OMB decision in for Queen and Woodbine

Ontario’s tribunal for city zoning disputes has ruled in favour of plans for a six-storey condo at the northeast corner of Queen Street and Woodbine Avenue.

A group of Beach residents’ associations and the City of Toronto opposed the plans, saying the condo by developer Queen EMPC Six Ltd. would block views of the historic Kew Beach fire hall two doors down.

Based on a city-led Visioning Study that created new design guidelines for Queen Street, the city and the Greater Beach Neighbourhood Association had argued people should be able to see the fire hall from all four corners of Queen and Woodbine.

Writing for the Ontario Municipal Board on Dec. 11, board member Blair Taylor found there is no statutory planning document that calls for that four-corners view.

But Taylor did rule the condo should follow the view guidelines of a site-specific bylaw from 1994, meaning Queen EMPC will have to change its balcony designs.

Taylor also ruled out second-floor retail in the building due to traffic concerns and found plans for a corner façade of what looks like white marble on the condo are inappropriate for the neighbourhood.

Regarding the city’s Visioning Study, Taylor said the board has “considerable concern” that it began with the goal of “somehow ‘counter-balancing’ the approved Official Plan policies to meet the desires of local residents.”

A copy of the decision is available from the Ontario Municipal Board.