There seems to be some movement afoot on a massive mostly-condo development taking place at the former Mr. Christie cookie site.

On September 22 a staff report, the Christie’s Planning Study, will go before the City’s Planning and Housing Committee ‪for study.

Area councillor Mark Grimes says since the initiation of the study in 2019, city staff have been working on the plan for the Christie’s site, incorporating feedback from the community and First Capital Reality’s application.

City staff have recommended less density, lower tower heights, fewer buildings, and a larger park than proposed for the prime lands at 2150 and 2194 Lake Shore Blvd. W. and 23 Park Lawn Rd., which will be a site of the Park Lawn GO Station.

The public transit infrastructure being implemented through the proposed Park Lawn GO Station and a dedicated TTC streetcar connection provides additional transit capacity to service future travel demand to and from the area, the City says.

On the site, some 15 highrise towers ranging in heights from 16 to 70-storeys as well as 21 buildings ranging in heights up to 12-storeys are planned, according to the City.

The proposal would include a total of 7,139 residential units, of which there will be up to 1,400 units of affordable housing. The plan would include 40 per cent of two-plus bedroom units and 10 per cent of three-bedroom units.

There will be a minimum of two non-profit childcare facilities; an approximate 6,000 square metre recreation centre; a public library, community agency space and spots for two school and emergency services.

The draft plan creates two new public parks. A large 1.2 hectare park is proposed on the northeast side of the community and a second .3 hectare park is proposed along Lake Shore Blvd. W.

Both the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board have identified a preliminary need for school sites.  The space will be secured for the schools and if not occupied by schools, it will be converted to another use.

There will also be three new public streets and one private street to help move traffic during the rush hours at Humber Bay Shores. There is a plan to reconfigure the Gardiner Expressway exit and on-ramps and provide a new connection from Brookers Lane.

Two large public squares are proposed, Station Square, at 4,311 square metres, and Boulevard Square, at 3,358 square metres.

The iconic water tower, with the Christie’s Logo, will be relocated to the park lands.

The proposal would also include 4,425 parking spaces within a four- level underground parking garage.

Locations will be made available for future municipal emergency services, including Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Paramedic Services and Toronto Police Service on City-owned property.

The draft policies guide future development to ensure that streets and buildings are designed to absorb storm water, improve the quality and quantity of biodiversity, expand the tree canopy and ensure that power is continually available for essential services.

City Planners say it could take up to 25-years for all the construction to be completed.

You can submit feedback and questions related to the Christie’s Planning Study to Sarah Phipps, the Project Manager, at Sarah.Phipps@toronto.ca or at ‪416-392-3078, or CouncillorGrimes@toronto.ca.

Another meeting for public feedback is scheduled for October.

A City Report for Action can be viewed at https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-156396.pdf