| 134935 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | POSTPONE | 52200000 | Y | PLAN_ACT | Our Plan Toronto: Recommendations on the East Harbour Employment Area Conversion Request - Final Report | 2024.PH13.1 | PBNTGVN | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>City Council on October 11 and 12, 2023, referred Item PH6.3 back to the Planning and Housing Committee. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary from the report (September 14,2023) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on Our Plan Toronto: Recommendations on the East Harbour Employment Area Conversion Request - Final Report:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report is the fourth in a series of Final Reports that provide staff recommendations on Employment Area conversion requests as part of the Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) of the Official Plan.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Council authorized the commencement of the Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) and Growth Plan conformity exercise known as "Our Plan Toronto" on August 4, 2020. As part of the MCR, City Planning received approximately 150 requests to convert lands designated Core Employment Areas or General Employment Areas in the Official Plan for non-employment uses, including some of which were City-initiated.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The MCR and any recommended Official Plan amendments are considered under Section 26 of the Planning Act, where the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing is the approval authority. The Minister’s decisions are not subject to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal unless the Minister refers all or part of the amendments to the Tribunal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report is to be considered at a Special Public Meeting under Section 26 of the Planning Act regarding the City's phased Official Plan and Municipal Comprehensive Reviews.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This fourth report provides an overview of staff’s review and recommendations on the Employment Area conversion request made for the East Harbour lands (21 Don Valley Parkway, 30 Booth Avenue, and 375-385 Eastern Avenue). The report also describes the recommended Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 683 and the city-building objectives, such as affordable housing, that are included to support the introduction of residential use permissions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In April 2021, the Province announced a Transit Oriented Communities (“TOC”) commercial partnership with Cadillac Fairview for the East Harbour lands that proposes a mixed-use community on the lands, which includes the 926,000 square metres of employment development previously approved in the Unilever Precinct Secondary Plan and relevant Zoning By-laws, but would also introduce residential uses not previously contemplated for the lands.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The residential uses envisioned for the TOC are not permitted on the lands which are designated Core and General Employment Areas in the Official Plan. In August 2021, Cadillac Fairview submitted an employment area conversion request for the lands to be considered as part of the City’s MCR.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>On April 8, 2022, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing made a Minister’s Zoning Order per Ontario Regulation 329/22 (‘MZO’) for the East Harbour lands. The MZO permits residential uses on specific portions of the East Harbour lands up to a maximum of 302,000 square metres, in addition to the existing employment development permissions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The MZO allows for residential uses in the zoning permissions on lands designated Core Employment Areas and General Employment Areas. While the Growth Plan 2020 prohibits, and the City’s official plan policies do not permit, residential uses on lands designated Employment Areas, the Province’s MZO does not need to conform to these policies. The zoning permissions granted through the MZO for the East Harbour lands enable development contemplated in the Province’s TOC arrangement between the Province and Cadillac Fairview.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Staff’s recommendations on the East Harbour conversion request are to implement the MZO made for the lands by the Minister and the recommended Official Plan amendment detailed in this report aligns with the permissions granted by Province through the MZO.</p> | 13 | 1 | CMMTTEE | PH | 14 - Toronto - Danforth | N | … | Letter | ACTION | Deferred | Main | Planning Act, RSO 1990 | Public Notice Given | Committee | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | ACTION | true | Deferred | 9:30 AM | … | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — |
| 135016 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | POSTPONE | 52200000 | N | — | Our Plan Toronto: Recommendations on the East Harbour Employment Area Conversion Request - Supplementary Report | 2024.PH13.1a | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>On October 26, 2023, the Planning and Housing Committee deferred consideration of Our Plan Toronto: Recommendations on the East Harbour Employment Area Conversion Request - Final Report (Item PH6.3). The Committee directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report to a future meeting of the Planning and Housing Committee so that City Council considers the Decision Report on the employment area conversion at the same time as the East Harbour Transit Oriented Community report is considered.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Executive Committee will consider a report on the East Harbour Transit Oriented Community and Draft Plan of Subdivision Application at its meeting on June 18, 2024. This timing will allow City Council to consider both reports at its meeting of June 26-28, 2024.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The report recommendations listed in the September 14, 2023, report from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on Our Plan Toronto: Recommendations on the East Harbour Employment Area Conversion Request - Final Report (Item PH6.3) are re-stated below for ease of reference. An additional recommendation has been added to address the Lower Don Special Policy Area (SPA) and Lower Don Protocol.</p> | 13 | 1 | CMMTTEE | PH | All | N |
| 135034 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | 52200000 | Y | PLAN_ACT | Villiers Island Precinct - City-Initiated Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment - Decision Report - Approval | 2024.PH13.2 | PBNTGVN | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The City of Toronto, together with CreateTO and Waterfront Toronto, is advancing a significant revitalization project for the Port Lands. The Port Lands is being transformed into a dynamic, inclusive mixed-use community, with housing at all levels of affordability combined with supportive community infrastructure. It will also continue as an employment hub, bolstering the City’s film, television, and creative sectors, alongside sustained port and industrial activities.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The new Island, currently using the working name "Villiers Island" and receiving a permanent Indigenous name in the Fall of 2024, will be the first mixed-use residential community emerging through this transformation; defined by the renaturalized Don River it will develop into a sustainable and complete community. The Island is part of Toronto's broader waterfront revitalization, building on two decades of a successful tri-government collaboration. This model has spurred long-term economic growth and prosperity by flood protecting and remediating contaminated land, and developing both market and affordable housing. Waterfront revitalization has also delivered award-winning parks, public spaces, and architectural advancements, all while setting higher standards in sustainable development. This approach attracts innovation-focused companies and enhances the waterfront's appeal as a destination for both Toronto residents and visitors.