The City of Toronto is proposing an amendment to the Official Plan to introduce area-specific policies for properties on Bloor Street West, between Avenue Road and Bathurst Street. The draft amendment is intended to implement a vision for the area as determined through the Bloor Corridor Visioning Study process, in consultation with the local community and area representatives.
Date: Tuesday, November 10
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Committee Room 1, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.
Detailed information regarding the proposal, including background information and a copy of the proposed Official Plan Amendment (OPA) are available here.
TCAT has reviewed these documents and while the vision is bold and if enacted will result in a vastly improved Bloor Street, the wording is not strong enough to definitely result in the necessary improvements for pedestrians and cyclists. Bicycle lanes and an enhanced pedestrian improvement need to be required, not simply encouraged. TCAT strongly urges the City to strengthen the language in the OPA to clearly indicate that space will be reallocated to cyclists and pedestrians, even if on-street parking and/or a traffic lane needs to be removed in order to do so. As a recent Clean Air Partnership research study revealed, the majority of business owners in the Bloor-Annex are in favour of such a change.
The City needs to move beyond merely considering the comfort and safety needs of cyclists and pedestrians. Too often we have seen bike lanes and public realm improvements considered but then not adopted. Specific requirements need to be put in place for how these improvements are going to be achieved.
TCAT has signed up to make a deputation at this meeting. If you wish to address the Toronto And East York Community Council, please notify the City Clerk, attention: Rosalind Dyers, Administrator, Toronto And East York Community Council, at (416) 392-7033, by e-mail to teycc@toronto.ca, by no later than November 9, 2009.
