Port lands looking for public input.
Despite talk of a ferris wheel and monorail in the port lands, Toronto city councillors will proceed with a plan very much like the one currently in place by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc. But, with a shortened timeline.
Courtesy/MICHAEL VAN VALKENBURGH
Waterfront Toronto is inviting the public to have it's say on the accelerated plan to develop the port lands.
An initial meeting has been set up for Monday, Dec. 12 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., just north of Bloor Street.
At the gathering, people will have the chance to learn more about the work done so far, the goal for the port lands initiative and a general overview of the accelerated plan as well as any development challenges.
Attendees will also be able to ask questions and share their thoughts on the future of the 1,000-acre site.
"Our intent is to take a fresh and wide-ranging look at the challenges and opportunities of developing the port lands, including examining phasing options, higher-value interim uses, and the feasibility of modifying or removing existing constraints," John Campbell, Waterfront Toronto's president and CEO, said in a Nov. 25 release.
The waterfront agency will launch a series of online consultations early next year.
Two rounds of public consultation are also planned for 2012.
In a release, Waterfront Toronto and the city said they'd be consulting with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as well as the Toronto Port Lands Company and the Toronto Port Authority on the revised plan.
Land owners, tenants, port users and sector-specific groups will also be provided with opportunities to share their thoughts on the project.
A series of technical working groups have already had meetings looking at land use and design, infrastructure and constructability, and real estate development and financing.
Waterfront Toronto is currently in the process of issuing several requests for proposals for the competitive procurement of required technical expertise for the redevelopment project.
On Sept. 21, City Council decided to work with Waterfront Toronto and lead a review of the plans for the prime waterfront land. The executive committee is expected to receive a report on the required funding for this review on Jan. 24.
At the September meeting, councillors unanimously voted in favour of replacing the Ferris wheel, monorail, mega mall and luxury hotel proposed by Mayor Rob Ford's brother, Councillor Doug Ford, this past summer with a plan very much like the one currently in place for the port lands except for the time line, which was originally 25 years.
Waterfront Toronto is expected to submit the final report on the results of the Port Lands review at the June 2012 City Council meeting.
- Joanna Lavoie with files from David Nickle