Item - 2013.PG27.5
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Planning and Growth Management Committee on October 22, 2013 and was adopted with amendments.
PG27.5 - Framework for Considering City-wide Zoning By-law Regulations for Dwelling Room Accommodation
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Planning and Growth Management Committee:
1. Directed that, prior to any further consideration of extending the legalization of rooming houses, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards provide evidence that an effective strategy exists for the enforcement of illegal rooming houses.
2. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to revisit the plans for community consultation in rooming houses to create real opportunities for discussion and dialogue.
Origin
Summary
This report provides a framework for introducing city-wide zoning by-law regulations for "dwelling room accommodation", including a process for public consultation. A draft set of zoning regulations is provided in order to focus public deliberations. This type of shared residence has also been referred to as a rooming house or a single room occupancy building. New definitions related to dwelling room accommodation are proposed, along with qualifications to ensure a consistent minimum standard of design.
The framework concept of zoning and licensing regulations is intended to ensure city-wide consistency and effectiveness of both implementation and enforcement of this use. At the same, the framework approach allows for the various areas where this use is permitted to modify or add key provisions that accommodate local concerns.
As an initial framework, the report proposes that dwelling room accommodation be a permitted land use in most Residential Multiple (RM) zones, all Residential Apartment (RA) and Residential Apartment Commercial (RAC) zones as well as the mixed Commercial Residential (CR) and Commercial Residential Employment (CRE) zones across the City. The rooming house provisions found in the Residential (R) zone, based on the R2, R3, R4 and R4A zones of the former City of Toronto By-law 438-86, would be retained.
Amendments to the City-wide Zoning By-law should be implemented concurrently with an associated licensing regime. Changes to the rooming house licensing provisions in the Municipal Code, and enforcement practices are required to ensure consistency among all related standards across the City. This report has been prepared in consultation with the Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards. Consideration of these related regulatory frameworks by a Joint Committee, comprising both the Planning and Growth Management Committee and the Licensing and Standards Committee, is proposed.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-62371.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pg/comm/communicationfile-40622.pdf
(October 21, 2013) Letter from Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission (PG.New.PG27.5.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pg/comm/communicationfile-40624.pdf
(October 22, 2013) E-mail from Peter and Tatiana Toledo Clarke (PG.New.PG27.5.3)
Speakers
Councillor Shelley Carroll
Motions
That recommendation 2 of the report (September 30, 2013) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, be amended with the addition of "in April, 2014 " following "report".
That the recommendations in the report (September 30, 2013) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning be deleted and replaced as follows:
1. Prior to any further consideration of extending the legalization of rooming houses, that the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, provide evidence that an effective strategy exists for the enforcement of illegal rooming houses.
2. The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning revisit the plans for community consultation in rooming houses to create real opportunities for discussion and dialogue.