#9102 - Mar 1991

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Digital Archiving Completed by the Ethnography Lab, A University of Toronto Anthropology Initiative and Produced in Collaboration with David Perlman/Wholenote Media Inc between July-December 2015. 4 MARKET MATTERS The Kensington Market Drum, March 1991 Chicken Packers Expansion No-Go New Garbage Schedule Collection Area COLLEGE STREET by David Perlman Last time we reported that the city's Committee of Adjustment would consider an application from the owner of 54-112 Kensington A venue, Lee's Poultry Ltd. to expand this chicken packing plant The applicant was requesting permission to "Construct a second floor addition having dimensions of approximately 15.39 by 34.54 metres over the subject poultry killing estab- . lishment". The city's planners were opposed on the grounds that mixed commercial I residential and the use of the premises as a poultry killing establishment is already a "non-conforming use". The enlargement or extension of a non-conforming use is not permitted. Also they objected to the fact that motor vehicle parking spaces would not be provided on the subject property, and that the addition would be within one foot of the south lot line. The by-law requires a minimum setback of 10 feet from the houses to the · south of the lot. This application was heard by The Committee of Adjustment on Tuesday February 12 1991, and was refused. At the hearing of this matter, the applicant explained that the proposed addition would enable them to merge this establishment with another poultry establishment operated by the applicant company at 33 Kensington .Avenue.The 33 . Kensington plant does not satisfactorily meet modern day standards for food processing plants. The addition at 54 112 Kensington would provide offices, an employee welfare area and storage facilities in the building. But the Committee noted that the proposal would involve an iqcrease of approximately 100 percent to the size of the building, which contravenes the long-term intentions of the City 54% Kensington Ave photo by Buzz Burza to eliminate non-conforming uses. The Committee was also concerned about the direct impact of intensifying the use of this site, in the heart of a commercial/residential district, and close to purely residential uses on Kensington Place. The applicant can appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board on or before March 221991. At time of press it was not known whether they would appeal. L-:.!ll:.:::.:ll ___ ~ ~ . : 'l1' l
Digital Archiving Completed by the Ethnography Lab, A University of Toronto Anthropology Initiative and Produced in Collaboration with David Perlman/Wholenote Media Inc between July-December 2015. The Kensington Market Drum, March 1991 MARKET MATTERS 5 Kensington Market Area Task Force: East Market Report ~ March 20 meeting, Task Force Test The following report will be one of several reports on the agenda for the next task force meeting. Also up for consideration are a report on Sunday shopping/tourist designation, a report on procedures governing task forces and standing committees, a report on the relationship between City revenues and expenditures in the Market area. And, at last, the long-awaited planner's report on what should replace-the restaurant control by-law, which will expire in July. - This east market report has been In preparation for all but six months of the task force's existence. The report touches on many of-the issues that have {:Orne to task force attention. (One section of the report, section 7: problems. related to garbage disposal, has already been used by the garbage action group in obtaining public works support for a new garbage collection schedule for the market.) People with concerns, questions or suggestions relating to anything in the report can communicate them to the writers of the report, and to the task force do the City Clerk. Summary, January 1991 1. ll\'TRODUCTION This report is jointly submitted by Chris Melo, 13 St. Andrew Street and David Perlman, 24 Bellevue Avenue": 2 BACKGROUI\'D This east market report is the result of setting up a BALDWIN STREET COM MITTEE, in 1987, while Dale Martin was the chair of the Task Force. The Baldwin Street Committee was to do an inventory of the issues and problems we could fmd in one small section of the Market, to follow those issues and problems, and to recommend action. 3. INITIAL STUDY AREA We chose as our study area Baldwin Street from Spadina: west to Augusta. 4. TEN ISSUES Within a few months we had identified the following issues: 1. at 376 Spadina, proposed demolition of a landmark building with Joss of stores on Baldwin, Joss of housing above the street, and aggravation of restaurant related parking problems along Spadina; 2 problems relating to the design and function of the George Brown College building on Baldwin Street; 3. possible impacts of the proposed Spadina LRT on access to Baldwin Street and to the Parking Authority Garage; 4. possible impacts on Baldwin Street of the proposed expansion of the Kensington Parking Garage; 5. arguments for and against limiting auto traffic and/or loading and deliveries on Baldwin Street; 6. problems of littering; 7. problems related to garbage disposal; 8. problems relating to keeping and expanding affordable rental housing on Baldwin Street; 9. community concerns with the style and focus of policing and Jaw enforcement on the street; 10. problems relating to whether or not the city should enforce the street by-law permitting them to demolish a canopy (at Baldwin and Augusta). 