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Over a decade of planning and consultation has focused on the future development of the Island. In 2007, Waterfront Toronto held an urban design competition for the Lower Don Lands, which include the Island, resulting in Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates' (MMVA) winning design. In 2011, a refined plan proposed a slight realignment of the Don River and the river mouth. The 2010 Lower Don Lands Framework Plan envisioned four mixed-used residential communities that would be adjacent to the new Don River valley and mouth, connected by bridges.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As envisioned in the Lower Don Lands Framework Plan and the 2017 Villiers Island Precinct Plan (the "Precinct Plan"), the Island will be a central connection point for surrounding emerging waterfront precincts, and will have destination parks, a new naturalized Don River Valley, community facilities including a new neighbourhood library, and unique opportunities to experience the Keating Channel.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Eighty percent of the developable area on the Island is in public ownership (see Figure 2). The City, CreateTO and Waterfront Toronto have collaborated extensively to review the Precinct Plan and the density on public lands through a Density Study. The partnership sought to identify appropriate built form changes that could help contribute to the City’s ambitious housing and affordable housing goals. This comprehensive Density Study process was informed by a series of iterative design workshops, expert advice from professional planning and design consultants, due diligence studies, feedback from the Waterfront Design Review Panel, and the public feedback through consultations and focus groups.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report recommends the approval of amendments to the Official Plan, Zoning By-law, and Precinct Plan that describe how the Island will develop, based upon the outcome of the Density Study. It also recommends an update to the Municipal Code regarding parkland dedication, and endorsement of the Villiers Island and Keating Channel West Public Art Master Plan. Taken together, these revisions update the planning framework for the Island in response to Toronto's Housing Action Plan, to permit a dense, inclusive, sustainable, and walkable urban community.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The proposed amendments contemplate towers with heights between 19 and 46 storeys, enabling an estimated 9,000 residential units and resulting in a net density of 7.7 times the area of the Island's development blocks (see Figure 1). Of the estimated 9,000 units, approximately 2,200 - 2,700 will be affordable housing, with a target of 30 percent affordable housing on public lands. These affordable units will be secured as long-term or permanently affordable housing aligned with the City's income-based definition of affordable housing. Achieving affordable housing will require an intergovernmental funding and financing strategy.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The amendments also permit a minimum of approximately 80,000 square metres of retail and office space, 7,850 square metres of community space, and a Toronto Public Library neighbourhood branch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A Business and Implementation Plan for the first phase of development on the Island will be presented to City Council later this Fall or in early 2025. The Business and Implementation Plan will build on this report by outlining the proposed costs and funding strategies, implementation roles and responsibilities, and implementation milestones (including phased development and early activation) for this emerging Island community, ensuring the planned density and necessary infrastructure are coordinated for maximum benefit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The redevelopment of the Island presents unique infrastructure challenges. Although close to the city, it requires replacing the existing infrastructure systems with contemporary ones, including stormwater management, water and wastewater systems. The public realm, established through the Don Mouth Naturalization and Port Lands Flood Protection Environmental Assessment, the Lower Don Lands Infrastructure Master Plan Environmental Assessment and the Precinct Plan, including the planned grid of streets, blocks, and open spaces, will support increased density through generous sidewalks, cycle tracks, green infrastructure elements and future transit connections.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Upon completion, the Island will house more than 15,000 residents, part of the larger Port Lands area, which is projected to be home to nearly 40,000 people and 20,000 jobs. The Island will also be a waterfront destination – its infrastructure and amenities will serve a local population, downtown, and the region. The revitalization of the Island and Toronto's waterfront will not only contribute to achieving provincial and federal housing targets, but also support the housing commitments in the City's housing plans.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Revitalizing the Port Lands is one of the largest and most complex city-building projects</p>
<p>in the City. The recommendations in this report will allow the City, CreateTO, and Waterfront Toronto to advance implementation plans to enable more affordable housing to be built faster. Building on the success of the Port Lands Flood Protection Project and a generation of planning for Port Lands revitalization; the report's actions will take the next crucial steps to transform a vast industrial and underutilized waterfront area into a vibrant, mixed-use community, important destination, home to tens of thousands of future resident amid a growing cluster of production, interactive and creative uses, and the hustle and bustle of a working port. </p> |
| 135173 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | NO_ACTN | — | N | — | Villiers Island Precinct - City-Initiated Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment - Supplementary Report on Maximizing Housing on the New Island | 2024.PH13.2a | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This Supplementary Report responds to MM18.26, City Council's request to review key numbers and figures related to redevelopment of the new Island, currently known as Villiers Island. The report addresses questions related to maximizing of housing on the new Island, including the provision of affordable housing on non-City owned lands, heights and densities, development blocks, road rights-of-way and the public realm.</p> | 13 | 2 | CMMTTEE | PH | 14 - Toronto - Danforth | N | … | Report | ACTION | No Action | Main | — | — | Committee | … | … |
| 134872 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | 52200000 | Y | PLAN_ACT | 2444 Eglinton Avenue East - Zoning Amendment - Decision Report - Approval | 2024.PH13.3 | PBNTGVN | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This application proposes to amend the Zoning By-law for the lands at 2444 Eglinton Avenue East to permit the construction of a mixed use building consisting of 3 towers above a base building containing above grade parking and non-residential uses at grade.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The development would include a 31-storey condominium building above a 4 storey podium, along with two co-op buildings of 19 and 41-storeys atop a 5-storey podium. The two co-op buildings consist of 612 co-op housing units and the condominium building consists of 307 units. The tenure of the units includes, market condominium units (307), market co-op units (306) and affordable co-op units (306). The total gross floor area of the proposal is 64,143 square metres, inclusive of 1871 square meters of non-residential uses.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The proposed development is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conforms with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). The proposed development also conforms to the City's Official Plan. The development is part of the City’s Housing Now Initiative to deliver affordable housing and mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented communities on City-owned properties. This proposed development intensifies an underutilized site with a range of housing options in terms of tenure and affordability, while providing a mix of at-grade non-residential uses that will support and enhance the public realm. It is immediately adjacent to a multi-modal transit station with convenient connections to multiple transit lines and surface transit routes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law subject to a Holding Provision required to address servicing matters.</p> |
