Toronto Foreshore Protection Group

Concern over LMCC’s plans to put a 4-6 level tourist-residential development on the Toronto foreshore at Bath St has motivated over 2000 people to sign a petition calling for all of the council owned land on the Toronto foreshore to be zoned for community land. 

Removal of Foreshore seating by LMCC

The newly named Toronto Foreshore Protection Group (TFPG) recently held a meeting with Cr Wendy Harrison, the only Councillor who opposed the proposal, to better understand the council process and explore the community’s concerns. 

The TFPG found out that a rescission motion was not possible, as council has already started to act on their decision. Locals have reported seeing surveyors out on site in the 1st week of May, the community seating near the sewer pump station on the foreshore, installed at a time when the vision for the area was that is was for public recreation, was demolished on 23rd May by Council. 

The TFPG believes that the community at large perceives the Toronto foreshore as public land and the lack of consultation with the community over council’s plans needs to be addressed. The Toronto foreshore masterplan that is to be developed over the next 12 months does not include the Bath St site, event though this land forms part of the continuous foreshore corridor.

The history of the Bath St site was that Council purchased the Greive’s family property in 1985 for $157,500 with the future purpose to be determined once the acquisition was completed. Council’s maintenance to date in the foreshore land between the Amateur Sailing club and the RMYC has been minimal, leading to the deterioration of what was once an attractive asset.

According to the Dept. of Planning’s LEP Practice notes, the Tourist Zoning -SP3 at the Bath St site can include such development as ‘tourist and visitor accommodation,’ ‘function centres,’ ‘information and education facilities,’ ‘recreation facilities,’ ‘food and drink premises’ and other ancillary and compatible land uses. The TFPG believes that council can still meet the Tourist zoning intentions by providing recreational facilities and food and drink premises that will encourage visitors and the community to enjoy the Toronto Foreshore.

The CPPA considers the Bath St site is an opportune location for council to compensate the Toronto community for their inaction on the Hirecraft marina site, land which they were offered to purchase that could have expanded the well used foreshore park and now is subject to 3-4 story residential development adjacent to the children’s playground. The CPPA is supportive of the TFPG efforts to preserve Toronto’s public foreshore land as community parkland for a growing population.

Have you signed the petition? Have you let the councillors know your thoughts?

It is extremely important that council is made aware that this is a community-wide issue and the interests of the greater Toronto community need to be considered and consulted.

The petition and more information can be found on the CPPA website.