CARTWRIGHT PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY PUBLIC CONSULTATION TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Transcription

1 CARTWRIGHT PUBLIC SCHOOL PROPERTY PUBLIC CONSULTATION TORONTO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

2 INTRODUCTION As part of its process for identifying underutilized school sites for potential declaration as surplus, and for subsequent disposition and sale, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) staff are required by their Board of Trustees to consult the community and report on potential alternatives that will still meet the Board s capital needs. TDSB staff retained Public Interest Strategy & Communications (Public Interest) to facilitate community meetings for school board properties that are being reviewed for potential disposition by the TDSB. A series of reports on the results of the consultations one for each property will be provided to the Board for consideration along with the staff report and recommendations. This report summarizes the community consultation for Cartwright Property, located at 99 Cartwright Avenue, derived from notes taken during breakout discussion and during the presentation. CARTWRIGHT PS PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS TDSB staff worked with Public Interest to develop and implement a consultation strategy to ensure maximum participation from the community, with particular attention paid to reducing barriers to participation and ensuring a wide range of perspectives were brought forward and documented. A public consultation meeting was held on Tuesday May 30, 2017 at 6:30pm 8:30pm at Yorkdale Secondary School to share information about the proposal and process and gather feedback from the local community. Local TDSB Trustee Jennifer Arp, as well TDSB Trustees Alexander Brown and Chris Glover attended the meeting. The public consultation meeting notices were mailed by Canada Post Unaddressed Admail out to a total of 582 addresses within 500 meters of the property, and delivered on May 15. In addition, the following outreach methods were employed: TDSB web main page distribution to key contacts at public organizations and to individuals who requested to be notified of property reviews distribution to tenant through Toronto Lands Corporation. Following the public meeting, the PowerPoint presentation was posted on the TDSB website, including instructions for further input opportunities, such as presenting to the appropriate Board committees. At the public consultation meeting, community members were asked to sign in, and to indicate if they were interested in receiving a copy of the report after the meeting by mail or by . A handout sheet was provided to participants outlining the process to address the Board of Trustees. Interpreters in Somali, Mandarin and Tagalog were provided by TDSB to ensure community members could fully participate in the meeting. Meeting feedback forms were made available during and after the meeting, and the facilitator encouraged all attendees to fill out the feedback form.

3 Public Interest staff provided a PowerPoint presentation session on the purpose of the meeting, why the site is being considered for sale, roles in the process, process and timelines, and site information. Questions for clarification were invited following the presentation. Public Interest staff, TDSB staff and elected officials were available to address any questions, comments and concerns raised by the community. The public consultation meeting format and facilitation were specifically designed to document the input and feedback of all those who attended. Small breakout group discussions allowed Public Interest to capture comments from every participant, no matter the size of the audience. The attendees were seated around tables in groups of up to 8 people, with one person acting as a note taker. The breakout groups were asked to discuss two questions: What should the TDSB take into consideration in their decision-making on whether to sell the site? (The decision has not yet been made). Are there any alternatives to selling the site that you would prefer? Roving facilitators supported the table discussions to ensure participants understood the questions that were asked, and that views were respectfully shared and accurately recorded on papers that were provided at each table. Each attendee at the table had an opportunity to respond to each question, and had their response recorded by the note taker. If groups required help with note taking, Public Interest facilitators assisted. The results of the table discussions were then shared with the larger group, with one person in each group reporting back. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS MOST ATTENDEES OPPOSE SELLING THE SITE, OR IF IT IS TO BE SOLD, SUPPORT SELLING IT ONLY TO THE CURRENT TENANT Participants in the public consultation meeting generally expressed opposition to the sale of the site outside of the current tenant or to other public service organizations. The current tenant, Sterling Hall School, is seen as a vital part of the community. Some attendees also felt the decision to sell the site requires more time and feedback from the community, noting the lack of time before the impending Board meeting. Some attendees also noted that they did not receive the notification by mail. GREEN SPACE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY According to many of the attendees, access to the green space is extremely important to families and their children in the community. Most community members enjoy access to the green space historically and currently provided by the current tenant. The loss of the public space would also mean an impediment to the already established, strong community relationships between the school children and rest of the neighbourhood. THE BUILDING MAY BE NEEDED IN THE FUTURE Many attendees expressed the need for the public school not to be sold, given the current and projected development in the neighbourhood. Attendees felt there may be a need to reopen the