| 135013 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | — | N | — | Housing Action Plan: As-of-Right Zoning for Mid-rise Buildings on Avenues and Updated Rear Transition Performance Standards - Proposals Report | 2024.PH13.4 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The City is advancing several initiatives under the Housing Action Plan and the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) initiative to make changes to the City’s Official Plan, Zoning By-law and Urban Design Guidelines to enable more housing in neighbourhoods along major streets and Avenues, in transition zones and in major growth areas.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report proposes amendments to the city-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013 to permit heights and densities that would enable mid-rise buildings on lands designated Mixed Use Areas in the Official Plan along Avenues. The draft zoning by-law amendment implements urban design performance standards, including updated standards for rear transition and increases height and density permissions. This report also provides an update on the Mid-rise Performance Standards Urban Design Guidelines with respect to rear transition.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The As-of-right Zoning for Mid-rise Buildings on Avenues proposal and updates to the Mid-rise Buildings Performance Standards are two of 54 initiatives under the Housing Action Plan. The proposed zoning by-law amendment and update to the Mid-rise Performance Standards Urban Design Guidelines with respect to rear transition would remove barriers, ease administration, and support the creation of more housing as part of the Housing Action Plan to achieve or exceed the provincial housing target of 285,000 new homes over the next 10 years.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mid-rise buildings have heights generally no greater than the width of the right-of-way that the building fronts onto, up to 11 storeys. Mid-rise buildings are encouraged along Avenues designated Mixed Use Areas in the Official Plan, with their physical form and relationship to their context informed by the Mid-rise Building Performance Standards Urban Design Guidelines.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>City Planning is conducting a comprehensive review of the Mid-Rise Building Performance Standards Urban Design Guidelines, and has completed initial updates to the performance standards for Rear Transitions between mid-rise buildings and other buildings or open space uses. This report summarizes the updated Rear Transition Performance Standards Urban Design Guidelines, which inform the proposed zoning by-law amendments to enable mid-rise buildings on Avenues. The final updated Rear Transition Performance Standards 5A and 5B will be formally incorporated in the consolidated Mid-rise Building Urban Design Guidelines document and presented to Planning and Housing Committee in the fourth quarter of 2024.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The as-of-right zoning for mid-rise buildings and updates to the Mid-Rise Building Rear Transition Performance Standards Urban Design Guidelines are only one of many actions in the Housing Action Plan that support the objective of enabling additional housing supply across Toronto’s Major Streets and Avenues. Other related action items include: the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) Major Streets Study, As-of-Right Zoning for Avenue Studies with no Implementing Zoning, the Avenues Policy Review, Expanding Mixed Use Areas, and Implementing Zoning for new Mixed Use Areas. City Planning has either reported out on the actions such as the Major Streets Study or is working to advance these action items in a comprehensive and integrated manner.</p> |
| 135019 | REPORT | N | Y | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | — | N | — | Modular Housing Initiative Phase 2: Update Report, and Amendments to Purchase Order Numbers 6052027 and 6052881 issued to NRB Inc. for Design-Build Services for Supportive Housing | 2024.PH13.5 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Modular Housing Initiative Phase 2, and to request Council authority to enable City Divisions to restart and complete the projects at 175 Cummer Ave., and 39 Dundalk Dr., respectively, by approving Purchase Order Amendments for both projects to ensure funding is in place to complete required work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In April 2020, as an urgent response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on people experiencing homelessness, the City launched the Modular Housing Initiative to rapidly create at least 250 new rent-geared-to-income and supportive homes using modular construction. Four of five projects have since been tenanted, providing a safe, affordable place to call home for over 200 residents formerly experiencing homelessness, with wrap-around support services to help them maintain their housing and improve their health and well-being.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The project at 175 Cummer Avenue was announced in Spring 2021 as part of Phase Two of the Modular Housing Initiative, along with 540 Cedarvale Ave. and 39 Dundalk Dr. While Cedarvale is complete and Dundalk is nearing completion with only landscaping and a review of costs escalations remaining, the project at 175 Cummer Ave was delayed, first because Council’s request for a Minister’s Zoning Order did not yield a response, and second because of an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) of Council’s approval of the new zoning by-law for the development in August 2022.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A hearing of the appeal was held at the OLT on November 2, 2023. On January 2, 2024 the OLT released its decision, dismissing the appeal and ruling in the City’s favour. The appellants later requested a further review of the OLT’s decision on January 31, 2024, but this request was dismissed by the OLT on February 22, 2024. A motion for leave to appeal the OLT’s decision to Ontario Divisional Court was also denied on May 17, 2024. While the appellants have since made a judicial review application to the Divisional Court to challenge the OLT decision, the OLT decision stands, and zoning is in place to permit the proposed development to proceed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report requests authority to enable City Divisions to restart and complete the projects at 175 Cummer Ave., and 39 Dundalk Dr., respectively, by approving Purchase Order Amendments for both projects to ensure funding is in place to complete required work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Confidential Attachments include confidential information regarding the pricing for these projects under negotiation with the City’s supplier, estimated costs to complete the projects, and confidential information related to delivery of the project at 175 Cummer Ave.</p> |
| 135011 | REPORT | N | Y | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | — | N | — | Strategic Opportunity at 267 and 275 Merton Street | 2024.PH13.6 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This report provides City Council with information on a strategic opportunity to leverage the City-owned lands at 275 Merton Street (the "City Site") to create new purpose-built rental homes, including a minimum target of 30% affordable rental homes. Through negotiations led by CreateTO, in consultation with Corporate Real Estate Management and Housing Secretariat, staff have finalized the terms of a development partnership with Collecdev-Markee Limited Partnership (the “Developer”), which advance a development on the City Site, as well as the adjacent site, 267 Merton Street (the "Developer Site"), which is owned by a subsidiary of the Developer.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report outlines the opportunity to leverage the City Site in a way that would deliver a substantial number of new affordable rental and rent-controlled market homes in support of the City's HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan targets to approve 65,000 new rent-controlled homes by 2030; and leverage underutilized City-owned properties to create new affordable housing. This report requests Council authority to proceed with the related real estate transactions required to advance this strategic development, along with additional City incentives to support affordable housing, as endorsed by the CreateTO Board on February 16, 2024, the details of which are outlined in Confidential Attachment 1.</p> | 13 | 6 | CMMTTEE | PH | 12 - Toronto - St. Paul's |
