Applicant has advised that they cannot comply with By-law for the following reason(s): On June 5, 2018 the City of Vaughan, Committee of the Whole recommended approval of Site Plan Application DA.17.015 which was subsequently approved by City of Vaughan Council on June 19, 2018 for 3 residential towers with a hotel and townhouse units. There is no zone within the current zoning by-law which is designed to accommodate the complexities and design elements of a modern project as proposed. The zoning by-law is simply outdated as it was written at a time which did not have benefit of foresight into today's context of the kind of development that is current and contemporary.
As a result, the variances are numerous. However, the buildings represent the type of development that is intended by the Official Plan and zoning by-law and while they are numerous, they are minor and represent good planning. This project was reviewed by the Urban Design Review Panel twice and several times by City staff and was revised several times until a final plan was achieved and supported. Council has approved the development subject to receiving approval of the variances which are supported by City Council and staff. The project is located within the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre where highest buildings with the most density are supported by the Official Plan. The committee of the Whole report of June 5, 2018 states the following:
"Minor Variances are required to permit the development. The Development Planning Department is satisfied that the proposed land uses conform to the Official Plan and that the Development is appropriate and compatible with the existing and permitted uses in the VMC."
The subject lands are zoned C9 Corporate Centre Zone with a site specific Exception 9(957). The majority of the site is identified in the zoning by-law as a "Landmark Location along the full frontage of (Regional Road 7) and up to 50m along the flankage of (Interchange Way) which has no maximum height limit and permits the proposed uses. The two towers are located within the "Landmark" area.
The south building is located outside the "Landmark" and is subject to a height limit of 25m which necessitates a variance to accommodate the proposed south tower to a height of 152.2m in keeping with the intent of the Official Plan and complimentary with the abutting north towers.
City Council has also invoked Section 37 of the Planning Act which allows an increase in height subject to the developer providing a community contribution in-lieu-of the height increase. In this case, the developer will be contributing $391,000.00 cash to be used for an off-site community benefit at the satisfaction of the City.
In conclusion, the project has undergone detailed review by City Staff and the Urban Design Review Panel. All have agreed that the development is appropriate, represents good planning and that the variances meet the intent of the zoning by-law, the Official Plan and are minor in nature.