5.MEETINGS The committee conducted meetings with representatives of George Brown College, the parking authority, public works, planning department, Kensington Residents Association, Kensington Market Businessmen's Association, the developer/owner of 376 Spadina, and other individuals livmg and/or working in the area. 6. CHANGES TO STUDY AREA Very early on in the work of the committee we agreed that we had set our sights too narrowly to deal with the issues we identified. For instance, it was not possible to look only at Baldwin Street problems associated with the proposed expansion of the Parking Garage, because two of the entrance! exits to the Garage are one block south, on St. Andrew Street. So we agreed to widen the focus a little, to add Kensington Avenue From Baldwin to St. Andrew, St. Andrew from Kensinlton to Spadina, and Spadina From St. Andrew to Baldwin. We did not, however, change our list of issues-only re-emphasized them where necessary. -- J I QciiGE" - ~~- !"" "' ? ~ iY jtl C-£~LE"jf H,. ~ G ~AL"DWit-j Q ~I L9 l@E f~~\: 1 z ) 4 II At.-ru"or.-J .., c.. ~ rg 16 z Revised study area (not to scale) ©=CANoPY . {Q::L.Otltt\C~ ~II. U~R Ol!JT~~~S . r-- _. '-'!;m!d.[]l:JtJ-'lJ'. 11 • 1 .,.'.'_,,.!- 1 -~· BALDWIN STREET COMMITTEE OF~~ -. ·--~- . ·.~" . • ~ . ··· ·· ... j 316-·-i RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ~::~~ _ THE KENSINGTON MARKET AREA South ElevaUon TASKFORCE Balwln Street 1: ARISING FROM A PROPOSED ~ND.HI11J DEMOLITION AND REDEVELOP .... MEi'oi AT376SPADINA ~& ........ Modlnr..iliiWI Concerns: -this was a landmark building-at one Recommendation 3 (A-B) of the gateways to the Market; A. That the City recognize that the -the Joss of four stores on Baldwin LRT in the latest Metro plan still has significant impacts on the Kensington com would make that section of the street even more uninviting; munity; and that the City request Metro -dissatisfaction at the proposed and the TTC to consult with the Kensington community on the details of replacement of housing on the second floor-with yet another restaurant (on a the plan, if it proceeds; B. That the Task Force write to the section of Spadina with lots of retaurants)_. Minister of the Enviroment of Ontario Recommendation 1 (A·H) 1) to say that, if the plan for the LRT A. That the developer of the site be goes forward to an environmental hearing required to restore the sense of that corner as a gateway to the Market; individuals from the Kensington area, with unchanged from the way it passed Metro, B. That at least four stores be restored the support of the Task Force, will seek on the Baldwin Street side of the building; intervenor status at that hearing; C. That the developer be required to 2) to request a meeting with a representative from the environmental assessment restore a residential second floor; D. That the developer be encouraged branch of the Ministry, once Metro's to expand significantly the residential use Spadina LRT environmental report is officially filed with the Ministry-to explain ofthe building; · E. That the City no longer grant parking exemptions for second floor restau the environmental assessment process. rants in the area; F. That the City grant parking exemptions for providers of affordable housing above commercial businesses in areas zoned CR (commercial/residential); G. That "cash-in-lieu" of parking revenues within the Market area go into a neighbourhood account, not into the Parking Authority's general construction fund; H. That the Parking Authority report to Council its revenues from Kensington area "cash-in-lieu" payments. 2. THE PRESENCE OF GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE IN THE KENS INGTON COMMUNITY Concerns: that the south building of the campus creates a. dead zone on Baldwin Street east of Kensington-windows largely opaque, no invitation to community or passers-by to enter, no incentive for students to leave the building and enter the community; minimal interaction between college and community; the perception in the community that the location of the College in Kensington and on Spadina has little impact on what goes on at the College; the fear, therefore, that George Brown College will recommend selling off the Kensington campus-with the prospect of some large private development on the site that might have a very big impact on the market area. Recommendation~ (A· F) A. That a joint college/neighbourhood/local business committee be formed to examine joint college/community projects and cooperative education courses; B. That this committee identify among other things underutilized facilities and resources on the campus that could be made available to community groups; C. That George Brown College Kensington Campus encourage staff and students to use transit by reducing their stock of monthly parking. permits in the Kensington garage; D. That George Brown College, the Parking Authority, the City's Urban Design division and other owners and stakeholders on Baldwin east of Kensington Avenue join with the Market community in planning public improvements to Baldwin east of Kensington; E. That the community business centre situated in the basement of the baldwin street building of the college be. given resources, funding, and the mandate to support local initiatives, particularly those which involve joint college/community projects and ventures; F. That the college, and the Minister of Colleges and Universities make public - promptly any plan to sell off all or part of the Kensington campus; and that there be local public meetings on any such plan. Appbnrs Reclad Dfawmgs --·~-==--~ --=-=-==-=-= -.:.:_ ::..:·:__ :=--=::::: 4: RELATING TO PROPOSED PARKING GARAGE EXPANSION Concerns: -that the spaces to be added will do no more than offset parking to be lost on Spadina as a consequence of the proposed LRT, and will therefore do nothing for the Market; -that the expa!lsion as presently planned entails sidewalk