| 135020 | REPORT | N | Y | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | — | N | — | Renovictions Policy Implementation: Review of Hamilton Renovation Licence and Tenant Relocation By-law and developing a Toronto Renovictions By-law | 2024.PH13.7 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan and Toronto Housing Charter, both adopted in 2019, commit the City to advancing the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing and set a number of strategic priorities related to protecting tenants, preserving affordable housing supply, and realizing a vision of a city where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home. City Council has recently increased its housing targets under the HousingTO Plan, however, to ensure the City has sufficient affordable rental homes for low- and moderate-income residents, it is also vital to preserve existing affordable rental homes. As a result of factors impacting Toronto's housing market, including low rental vacancy rates, insufficient new rental homes, and the financialization of housing, over the past decade the Toronto region has lost more affordable and mid-range rental homes than have been built. These housing market pressures combined with gaps in provincial rent control requirements have resulted in increased rates of evictions, with disproportionate impacts on low-income and marginalized residents, including those from equity-deserving groups.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>There have been reports of a growing trend of renovictions in Toronto, where a landlord illegitimately evicts a tenant by alleging that vacant possession of a rental unit is needed to undertake renovations or repairs. Renovictions can include refusing to allow a tenant who has exercised their right of first refusal to return post-renovation, illegally raising the rent on a returning tenant, or not undertaking major renovations after evicting renters. This results in the displacement of tenants, the permanent loss of affordable market rental housing, and contributes to rising homelessness in Toronto.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Province of Ontario has jurisdiction over rent control policy and landlord-tenant matters through the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. The most effective tools to protect tenants and deter renovictions reside at the provincial level. City Council has previously requested that the Province introduce measures to amend provincial legislation to protect tenants from renovictions, including but not limited to: introducing rent control that is maintained upon turnover of a unit, requiring landlords to provide temporary relocation assistance while renovations are taking place, and creating a centralized data system and registry for rental properties and eviction activities in Toronto.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In the absence of these changes, Toronto and other cities are considering steps to address the growing trend of renovictions within their authorities. On July 19, 2022, City Council, through Item PH35.18, adopted a Renovictions Policy as a framework to guide the development of a new renovictions by-law that would respond to growing trends in illegitimate evictions, protect tenants, and preserve affordable housing supply.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In January 2024, the City of Hamilton adopted a Renovation Licence and Tenant Relocation By-law (“Hamilton by-law") that aims to prevent renovictions and mitigate harms to tenants by requiring a licence to renovate tenanted rental units. The by-law includes several new requirements of landlords to achieve these objectives and establishes a dedicated investigation, compliance, and enforcement framework. The Hamilton by-law was enacted on April 10, 2024, and the administrative and enforcement framework are under development. The Hamilton by-law is expected to come into force January 1, 2025.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>On February 28, 2024, the Planning and Housing Committee directed staff to include in this report consideration and analysis of the Hamilton by-law and how that approach could be adopted by Toronto. This report responds to this direction and provides staff’s analysis of implementation considerations related to the Hamilton by-law. Further comments respecting the by-law will be provided by the City Solicitor by way of a separate report. It also provides City Council with an update on actions underway to implement the renovictions policy and corresponding by-law, and provides necessary context regarding provincial policy and legislative changes impacting renovictions and tenants’ rights (including Provincial Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023). Finally, the report provides Council with information on how the Hamilton by-law approach could be implemented in Toronto, should Council provide such direction.</p> |
| 135118 | REPORT | N | Y | SUPPL | ACTION | NO_ACTN | — | N | — | Renovictions Policy Implementation and Hamilton By-law - Supplementary Report | 2024.PH13.7a | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This report is supplementary to the report from the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat entitled Renovictions Policy Implementation: Review of Hamilton Renovation Licence and Tenant Relocation By-law and developing a Toronto Renovictions By-law dated May 30, 2024 (the <strong>"Renovictions Update Report"</strong>). This report provides legal advice on the City of Hamilton's Renovation Licence and Relocation By-law and the potential implementation of a similar by-law in Toronto.</p> | 13 | 7 | CMMTTEE | PH | All | N | … | Report | ACTION | No Action | Supplementary | — | — | Committee | … |
| 135032 | REPORT | N | Y | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | — | N | — | Launching the Rental Housing Supply Program | 2024.PH13.8 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>Toronto is facing two housing crises – one where there is a lack of deeply affordable and supportive housing for low-income marginalized and vulnerable residents; and a more recent one in which rising rents have made it increasingly unaffordable for middle income earners, key workers and professionals to live in the city. This was noted by the <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-235840.pdf">City’s Perspective on the Rental Housing Roundtable report</a> in 2023. Urgent action across the entire housing continuum is required to prevent more residents, specifically renters, from experiencing housing instability and potentially homelessness; to avoid Toronto’s social service sector facing a deepening key worker staffing crisis; and to allow Toronto’s businesses to attract the workforce and labour supply they need to grow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>City Council has recognized the need to expand the City's <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/community-partners/housing-partners/housingto-2020-2030-action-plan/">HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan</a> (HousingTO Plan) targets beyond affordable rental homes, to include rent-geared-to-income (RGI) and rent-controlled homes, thereby advancing a generational transformation of Toronto’s housing system by 2030. In support of the delivery of a full range of homes, City Council has further directed staff to recommend revisions to the Open Door Affordable Rental Housing program (Open Door program). This report responds to City Council’s request to review the Open Door program in light of the revised HousingTO Plan targets that include rent-geared-to-income, affordable rental, and rent-controlled homes (<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX9.3">2023,EX9.3</a>).