Item - 2013.PG29.5
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Planning and Growth Management Committee on December 4, 2013 and was adopted with amendments.
PG29.5 - Draft Official Plan Policies for Implementing a Development Permit System
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Planning and Growth Management Committee:
1. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to consult with the public and key stakeholders on the matter of implementing a development permit system based on the draft Official Plan policies appended in Attachment 1 to the report (November 6, 2013) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.
2. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to conduct a community consultation process which would obtain comments and feedback with respect to the draft Official Plan policies that may implement a development permit system. The community consultation process would include:
a. Meetings with clusters of resident associations and condo boards, in consultation with members of Council.
b. A combined open house and public meeting format consultation to be held in each planning district.
3. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back on April 10, 2014 on the outcome of the community consultation exercise.
4. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning bring forward terms of a pilot project in the King Spadina Planning District as part of any consultation and report on an implementation process as part of any final report.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Director, Community Planning, City Planning, made a presentation to the Planning and Growth Management Committee.
Origin
Summary
This report is about a more effective and efficient means of development approval in the City. The development permit system offers an opportunity for an alternative approach to the site specific rezoning approval process. It encompasses area-based planning at a neighbourhood scale and provides an effective means of securing certainty of outcome as well as specified community facilities. The development permit system incorporates all the benefits of a site specific rezoning process without the need for an amendment process and possible subsequent appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.
The draft Official Plan policies appended to this report (Attachment 1) would authorize the implementation of a development permit system in the City of Toronto. The development permit system is a process for development approval that replaces zoning by-laws, Committee of Adjustment approvals for minor variances and Site Plan approval, by combining these procedures, as well as Section 37 agreements into one. The development permit system would apply on an area basis, at the scale of an individual neighbourhood. A comprehensive plan for the future development of an area would be prepared based on background planning studies and community input. This vision for the area would be captured in a thorough list of development criteria that would be enacted by City Council in a development permit by-law. Subsequently, a development permit would have to be obtained before a building permit could be issued.
The Planning Act requires that the Official Plan incorporate policies setting out the regulatory requirements for a development permit system, including the goals, objectives and scope of the delegated authority for issuing development permits. The types of criteria and conditions that may be included in any development permit by-law must also be set out in policies of the Official Plan.
Adoption of the recommended draft Official Plan policies will not immediately put into effect a development permit system in the City. The policies must be in place for City Council to consider enacting an area-based development permit by-law. The procedural requirements to enact a development permit by-law are similar to those of a zoning by-law: including notice, public consultation and automatic appeal rights.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-64067.pdf
(December 4, 2013) Presentation on The Development Permit System
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-64558.pdf
Speakers
Jessica Wilson, Ossington Community Association
Geoff Kettel, Co-Chair, Federation of North Toronto Residents Associations
Kathryn Holden, Bay Cloverhill Community Association
Mary Helen Spence, ABC Residents Association
Motions
1. That Recommendation 2 be replaced with the following:
"That the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning conduct a community consultation process which would obtain comments and feedback with respect to the draft Official Plan policies that may implement a development permit system. The community consultation process would include:
a. Meetings with clusters of resident associations and condo boards, in consultation with members of Council.
b. A combined open house and public meeting format consultation to be held in each planning district.
2. That Recommendation 3 be deleted and replaced with:
"The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning report back on April 10, 2014 on the outcome of the community consultation exercise."
That the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning bring forward terms of a pilot project in the King Spadina Planning District as part of any consultation and report on an implementation process as part of any final report.