4 facility in the future if there is an increase in children in the community. A large number of attendees also indicated the changing demographics in the community, with many young families moving into the area, may require the public school to accommodate the influx of students in the future. To this effect, several attendees recommended providing long-term leases with the current tenant. SOME SUPPORT FOR THE SALE OF THE SITE TO EXISTING TENANTS, OTHER SCHOOL BOARDS AND ALTERNATIVE USES SUCH AS PARKLAND Many attendees would support the sale of the site only if it were sold to the existing tenant or the Catholic school board. Again, attendees identified the need for the green space to be maintained and preserved for recreational parkland. The attendees strongly recommended the purchaser maintain green space for continued access by the community members. A full transcription of the breakout discussion notes is provided below. SUMMARY OF CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL TRUSTEE Local TDSB Trustee Arp commented that the community appears to be fairly supportive of The Sterling Hall School keeping the site in whatever form that takes. With excess sites and additional capacity in the neighbourhood, Trustee Arp is supportive of selling the site to Sterling Hall School. The Sterling Hall School keeps the green space open and publicly accessible, and with no apparent preliminary interest from other public agencies, Trustee Arp is concerned that with increasing development we might lose otherwise lose the green space. With the exception of the existing residential zoning in the area, the rest is zoned for employment lands and the City intends to keep it that way.

5 PUBLIC CONSULTATION BREAKOUT GROUP NOTES A total of 30 community members signed in at the public consultation meeting on May 30, 2017, including Trustee Jennifer Arp. Additionally, there were several members of the public who attended but did not sign in, as it was not mandatory. There were a total of 5 tables in small group discussions, with no more than 8 people per group. Volunteer note-takers at each table took notes for inclusion in this report. The following is a summary of the responses that were discussed in each of the tables. The responses from the breakout groups are consolidated and arranged by question. Where an issue was identified in more than one group during the breakout discussion, the number of groups that raised it is indicated by an X for each additional group. The notes that follow are a direct uncorrected transcription of the notes taken by note-takers at group discussion at breakout tables. QUESTION #1 What should the TDSB take into consideration in their decision-making on whether to sell the site? (The decision has not yet been made). Community Concerns how the community feels about a potential purchaser and keeping the green space as a "condition of sale" for the community to continue to use XXXXXX community/neighborhood don't want the school to be sold intention of purchase to maintain K-8 levels and not increase grades into high school or increase enrolment which impacts traffic issues on neighborhood streets. how can you sell a public property without longer consultation with the neighborhood? respect for current residents who live in the immediate vicinity of the site Developments in the Community TDSB to guarantee a no flipping clause Changing demographics future demographic trends. New moving in families with young children X realistic future demand re: student population given growth on Dufferin

6 Financial Considerations future cost to keep site vs future cost of purchasing sites of future prices does TDSB really need the money? Do they really need to sell? what happens to the money when sold? is any money re-invested directly back into the surrounding community? (After the sale) School/Education ensuring that Sterling Hall is given priority to purchase the site after 180 day process X don't sell. Extend the lease to SHS 25 + years General Comments maintain the lease agreement XX public assets should stay in public hands X the student population at SHS have been positive members of the community the open space is well maintained year round by SHS QUESTION #2 Are there any alternatives to selling the site that you would prefer? Programs and Services mandatory "carry-over" clause in all future purchase and sale agreements that the property and remain an educational facility with open green space for public (neighborhood) use X Revenue Sources keep the lease agreement and continue leasing XXXX sell it to SHS X sell to the TDCSB X General Comments

7 you are displacing a: school, a community, and children what is the reason to sell? no renewal upon expiry of lease more than 5-10 years consider site for JK-8 for future use. school required on west side of Dufferin CONCLUSION The purpose of the consultation meeting with Trustee Arp, and the public consultation meeting was to seek their feedback and find alternative ways to selling the site. The engagement process was designed to reduce barriers to participation and gain input from the local community. The community meeting provided a forum for robust discussion of the neighbourhood issues related to the potential disposition and sale of the Cartwright property. Most participants opposed the sale of the site, and if it is to be sold, supported selling it only to the current tenant or providing them the first opportunity to purchase, and proposed a number of potential alternatives that should be considered by the TDSB Board of Trustees as it considers staff recommendations on declaring the site surplus and transferring it to the Toronto Lands Corporation for disposition and sale.