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Open Door program has been the City’s signature affordable rental housing initiative since <a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2016.EX16.26">its launch in 2016</a>, and has provided City funding and incentives (including waivers of fees and charges, and property tax exemptions) to support the development of over 21,000 affordable rental homes on public, non-profit, co-op and private land.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Open Door program has been able to support a healthy <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/data-research-maps/toronto-housing-data-hub/housing-data/">pipeline</a> of affordable rental homes across Toronto, with 1,911 of these homes constructed and an additional 3,011 currently under construction. There are an additional 16,530 homes that are currently stuck in pre-development phases due to requiring additional support, including funding and financing, and acceleration of approvals, to move them into construction. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>This report provides recommendations to transform the Open Door program into the Rental Housing Supply Program in light of the updated HousingTO Plan targets, recent legislative changes to the <em>Development Charges Act (DCA)</em> through the <em>More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022</em> (Bill 23); the <em>More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 (Bill 108), and the Affordable Homes and Good Jobs Act, 2023 </em>(Bill 134); federal and provincial housing policy and funding changes; and the current macroeconomic context which is making it increasingly difficult to adequately scale-up the purpose-built rental housing supply in Toronto.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To respond to the housing and homelessness crises and support City Council’s new target for 65,000 rent-controlled homes, this report proposes:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1) Allocating <strong>capital funding to 18 affordable rental and rent-geared-to-income housing projects,</strong> outlined in Confidential Attachment 1, aimed at accelerating delivery of over 2,600 new affordable rental homes. Through this funding, non-viable projects will be able to move to construction start and secure financing. Staff estimate that in addition to unlocking over 2,600 affordable rental homes, a further 3,380 market and rent-controlled rental homes will enter construction for a total of almost 6,000 new rental homes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2) Launching the new <strong>Rental Housing Supply Program</strong> which:</p>
<ul>
<li>Aligns the program definition of affordable rental housing with the <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/planning-studies-initiatives/definitions-of-affordable-housing/">City’s Official Plan income-based affordable housing definition</a> and the provincial <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/municipal-development-and-community-benefits-charges-and-parklands#section-4">Affordable Residential Units Bulletin</a> definition.</li>
<li>Establishes a framework for prioritizing and recommending capital funding for affordable and rent-geared-to-income rental homes, up to a maximum of $260,000 per unit.</li>
<li>Introduces a proposed program definition of rent-controlled homes where rent levels are higher than income-based affordable rents and at or below 150% of the average City of Toronto rent, by unit type, as reported annually by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. This new program definition is consistent with the Official Plan definition of mid-range moderate rents and will include limiting rent increases to the provincial rent increase guideline under the <em>Residential Tenancies Act</em>, 2006 plus 2%.</li>
<li>Provides proposed incentives to not-for-profit corporations, non-profit housing co-operatives (co-ops), Indigenous housing providers, (collectively referred to as “Community Housing Providers” throughout this report), as well as the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC) to support the development of new rent-controlled homes.</li>
</ul>
<p>3) Launching a <strong>Pilot Community Housing Pre-development Fund</strong> to support the intensification and re-development of Community Housing sites.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>4) Working towards launching a sustainable and <strong>revolving Affordable Housing Fund</strong> to attract funding from government and non-government sources including financial institutions, philanthropic organizations, and private sector organizations (including large employers) to support a range of City-supported and City-led affordable rental housing projects.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>These measures also complement the “Community Housing Modernization and Growth Strategy” (the Community Housing Strategy) report that is also to be considered by the Planning and Housing Committee at the same meeting on June 13, 2024. The Community Housing Strategy includes concrete measures to support long-term sustainability and affordability of the city's existing community housing stock over the next decade as they navigate expiry of mortgages, ending of land leases with the City, and escalating maintenance costs. The Community Housing Strategy also proposes a number of policy and planning measures aimed at increasing the community housing stock including enhancements to the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Program (MURA) to enable Community Housing Providers to better compete in the city’s speculative market and to acquire properties that can be operated as affordable rental housing in perpetuity.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The proposed new Rental Housing Supply Program aims to support a shift in Toronto's housing market, where purpose-built rentals are the most common form of rental housing but have contributed the least amount of new supply over the past 10 years. During this time, most new rental supply has derived from condominiums, which according to the <a href="https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professionals/housing-markets-data-and-research/market-reports/rental-market-reports-major-centres">Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rental Market Report</a> are generally more expensive and do not offer the same level of security of tenure for tenants. The proposed new Rental Housing Supply Program also aims to support a generational transformation of Toronto’s housing system to shift Toronto’s housing system and increase the supply of non-market, community housing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Despite an increase in purpose-built rental housing starts in 2023, the rental housing supply is not forecast to keep up with demand. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) anticipates a decline in housing starts that will persist through 2024 and 2025, reflecting the lagged effect of higher interest rates, labour shortages, and supply chain issues. Toronto is continuing to face high rental demand driven by strong population growth and an increasing number of renter households squeezed out of homeownership market. The rental market in Toronto is expected to remain tight without significant action by all orders of government to facilitate the development of purpose-built rental housing. This proposal responds to stakeholder feedback in the City’s <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-235840.pdf">Perspective on the Rental Housing Roundtable report</a>, which recommended that the City study additional means of incentivizing purpose-built rental housing supply beyond what is already available in the Open Door program, and recognize the vital role of the non-profit sector in providing affordable housing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While the City is committed to taking every possible action within its jurisdictional and financial capacity to tackle the housing crisis, strengthened partnerships with the federal and provincial governments are needed to complement Toronto’s efforts. Recent federal and provincial measures introduced to support purpose-built rental construction, such as providing a 100% rebate on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on new purpose-built rental housing is an example of government policies aligning to advance collective housing objectives.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>However, new and enhanced policy, program and financial tools are urgently needed to meet Toronto, Ontario and Canada’s respective housing supply targets. This includes a new fiscal deal to support the structural changes that will put Toronto on a path to long-term financial sustainability, as well as a commitment from the federal and provincial governments to invest in the HousingTO Plan.</p> |
