Guidelines. It is recommended that this design for the Urban Square be approved, and that, as a condition of approval, the final design, which incorporates the public art approved by the Public Art Commission and the details of the streetscape elements, be submitted to and approved by the Commissioner of Urban Development Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Toronto Transit Commission. Contact: Gregory Byrne, Planner Telephone: ; Fax: ; gbyrne@city.toronto.on.ca

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