Item - 2015.PG8.5

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council amend Attachment 1, "Proposed Official Plan Amendment" to the report (October 15, 2015) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning as follows:

a.  Policy 2.3.1, Healthy Neighbourhoods:
Deleting 3.e) and replacing with the following:

"e)  locate and screen service areas and access to underground parking, locate any surface parking so as to minimize impacts on adjacent properties in those Neighbourhoods, and enclose service and access areas where distancing and screening do not sufficiently mitigate visual and noise impacts upon adjacent properties in Neighbourhoods; and"

b.  Policy 4.1.5, Neighbourhoods, Paragraph 4:
Adding "For purposes of this policy, the word prevailing will mean most frequently occurring" following "in another geographic neighbourhood" so that Paragraph 4 now reads:

"The prevailing building type and physical character of a geographic neighbourhood will be determined by the predominant form of development in that neighbourhood. Some Neighbourhoods will have more than one prevailing building type or physical character. In such cases, a prevailing building type or physical character in one geographic neighbourhood will not be considered when determining the prevailing building type or physical character in another geographic neighbourhood. For purposes of this policy, the word prevailing will mean most frequently occurring."

 

c.  Policy 4.1.5, Neighbourhoods:
Deleting "and stacked townhouse" from the final sentence, so that it now reads:

 "Except for apartment buildings and larger townhouse developments with common underground garages, driveways to below-grade garages that are integral to residences will be discouraged."

d.  Policy 4.1.9 a), Neighbourhoods:
Deleting "appropriate and compatible with" and replacing with "proportionate to and respectful of" so that it now reads:

"a) have heights, massing and scale that are proportionate to and respectful of that permitted by the zoning for adjacent and nearby residential properties;"

e.  Policy 4.1.9, Neighbourhoods:
Adding the words "the development will" after "be reviewed under and" in the final sentence, so that it now reads:

"In situations where infill development can replicate the existing prevailing lot pattern to respect and reinforce the existing physical character of the geographic neighbourhood, the infill development application will be reviewed under and the development will conform with Policy 5." 

2.  City Council amend the Official Plan substantially in accordance with the recommended Official Plan Amendment appended as Attachment 1 to the report (October 15, 2015) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, as amended by Recommendation 1.

3.  City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the recommended Official Plan Amendment as may be required.

4.  City Council declare by resolution to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing that this Official Plan Amendment:

             a.  conforms with Provincial Plans or does not conflict with them;

             b.  has regard to the matters of Provincial Interest in Section 2 of the Planning Act; and

             c.  is consistent with policy statements issued under subsection 3(1) of the Planning Act.

This report presents the recommended policies for the Healthy Neighbourhoods, Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhoods policies of the Official Plan. The proposed policy changes are the result of extensive consultations with stakeholders including community associations, the general public, the development industry and City divisions and agencies, all which have helped to further refine the proposed policies to provide enhanced clarity and direction.

The recommended Official Plan amendment appended to this report as Attachment 1 incorporates changes to clarify, strengthen and refine the existing policies as they apply to residential lands. Attachment 2 illustrates how the Official Plan would read if the amendments proposed in Attachment 1 are adopted. The recommended changes support the Official Plan's goals to protect and enhance existing neighbourhoods and allow limited infill on underutilised apartment sites within Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhoods.

The proposed Official Plan Amendment implements the City's Tower Renewal Program by promoting the renewal and retrofitting of older residential apartment buildings.  The revised policies encourage small scale retail, institutional uses and community facilities at grade in apartment buildings to better serve area residents, particularly on sites that are not within walking distance of such facilities. Community gardens are also encouraged on apartment sites that are distant from shopping facilities offering fresh produce.

Pursuant to Section 26 of the Planning Act and in accordance with Council's direction at its May 5, 2015 meeting, this report and the proposed Official Plan amendment was tabled at the September 16, 2015 meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee enabling the public to have time to review and comment on the proposed amendments.  This report summarizes the recommended policy amendments which will be subject to a special statutory Public Meeting at the November 16, 2015 meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee.

This report presents the revised recommended policies for the Healthy Neighbourhoods, Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhoods sections of the Official Plan. The proposed policy changes are the result of extensive consultations with various stakeholders which included community associations, the general public, the development industry and City divisions and agencies, all which have helped to further refine the proposed policies to provide enhanced clarity and direction.

The proposed Official Plan amendment appended to this report as Attachment 1 incorporates specific changes to clarify, strengthen and refine the existing policies as they apply to residential lands. Attachment 2 illustrates how the Official Plan would read if the amendments proposed in Attachment 1 were adopted. These changes support the Official Plan's goals to protect and enhance existing neighbourhoods and allow limited infill on underutilised apartment sites within Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhoods.

The proposed Official Plan Amendment implements the City's Tower Renewal Program by promoting the renewal and retrofitting of older residential apartment buildings.  The revised policies encourage small scale retail, institutional uses and community facilities at grade in apartment buildings to better serve area residents, particularly on sites that are not within walking distance of such facilities. Community gardens are also encouraged on apartment sites that are distant from shopping facilities offering fresh produce.

On June 16, 2015, the statutory Open House to consider the proposed policies was held pursuant to Section 26 of the Planning Act, and in accordance with Council direction at its May 5, 6 and 7, 2015 meeting. This report and the proposed Official Plan Amendment, to be tabled at the Committee's September 16, 2015 meeting, will be brought back for consideration at a statutory Public Meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting on November 16, 2015.