Kyle Fearon

The appellant sought to modify the City of Toronto's Official Plan Amendment 231 to redesignate a 3.5-acre site from General Employment to Mixed Use Areas, permitting residential development alongside existing employment uses.

The City opposed the conversion, arguing it would fragment the South of Eastern Employment Area and risk land use conflicts with nearby impactful industries.

The Ontario Land Tribunal allowed the appeal, finding that the site was underutilized, not required over the long term for employment purposes, and that the proposed conversion would optimize land use by providing needed housing, including affordable housing, without adversely affecting the viability of the employment area.

The Ontario Land Tribunal considered six settlements of site-specific appeals to the City of Toronto's Official Plan Amendment 231 (OPA 231), which deals with economic health and Employment Areas.

The Tribunal heard uncontested expert planning evidence supporting the settlements for properties in Southwest Etobicoke.

The Tribunal found that the proposed modifications to OPA 231 represented good planning, were consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, and conformed to the Growth Plan.

The Tribunal approved the settlements and modified OPA 231 accordingly.