| 135033 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | — | N | — | Community Housing Sector Modernization and Growth Strategy | 2024.PH13.9 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>In Toronto, Community Housing (or non-market housing) refers to social and affordable housing that is owned and/or operated by non-profit housing organizations (including community land trusts), non-profit housing co-operatives ("Co-ops"), and Indigenous housing providers (collectively referred to as “Community Housing Providers”), along with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation (TSHC). Community Housing is typically developed and operated with publicly funded capital contributions, and ongoing rental subsidies. Furthermore, it is a critical segment of the housing continuum and provides rental housing options for low-and-moderate-income households.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In addition to over 57,500 homes provided by Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, there are currently over 200 Community Housing Providers in Toronto that operate over 40,000 subsidized Rent-Geared-To-Income (RGI) and affordable homes. About 75% of this stock was built prior to 1987 utilizing federal and provincial funding programs. Action from all orders of government is urgently needed to preserve and modernize these aging homes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Recognizing the need to accelerate efforts to maintain the city’s Community Housing stock, in March 2023, through Item - 2023.EX3.1, “<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX3.1">Housing Action Plan 2022-2026</a> ("HAP") and in November 2023, through Item - 2023.EX9.3 - “<a href="https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EX9.3">Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes</a>”, City Council directed staff to report back on a strategy to modernize and grow the Community Housing sector, and provide additional support for Community Housing Providers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The report responds to Council’s requests and recommends a new Community Housing Sector Modernization and Growth Strategy ("the Strategy") aimed at:</p>
<ul>
<li>protecting the city's existing Community Housing stock through preserving the assets as well as maintaining affordability;</li>
<li>creating net new Community Housing that will support the City in achieving its target of approving 65,000 rent-controlled homes by 2030; and</li>
<li>improving access to housing opportunities for low-and-moderate income households, particularly Indigenous residents and those from equity-deserving groups.</li>
</ul>
<p>The proposed Strategy, included as Attachment 1, encompasses six key initiatives to achieve these objectives, including:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. A New Regulatory and Funding Framework to Maintain Homes Operated by Community Housing Providers Under Part VII.1 of the Housing Services Act</strong> <strong>–</strong> The new regulatory framework will allow the City, as Service Manager, to secure partnerships that will continue to offer affordable and deeply affordable housing with Community Housing Providers operating under Part VII of the Housing Services Act whose mortgages are expiring.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>2. A New Policy Framework to Guide Ground Lease Arrangements Between the City of Toronto and Community Housing Providers –</strong> A number of Community Housing Providers operate buildings on land leased from the City and need a lease extension, renewal or a new lease in order to continue to operate, or to refinance buildings and complete required upgrades/major repairs/modernization. The City is also focused on offering more of its land, through long-term leases to the Community Housing sector to scale up the delivery of non-market homes. A new policy framework is proposed in Attachment 2 to guide lease arrangements and ensure a consistent approach for both the City and Community Housing Providers as it relates to new leases, extensions and renewals.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>3. Program Enhancements and Additional Financial Support to Acquire and Create New Community Housing –</strong> This report recommends changes to the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition (MURA) program that would enable Community Housing Providers to use Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition funding to acquire a wider range of housing types, including larger buildings (those with greater than 60 units), smaller buildings (those with less than 6 units) such as multi-tenant homes, and condominium units.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>4. Encouraging Development and Intensification Opportunities –</strong> The City will work with organizations who own land to identify opportunities to create new Community Housing. In addition, staff will continue to advance a number of changes to the Official Plan, zoning by-laws, and planning guidelines through the Housing Action Plan that would result in greater as-of-right development permissions, making it more predictable, simpler and quicker to add new housing supply.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>5. An Expedited Development and Permitting Review Process for Community Housing Applications –</strong> This report recommends considering the establishment of a Community Housing Priority Stream to expedite development and permitting review and approvals of eligible Community Housing projects, and the utilization of all available tools to expedite zoning approvals.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>6. Partnerships to Support Community Housing Sector Action to Build New and Modernize Existing Homes –</strong> Enhancing the development, asset management and governance capacity of Community Housing Providers will entail working with sector partners to develop resources and provide advisory services, and to explore opportunities for mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships between organizations to achieve economies of scale and/or to be able to leverage a larger asset pool for accessing capital required for new developments and repairs that will support longer-term growth and sustainability. The City will leverage its existing relationships within the sector and explore new partnerships and collaboration opportunities with organizations that can provide advisory services and support to Community Housing Providers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The measures in this report are complemented by the “Launching the Rental Housing Supply Program” report that is to be considered by the Planning and Housing Committee at the same meeting on June 13, 2024. This complementary report recommends additional financial support for new Community Housing through a proposed three-year, Community Housing Pre-Development Fund Pilot. Through this proposed pilot, Community Housing Providers can apply for financial assistance to cover the cost of pre-development activities that are crucial in supporting new community housing projects.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Strategy recommended in this report takes a comprehensive approach to sustain, modernize and grow the Community Housing sector in Toronto. It was informed by engagement with Community Housing Providers, the Housing Secretariat’s Tenant Advisory Committee, and key sector organizations such as the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA), the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness (TAEH), the Co-op Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT), and United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While the Strategy is focused on City-specific initiatives, immediate and complementary action is urgently needed from the federal and provincial governments. This includes new and enhanced investments to: grow the Community Housing sector; support low- and-moderate-income households to access and maintain their homes; improve access to supports and services; and build new affordable rental, co-operative and Rent-Geared-To-Income homes within complete communities.</p> |
