Construction Hub Coordination for Yonge-Eglinton
Councillor Robinson has long been an outspoken critic of the rapid pace of development in the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood.
In May, the Province of Ontario enacted new legislation that walked back many of the neighbourhood-based Planning reforms Councillor Robinson fought for alongside the community, tipping the scales of the planning appeal process even further in favour of the developer. Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choice Act, is essentially a return to the former Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) appeal process under the new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) name.
With more than 10,476 residential units in the local development pipeline, Councillor Robinson has been calling for a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to manage the dense concentration of active construction sites in Yonge-Eglinton.
In response to Councillor Robinson's advocacy, alongside the Mayor and other Midtown Councillors, the City will be launching a Construction Hub Coordination Pilot in the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood beginning in December 2019.
The pilot involves assigning a Construction Hub Coordinator exclusively to the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood to act as the single point of contact between public agencies, private developers, utility companies, industry partners, and other contractors. The Hub Coordinator will be responsible for proactively managing work zones, logistical planning of the right-of-way, reviewing Construction Management Plans, and communicating with local residents and stakeholders.
The strategy is based on best practices in Seattle, where Construction Coordination Hubs resulted in savings of $15.5 million by all partners, $1.6 million by the Seattle Department of Transportation, 200 days of construction, and 1,600 tons of COâ‚‚ carbon equivalent. Evidence has shown that, where implemented, the program has also improved road safety and created more secure pathways for pedestrians in high-construction areas.
After one year, the results of the Yonge-Eglinton pilot will be evaluated and, if successful, the program will be rolled out across the City. More information is available on the City's website, here.
Speaking at the Yonge-Erskine press conference with Councillors Colle and Matlow, September 2019