STAFF REPORT ACTION REQUIRED Residential Demolition Application 595 Vaughan Road Date: December 15, 2011 To: From: Wards: Reference Numbers: North York Community Council Director and Deputy Chief Building Official Ward 15 Eglinton - Lawrence File No. 2012NY001 Folder No. 10 303215 DEM 00 DM SUMMARY This staff report is about a matter that the Community Council has delegated authority to make a final decision provided that it is not amended so that it varies from City policy or by-law. In accordance with Section 33 of the Planning Act and the City of Toronto Municipal Code Ch. 363, Article II Demolition Control, the application for demolition of the vacant single family dwelling at 595 Vaughan Rd. is referred to the North York Community Council to refuse or to grant the application including any conditions to be attached to the demolition permit because the residential dwelling will not be replaced and it is proposed to use the property as a parking lot for the neighbouring church located at 611 Vaughan Rd. If North York Community Council grants issuance of the demolition permit, it may do so with or without conditions. RECOMMENDATIONS Toronto Building recommends that North York Community Council give consideration to the demolition application for 595 Vaughan Rd. and decide to: Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 1 of 17
1. Refuse the application to demolish the single family dwelling because there is no permit application for a replacement building; or 2. Approve the application to demolish the single family dwelling and to create a parking lot on the vacant site to accommodate parishioners of the Church located at 611 Vaughan Rd. without conditions except obtaining Site Plan Approval from Planning Division; or 3. Approve the application to demolish the single family dwelling and to create a parking lot on the vacant site to accommodate parishioners of the Church located at 611 Vaughan Rd. with the following conditions: a. that site plan approval be obtained from Planning Division and that any conditions of Site Plan Approval be complied with; b. that a construction fence be erected in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Code, Chapter 363, Article III, if deemed appropriate by the Chief Building Official; c. that all debris and rubble be removed immediately after demolition; d. that the lot be properly asphalted; and e. that any holes on the property are backfilled with clean fill. FINANCIAL IMPACT There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report. COMMENTS On November 25th, 2010, an application for a demolition permit for the above property was submitted by Pastor Raymond Burnett, on behalf of Bethel Worship Centre, the owner of the properties at 595 Vaughan Rd. where the house to be demolished is located and 611 Vaughan Rd. where the church is located. Initially, the demolition application was put on hold by Mr. Burnett; but recently the Pastor advised Toronto Building staff to move forward with the demolition report to North York Community Council. A location map is included in Attachment 1 showing the location of the property to be demolished. A survey (Attachment 2) has been submitted with the demolition application that shows the existing house to be demolished. The applicant has submitted a letter (Attachment 3), dated July 28 th, 2011, stating his reasons for the demolition application. The applicant claims that the house is unsafe due to damage caused by tree roots that damaged the foundation and the basement as well as the sidewalk and the concrete that abuts the property. The house to be demolished is vacant and the church has not been able to use it for the past 3 years. Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 2 of 17
A replacement building will not be constructed on the vacant lot. Bethel Worship Centre, the property's owners, would like to demolish the house to create a few parking spaces for the members of the church so as to ease the parking on the streets in the neighbourhood. The proposed use for a parking lot is permitted in the zoning by-law but site plan approval will be required from the Planning Division. A report by Jiri Tichy P. Eng., of Jiry Tichy Engineering, dated August 29, 2011 lists his field observations from his evaluation of the structural integrity of the house based on a field inspection that took place on August 26, 2011. The report states that the house structure is beyond repair and cannot be salvaged (Attachment 4). An order has been issued by a Property Standard Officer, pursuant to Section 15.2(2) of the Building Code Act, S.O., 1992 Chapter 23, as amended. The order includes two items requiring attention (Attachment 5). A visual inspection of the house exterior was conducted by staff of Toronto Building on October 19, 2011. The feedback purely based on the visual inspection of the exterior of the house is that the exterior of the house is in need of repair and there is no evidence of unsafe conditions on the exterior of the building. Photos taken during that inspection are included in Attachment 6. The City of Toronto Municipal Code [Chapter 363, Article II, Demolition Control Subsection D(1)(a)] requires that demolition applications be referred to Community Council for consideration if the property is not located in the former City of Toronto and if no building permit is issued to erect a replacement building on the property. The application for the demolition of the single family dwelling has been circulated to the Heritage Preservation Services, Urban Forestry and the Ward Councillor. Heritage Preservation Services have responded that the property is not included in the City s Inventory of Heritage Properties. CONTACT Magda Ishak, P. Eng., Manager Plan Review Tel: 416-395-755; Fax: 416-395-7589; e-mail: mishak@toronto.ca SIGNATURE Edward Tipping, P. Eng. Director and Deputy Chief Building Official North York District Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 3 of 17
ATTACHMENTS Attachment 1: Location Map Attachment 2: Survey of the property Attachment 3: Owner's letter Attachment 4: Structural Engineer Report Attachment 5: Order to Comply by ML&S Officer Attachment 6: Toronto Building Inspector's Photos Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 4 of 17
Attachment 1: Location Map Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 5 of 17
Attachment 2: Survey Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 6 of 17
Attachment 3: Owner's Letter Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 7 of 17
Attachment 4: Structural Engineer Report Page 1 of 5 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 8 of 17
Attachment 4: Structural Engineer Report Page 2 of 5 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 9 of 17
Attachment 4: Structural Engineer Report Page 3 of 5 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 10 of 17
Attachment 4: Structural Engineer Report Page 4 of 5 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 11 of 17
Attachment 4: Structural Engineer Report Page 5 of 5 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 12 of 17
Attachment 5: Order to Comply (ML&S) Page 1 of 3 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 13 of 17
Attachment 5: Order to Comply (ML&S) Page 2 of 3 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 14 of 17
Attachment 5: Order to Comply (ML&S) Page 3 of 3 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 15 of 17
Attachment 6: Toronto Building Inspector's Photos Page 1 of 2 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 16 of 17
Attachment 6: Photos Page 1 of 2 Demolition Report 595 Vaughan Road Page 17 of 17