| 135003 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | POSTPONE | — | N | — | Toronto Local Appeal Body - Chair's 2023 Annual Report | 2024.PH13.10 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>Enacted on May 3rd, 2017, the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB) is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal established through City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 142, Local Appeal Body, the City of Toronto Act, and other provincial legislation. The TLAB has all the powers of the Ontario Land Tribunal related to the hearing of appeals to Committee of Adjustment decisions for minor variance and consent applications under subsections 45(12), 53(14), 53(19) and 53(27) of the Planning Act.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The TLAB is composed of fourteen members including the Chair, Vice-Chair, and twelve Panel Members who are nominated by an impartial citizen-member nominating panel with recommendations for appointments submitted to City Council. City Council appoints Members of the TLAB for a four-year term of office.</p> | 13 | 10 | CMMTTEE | PH | All | N | … | Report | ACTION | Deferred | Main | — |
| 134895 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | — | N | — | 2024 Toronto Heritage Grant Awards | 2024.PH13.11 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This report recommends the approval of ten grants totalling $317,000.00 under the Toronto Heritage Grant Program. The recommended recipients will generate approximately $706,926.13 in private investment for work to conserve irreplaceable cultural heritage resources that contribute to the City's social and economic prosperity by maintaining Toronto's unique sense of place.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Toronto Heritage Grant Program provides matching grant funds for eligible heritage conservation work on residential properties or tax-exempt properties in the City of Toronto designated under Part IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). Applicants may receive a grant once every five years for up to 50% of the cost of eligible conservation work. Owners of house form buildings may receive up to $10,000.00 or, if replacing an entire cedar or slate roof assembly, up to $20,000.00 every ten years.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Owners of non-house form buildings and any tax-exempt properties including house form buildings may be eligible for a grant equivalent to 50% of the cost of eligible conservation work, with no maximum limit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Toronto Heritage Grant Program has a budget of $317,000.00 in the City Planning 2024 Operating Budget and is administered by Heritage Planning, City Planning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The properties that have been recommended for a grant award vary in size and location across Toronto. Several grant projects are at residential properties located in Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs), including properties located within the Cabbagetown North, Garden District, and Harbord Village Phase II Heritage Conservation Districts. In addition, there are a few notable Part IV-designated properties benefitting from heritage grants this year, including Don Valley Brickworks and Epiphany and St. Mark, Parkdale.</p> |
| 135115 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | NO_ACTN | — | N | — | 2024 Toronto Heritage Grant Awards | 2024.PH13.11a | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p> At its meeting on June 5, 2024 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB19.6 and made recommendations to City Council.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary from the report (May 21, 2024) from the Acting Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:</p>
<p><br />This report recommends the approval of ten grants totalling $317,000.00 under the Toronto Heritage Grant Program. The recommended recipients will generate approximately $706,926.13 in private investment for work to conserve irreplaceable cultural heritage resources that contribute to the City's social and economic prosperity by maintaining Toronto's unique sense of place.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Toronto Heritage Grant Program provides matching grant funds for eligible heritage conservation work on residential properties or tax-exempt properties in the City of Toronto designated under Part IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). Applicants may receive a grant once every five years for up to 50 percent of the cost of eligible conservation work. Owners of house form buildings may receive up to $10,000.00 or, if replacing an entire cedar or slate roof assembly, up to $20,000.00 every ten years.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Owners of non-house form buildings and any tax-exempt properties including house form buildings may be eligible for a grant equivalent to 50 percent of the cost of eligible conservation work, with no maximum limit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Toronto Heritage Grant Program has a budget of $317,000.00 in the City Planning 2024 Operating Budget and is administered by Heritage Planning, City Planning.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The properties that have been recommended for a grant award vary in size and location across Toronto. Several grant projects are at residential properties located in Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs), including properties located within the Cabbagetown North, Garden District, and Harbord Village Phase II HCDs. In addition, there are a few notable Part IV-designated properties benefitting from heritage grants this year, including Don Valley Brickworks and Epiphany and St. Mark, Parkdale.</p> |
| 134960 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | — | N | — | 522 University Avenue - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act | 2024.PH13.12 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 522 University Avenue under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value according to the Statement of Significance, including a description of Heritage Attributes, found in Attachment 1.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Located on the southwest corner of University Avenue and Elm Street, the property at 522 University Avenue contains a 15-storey office building constructed between 1971 and 1974. Designed by the prominent architect John C. Parkin for the National Life Assurance Company of Canada, the Modernist building is characterized by the uniform treatment of its tower façades in precast concrete, and a double-height, wedge-shaped colonnade at three sides which extend the public space along University Avenue, Elm Street and Simcoe Street. The building contributes to the monumental streetscape of University Avenue as developed in the post-WWII era and the site at 522 University Avenue represents the location of Toronto-based National Life Assurance Company of Canada's offices for nearly 95 years.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Staff have determined that the property at 522 University Avenue has cultural heritage value, meeting a total of 5 of 9 of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As of July 1, 2021, Section 29(1.2) of the Ontario Heritage Act restricts City Council's ability to give notice of its intention to designate a property under the Act to within 90 days of a "Prescribed Event".</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The property at 522 University Avenue is subject to a Prescribed Event. On August 30, 2022, the City received Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan applications related to the proposed redevelopment of the subject property (22 192156 STE 11 OZ and 22 192155 STE 11 SA). A Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report (CHER) authored by ERA Architects and dated January 10, 2024 was submitted in support of the application and concludes that the property at 522 University Avenue meets 4 of the 9 criteria under Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The City Clerk sent a Notice of Complete Application on September 23, 2022.</p>
