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The Queen West business community is taking the lead in a study that may determine the fate of heritage shopping districts throughout the Downtown core.
The city’s official plan requires the zoning bylaw to “provide for a maximum store or commercial unit size in commercial heritage conservation districts.” The main objectives of the policy are to “maintain the cultural heritage values and character of commercial heritage conservation districts, and to provide local opportunities for small businesses.”
In an attempt to enforce this directive, council has directed planning staff to hold meetings with the community to study how many square metres of retail space stores should be allowed to have on Queen West in the historic and iconic shopping district between Bathurst and University avenues. City staff subsequently presented a report called the Queen Street West Retail Floorplate Study to community council earlier this summer.
Council had designated the 1.5 km stretch of Queen as a heritage conservation district in July 2007. Most of the stores in the designated area are small, with 72 per cent under 200 square metres, 89 per cent under 300 square metres, and 96 per cent under 500 square metres. At a July 8 meeting that included city planners and ward councilor Adam Vaughan, members of the community asked for more time to review the floorplate study in order to raise issues and concerns. As a result, a working group consisting of area residents, business owners, the Queen Street West BIA, local resident associations and Vaughan was approved by community council in August.
One hot-button issue that the group has already identified is “the impact of large-format retailers.” Establishing a maximum retail floor space (which would be known as a floorplate bylaw) would help maintain that designation and provide opportunities for small businesses.
The working group may meet up to three times, followed by a general community meeting where final staff recommendations can be presented and discussed. Planners hope to have a final report completed within the first quarter of 2011. The study may set precedents and standards that could be applied to other established heritage business districts like St. Lawrence, Cabbagetown, and Leslieville.
Source: www.Thebulletin.ca