cuts on St. Andrew, with impacts on businesses and residents on St. Andrew; -that the expansion as planned will affect the value and use of adjacent properties; -that the Parking Authority does not seem to have to go through the same Citycontrolled planning processes as other developers. Recommendation 4 (A-L) A) that the Garage expansion be seen not as additional parking for the Kensington Market, but as replacement parking for the Spadina parking lost to LRT· B)' that the Parking Authority immediately commence a study of how to meet the market's parking needs now that the Kensington garage has become primarily a Spadina garage; C) that any plannned expansion take into account recommendation 2D above; D) that any planned expansion be based on turning the garage into a multiuse building; E) that among the uses to be considered for the expanded Garage should be 1) facilities for cyclists; 2) facilities (e.g. parcel depot, short term child care) for shoppers; 3) public street-related uses; 4) space for vendors, 5) a Market tourist office; 6) a community police substation; 7) public washrooms; F) that the Authority not be permitted to proceed with the expansion of the Garage until they and the City's Public Works Dept have in place an effective plan for full use of both the Baldwin and St. Andrew garage entrances and exits. G) that the City not widen St. Andrew street by one extra lane until and unless there is a plan for the operation of the garage, otherwise the widened St. Andrew will end up ·being two lanes of cars parking to get into the garage; H) that the city examine the possibility in widening St. Andrew street not to take all the extra space off the south side of the street, but take an even amount off the north and south side; I) that in the event of widening St. Andrew the adjacent residential property owners be given the chance to apply for changes in zoning, to compensate them for Joss of amenity caused by the widening; J) that the plan for the proposed expansion of the garage be the subject of a Planning Advisory Committee meeting; K) that the Parking Authority be subjected to the same public planning processes as any. other developer; L) that notification of public meetings relating to land use and public works mat· ters in the market area be somehow extended to tenants as well as to property owners. 5: AUTO TRAFFIC AND/OR LOADING AND DELIVERIES ON BALDWIN STREET Concerns: -traffic congestion at times of heaviest deliveries; -not enough offstreet parking for merchants to store their cube vans (so merchants not moving vehicles after delivery made); -some people's desire for pedestrian mall, in conflict with interests of those merchants whose customers are accustomed to being picked up, with heavy parcels, right outside the store. Recommendation 5 (A·F) A. That the Parking Authority remove the barrier gateway to its Bellevue lot presently preventing cube vans from using the lot; B. That the "I:ask Force support the heaviest users of Baldwin Street for deliveries (European Meat) in trying to get a rear loading dock for their store; C. That there be a ten minute parking limit, except loading and deliveries, on Baldwin Street during retail market hours (including people driving cars picking up shoppers); D. That the Task Force and local associations support the reintroduction of a pedestrian mall in the Market on a trial basis during the next twelve months-on up to 12 days, excluding Saturdays; E. That a working group be established to organize these Mall Days; F. That these Mall days be jointly sponsored by the City and the local associations. 6. PROBLEMS OF LfiTERING Concerns: -there is chronic litter problem in the Market (as distinct from the garbage problem, which is also serious). Litter getsstrewn all over market streets in the course of a day, and there are almost no litter containers, primarily because public works department prefers to send in people to sweep the street than to empty litter containers. Recommendation 6 (A·D) A. That all stores selling snack foods or other products leading to immediate casual litter be provided with litter containers by the City for use on the boulevard outside the store; B. That the Public Works department with the help of local associations identify the sites where most casual litter accumulates and provide appropriate containers to reduce the amount of litter on the street in those places; · C. That the design of appropriate litter conta,iners be included in all areas of the market where "street furniture" is being designed for the Market; D. That the introduction of containers to reduce litter be accompanied by the introduction of a public awareness campaign and material. ! 376 Spadina 3. IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED SPADISA LRT Concerns: -that the LRT would cause traffic restrictions on Baldwin Street (no turns onto Baldwin from northbound Spadina at least 6 hours a day-a.m. and p.m. peak, and no turns onto northbound Spadina from Baldwin at the same times); -that the elimination of angle-parking on the adjacent block of Spadina Avenue will lead to increased traffic on Baldwin and St. Andrew, of Spadina shoppers looking for parking; -that these Baldwin restrictions, combined with the expansion of the Parking Garage would lead to traffic chaos on St. Andrew Street; -that the loss of the St. Andrew Street transit stop (southbound) will further isolate ·the Market and make it less accessible, and hamper local efforts to encourage a reduction of cars in the Market; -that proposed changes to the street system (making Kensington one way north between Baldwin and St. Andrew) will make the Market's traffic problems even worse. continued on page 15
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