Marian Prejel

The applicant appealed the City's failure to make a decision on Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments, as well as applications under the Ontario Heritage Act, to permit a two-tower residential development at 123 Wynford Drive.

The site contains a designated heritage building originally designed by Raymond Moriyama for the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.

The applicant proposed a conservation strategy involving the temporary relocation, partial disassembly, and reassembly of the heritage building to form the podium of one of the towers.

The City and the National Association of Japanese Canadians opposed the development, arguing it would destroy the site's cultural heritage value.

The Tribunal allowed the appeals, preferring the applicant's expert evidence that the development represents good planning, provides needed housing intensification near transit, and appropriately conserves the heritage attributes through the proposed dismantling and reassembly strategy.

The applicant appealed the City of Toronto's failure to adopt an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Site Plan Application to permit a 4-tower high-rise residential development on a portion of a former golf course, with the remainder dedicated as public open space.

The City and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority opposed the development, arguing it was located in a hazardous area (erosion hazard) and would negatively impact the natural heritage system.

The Tribunal found that the development site, located on a stable paleo terrace, was safe from natural hazards and that the proposed mitigation and restoration measures would result in no net negative impact on the natural heritage system.

The Tribunal allowed the appeals in part, approving the OPA and ZBA in principle, while adjourning the Site Plan Application to allow the parties to resolve outstanding technical issues.