<p>The owner provided a waiver to extend the time period for Council to make a decision which expires on July 31, 2024. In order to meet prescribed timelines under the Ontario Heritage Act, Council must make a decision at its June 26-28, 2024 meeting to provide sufficient time for the City Clerk to issue a notice of intention to designate before the waiver expires.</p> |
| 135090 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | NO_ACTN | — | N | — | 522 University Avenue - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act | 2024.PH13.12a | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p> At its meeting on June 5, 2024 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB19.1 and made recommendations to City Council.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Summary from the report (May 21, 2024) from the Acting Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:</p>
<p> <br />This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 522 University Avenue under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value according to the Statement of Significance, including a description of Heritage Attributes, found in Attachment 1.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Located on the southwest corner of University Avenue and Elm Street, the property at 522 University Avenue contains a 15-storey office building constructed between 1971 and 1974. Designed by the prominent architect John C. Parkin for the National Life Assurance Company of Canada, the Modernist building is characterized by the uniform treatment of its tower façades in precast concrete, and a double-height, wedge-shaped colonnade at three sides which extend the public space along University Avenue, Elm Street and Simcoe Street. The building contributes to the monumental streetscape of University Avenue as developed in the post-WWII era and the site at 522 University Avenue represents the location of Toronto-based National Life Assurance Company of Canada's offices for nearly 95 years.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Staff have determined that the property at 522 University Avenue has cultural heritage value, meeting a total of 5 of 9 of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As of July 1, 2021, Section 29(1.2) of the Ontario Heritage Act restricts City Council's ability to give notice of its intention to designate a property under the Act to within 90 days of a "Prescribed Event".</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The property at 522 University Avenue is subject to a Prescribed Event. On August 30, 2022, the City received Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan applications related to the proposed redevelopment of the subject property (22 192156 STE 11 OZ and 22 192155 STE 11 SA). A Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report (CHER) authored by ERA Architects and dated January 10, 2024 was submitted in support of the application and concludes that the property at 522 University Avenue meets 4 of the 9 criteria under Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The City Clerk sent a Notice of Complete Application on September 23, 2022. The owner provided a waiver to extend the time period for Council to make a decision which expires on July 31, 2024. In order to meet prescribed timelines under the Ontario Heritage Act, Council must make a decision at its June 26-28, 2024 meeting to provide sufficient time for the City Clerk to issue a notice of intention to designate before the waiver expires.</p> |
| 135012 | REPORT | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | ADOPTED | — | N | — | Development Pipeline 2023 | 2024.PH13.13 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>The City Planning Division monitors development activity in Toronto. This report and the attached bulletin summarizes development activity over the past five years, offering insights into the city's growth and potential urban changes ahead.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The 2023 Development Pipeline is the largest recorded to-date and contains 800,889 residential units and 13,958,670 m² of non-residential gross floor area (GFA). Of the total residential units, 87% are not yet built and are either under review, in the development approvals process, or under construction. If all these residential units were completed and occupied, enough housing would be provided to accommodate an additional 1.12 million people over Toronto's 2023 population.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Between 2019 and 2023, City Council granted Official Plan Amendment or Rezoning approval to 38,428 units per year. Over the same period, 21,534 units per year were issued approval on a Site Plan Control Application and 17,576 units per year were built. Toronto's share of housing completions in the Greater Toronto Area has grown consistently and now delivers half of the region's new housing supply.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Development Pipeline demonstrates the diversity and geographic distribution of non-residential development in Toronto, providing opportunities to accommodate future employment across the city. With 1,736,850 m² of industrial land uses proposed, Employment Areas remain economically resilient and are attracting new investment.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Development Pipeline also illustrates the continuing changes to Toronto's complex and evolving urban structure. The magnitude of proposed development accentuates the importance of comprehensive long-range planning to manage growth, infrastructure and service delivery.</p> |
| 135014 | LETTER | N | N | MAIN | ACTION | AMENDED | — | N | — | The Future of Visitor Parking | 2024.PH13.14 | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | <p>City Council on May 22 and 23, 2024, referred Motion MM18.17 to the Planning and Housing Committee for consideration.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As increasingly new developments are being approved with minimal visitor parking. This will present some foreseeable challenges, especially in the suburbs where there is neither permitted street parking, nor sufficient public parking lots available. While owners choose to purchase a unit with or without a parking spot, they cannot choose whether friends and family live near enough to transit to visit without the use of a car. Having sufficient visitor parking is very important to ensure that people with visitors have somewhere for their visitors to park. Further, we want to ensure there is sufficient visitor parking to encourage social interactions rather than presenting visitor parking challenges that could exacerbate the already serious social isolation that is happening in our city.</p>
<p><br />For example, recently a developer in Willowdale proposed a 44-storey tower with 513 units with only 7 visitor parking spots, which we negotiated up to 14 spots. I believe this will still be too low to meet the demand of the residents of the building in an inner-suburb context. The impact of limited visitor parking will spill over to the surrounding areas resulting in illegal parking or having no parking left for visitors of those who live in longstanding surrounding communities. Taxpayers will have to absorb the costs of dealing with these challenges created by the cost savings enjoyed by developers in offering limited visitor parking in new high-density developments.</p>
<p><br />This motion requests staff to look into the greater need for visitor parking in suburban wards as part of their ongoing review of the parking requirements in the Zoning By-law.</p> |