Dear residents,
Thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts and concerns about the development application at 1025 The Queensway, which includes the Cineplex theatre. I know this site holds a special place in our community as a key entertainment and cultural space, and I deeply value this feedback I’ve received.
I want to emphasize that I share your desire to see the theatre, or a similar social and cultural space, remain in the neighborhood.
I believe that these spaces are vital to the social fabric of our community.
The City’s review of this application will be shaped by:
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2022 settlement at the Ontario Land Tribunal – From a planning policy perspective, City Planning Staff are limited in what they can require from this applicant. In 2022, the City reached a settlement with the applicant at the provincial Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT)* that set a minimum requirement of 2,500 square metres of non-residential floor space. The Cineplex currently uses ~9,000 square metres.
- This limits the City’s ability to impose conditions or requirements on this application, but it does not prevent the applicant from choosing to provide more space.
- This limits the City’s ability to impose conditions or requirements on this application, but it does not prevent the applicant from choosing to provide more space.
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Additional review by the Toronto Design Review Panel – Because of the scale and complexity of this application, it was referred to the Toronto Design Review Panel before being formally submitted to the City for review. This panel of third-party experts identified similar concerns as those I’ve heard from the community – including the proposed population density, the transit and transportation impacts, and the loss of the Cineplex theatre.
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My advocacy directly with the applicant – I have met with this developer to discuss their application, and I have made my desire clear to either maintain the Cineplex theatre, or design for a similar social and cultural space within their proposed development.
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Your feedback through emails, calls, and at the Community Consultation Meeting – City Planners will consider your feedback in their discussions with the applicant, and include your feedback in their report to Council on this application. The Community Consultation Meeting (CCM) took place on July 15, and you are still able to share your feedback directly with City Planning.
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I encourage you to submit your feedback to Eno Udoh-Orok (the planner on file for this application) by email ([email protected]) or phone (416-392-5474).
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I encourage you to submit your feedback to Eno Udoh-Orok (the planner on file for this application) by email ([email protected]) or phone (416-392-5474).
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Your deputations and written comments at Community Council – The next step for this application is to be considered by Etobicoke York Community Council (EYCC), a local group of City Councillors who make recommendations to City Council on local matters. This is an opportunity to share your feedback directly with Council members by making a deputation or submitting your comments by email.
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Please note that the date has not yet been set for this application to be considered at the EYCC. Once this has been scheduled, I will share more information about the date and how to depute or submit your comments in my email newsletter – please sign up here!
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Please note that the date has not yet been set for this application to be considered at the EYCC. Once this has been scheduled, I will share more information about the date and how to depute or submit your comments in my email newsletter – please sign up here!
As your City Councillor, I will continue to advocate for this application to include space for our local movie theatre, and continue to work towards local improvements to address the pressures on our transit and infrastructure systems from new neighbours moving in on The Queensway.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you have further questions or feedback. Your insights are important as we review and make decisions on changes in your neighbourhood.
Yours in community service,
Amber Morley
City Councillor, Ward 3
Etobicoke-Lakeshore
* The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) is a provincial tribunal that reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General. When a development application is appealed to the OLT, it is effectively removed from the municipal approval process. While the OLT provides municipalities with the opportunity to work with applicants to resolve issues or represent/defend the municipality's interests through a hearing process, the ultimate approval/denial of a development application proposal is at the discretion of the OLT.
