Item - 2019.PH4.5
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on April 16, 2019 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Planning and Housing Committee on April 4, 2019 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on April 16, 2019.
- See also By-law 1133-2019
PH4.5 - Committee of Adjustment Panel Size and Structure
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on April 16 and 17, 2019, adopted the following:
1. City Council amend the composition of the Committee of Adjustment in Chapter 4 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code by:
a. increasing the number of panel members to 35; and
b. eliminating specific panels per district while stipulating the number of panel members per district as follows:
1. Etobicoke York: 8 panel members;
2. North York: 10 panel members;
3. Toronto and East York: 12 panel members; and
4. Scarborough: 5 panel members.
2. City Council authorize and direct the City Solicitor to introduce any necessary bills needed to give effect to the amendments to Chapter 4 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code.
3. City Council direct that all meetings of the Etobicoke York panel(s) of the Committee of Adjustment be held at the Etobicoke Civic Centre.
4. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back to the Planning and Housing Committee by the third quarter of 2019 on the ongoing review of the Committee of Adjustment and related processes as directed by Executive Committee on Item 2018.EX35.7 at its June 19, 2018 meeting, including any related recommendations identified in the comprehensive divisional assessment of the development review process, at the discretion of the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.
5. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back on the feasibility of Committee of Adjustment hearings to commence at 1:00 p.m. with proceedings to continue into evening hours, to improve accessibility for residents.
6. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to publish the Committee of Adjustment Rules and Procedures document on the City of Toronto website, including contact information for general inquiries on these rules and procedures.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-131026.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ph/comm/communicationfile-93210.pdf
(April 3, 2019) Letter from Geoff Kettel and Cathie Macdonald, Co-Chairs, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations (PH.New.PH4.5.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ph/comm/communicationfile-93309.pdf
(April 3, 2019) Letter from Ron Jamieson, MBA, P.Eng., Director, Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (PH.New.PH4.5.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ph/comm/communicationfile-93329.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back to the Planning and Housing Committee by the third quarter of 2019 on the ongoing review of the Committee of Adjustment and related processes as directed by Executive Committee on item EX35.7 at its June 19, 2018 meeting, including any related recommendations identified in the comprehensive departmental assessment of the development review process, at the discretion of the Chief Planner.
2. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back on the feasibility of Committee of Adjustment hearings to commence at 1:00 p.m. with proceedings to continue into evening hours, to improve accessibility for residents.
3. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to publish the Committee of Adjustment Rules and Procedures document on the City of Toronto website, including contact information for general inquiries on these rules and procedures.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Apr-17-2019 2:57 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - PH4.5 - Robinson - motion 1 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 24 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Ana Bailão, Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Cynthia Lai, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Mark Grimes, John Tory |
PH4.5 - Committee of Adjustment Panel Size and Structure
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:
1. City Council amend the composition of the Committee of Adjustment in Chapter 4 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code by:
a. increasing the number of panel members to 35; and
b. eliminating specific panels per district while stipulating the number of panel members per district as follows:
1. Etobicoke York: 8 panel members
2. North York: 10 panel members
3. Toronto and East York: 12 panel members
4. Scarborough: 5 panel members
2. City Council authorize and direct the City Solicitor to introduce any necessary bills needed to give effect to the amendments to Chapter 4 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code.
3. City Council direct that all meetings of the Etobicoke York panel(s) of the Committee of Adjustment be held at the Etobicoke Civic Centre.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Planning and Housing Committee:
1. Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report to the Planning and Housing Committee by the end of 2019 on additional options to improve service standards for the Committee of Adjustment, such as creating a separate stream for less complex applications and any small zoning by-law amendments necessary; and as part of that report, to provide a breakdown of applications according to building type, size, complexity and nature of variance.
Origin
Summary
This report recommends various changes to the Committee of Adjustment (CoA) panel size and structure prior to the appointment of new panel members for the 2018-2022 CoA term.
City Planning recommends increasing the CoA membership from 30 to 35 members, with two of the additional members assigned to the Toronto and East York (TEY) district and three to the Etobicoke York (EY) district. City Planning also recommends that panel members be assigned to a district rather than a particular panel within a district.
Further, staff recommend that all CoA hearings in the Etobicoke York district be held at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, rather than be split between the Etobicoke Civic Centre and the York Civic Centre. The practice of holding hearings at two locations, which began as a pilot project, should be discontinued. The Etobicoke York panel is the only panel required to attend public hearings at two separate facilities and it is difficult to maintain customer service standards and provide equitable treatment to all CoA applicants in the Etobicoke York district, given the decreasing proportion of applications in the former municipality of York.
The changes recommended in this report will improve customer service and lead to administrative efficiencies.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-131026.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ph/comm/communicationfile-93210.pdf
(April 3, 2019) Letter from Geoff Kettel and Cathie Macdonald, Co-Chairs, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations (PH.New.PH4.5.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ph/comm/communicationfile-93309.pdf
(April 3, 2019) Letter from Ron Jamieson, MBA, P.Eng., Director, Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (PH.New.PH4.5.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ph/comm/communicationfile-93329.pdf
Speakers
Jon-Carlos Tsilfidis, BILD Renovator Government Relations Committee
Paula Tenuta, Building Industry and Land Development (BILD)
Motions
That:
The Planning and Housing Committee direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report to the Planning and Housing Committee by the end of 2019 on additional options to improve service standards for the Committee of Adjustment, such as creating a separate stream for less complex applications and any small zoning by-law amendments necessary; and as part of that report, to provide a breakdown of applications according to building type, size, complexity and nature of variance.