Item - 2020.PH19.4
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Planning and Housing Committee on December 8, 2020 and was adopted with amendments.
PH19.4 - Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods - Garden Suites Review
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Planning and Housing Committee:
1. Endorsed the contents of the report (November 24, 2020) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning as the basis for public consultation.
2. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to prepare a report with necessary recommendations to permit Garden Suites in the second quarter of 2021.
3. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to provide specific consideration to existing garden suite and coach house dwellings, and consider incorporating any concurrent policies necessary to grandfather in these units, including a pathway to compliance, as part of the report back in the second quarter of 2021.
Origin
Summary
The City Planning Division is working on a range of initiatives to safeguard and broaden our housing supply through the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) work program. This work plan builds on recent work in support of secondary and laneway suites, Inclusionary Zoning and dwelling room protections. Enabling more variety in the housing that can be built in the city’s neighbourhoods is another part of Housing Action Plan to increase housing choice and access for current and future residents of Toronto.
The Garden Suites Review is part of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) work program. The Garden Suites review will expand upon the findings of the Laneway Suites initiative to add as-of-right options for Garden Suite units within Neighbourhoods city-wide.
A Garden Suite is a detached accessory dwelling unit generally located in the rear yard of a detached house, semi-detached house, townhouse, or other low-rise dwelling. It is generally smaller in scale than the main house on the lot and functions as a separate rental housing unit. Garden Suites are similar in form and function to Laneway Suites, which are currently permitted across the City in all low-rise residential zones in the City-wide Zoning By-law.
The Garden Suites review is exploring and developing potential Official Plan, Zoning By-law, and other regulatory amendments, as necessary, to permit Garden Suites as-of-right within the City, subject to a range of criteria. This report summarizes the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods initiative, relevant policy background, asks preliminary questions and details potential regulations regarding the form, scale, and location of garden suites, and other regulations. In Q1 2021, City Planning will consult with interested stakeholders on potential permissions for Garden Suites in the City of Toronto and report to Planning and Housing Committee with recommendations by the end of Q2 2021.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-158835.pdf
Communications
(December 1, 2020) E-mail from Kurt Krumme (PH.New.PH19.4.2)
(December 1, 2020) E-mail from Hugh Merson (PH.New.PH19.4.3)
(December 1, 2020) E-mail from Trevor McLeod (PH.New.PH19.4.4)
(December 1, 2020) E-mail from Lisa McGill (PH.New.PH19.4.5)
(December 1, 2020) E-mail from Dena Roudka (PH.New.PH19.4.6)
(December 1, 2020) E-mail from Cynthia Cao (PH.New.PH19.4.7)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Eric Martin (PH.New.PH19.4.8)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Chris Dardarian (PH.New.PH19.4.9)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Trevor Bond (PH.New.PH19.4.10)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Manny Alvarez (PH.New.PH19.4.11)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Vanessa Fong (PH.New.PH19.4.12)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Anne Renshaw (PH.New.PH19.4.13)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Daniel Hall (PH.New.PH19.4.14)
(December 1, 2020) E-mail from Philip Shea (PH.New.PH19.4.15)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Dana Dineen (PH.New.PH19.4.16)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Jennifer Cruickshank (PH.New.PH19.4.17)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Kirk and Sharon Donaldson (PH.New.PH19.4.18)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Robert Kelly (PH.New.PH19.4.19)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from May Dumont (PH.New.PH19.4.20)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Adrienne Scott (PH.New.PH19.4.21)
(December 2, 2020) Letter from Michelle Senayah, The Laneway Project (PH.New.PH19.4.22)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/comm/communicationfile-124621.pdf
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Jeff Harti (PH.New.PH19.4.23)
(December 2, 2020) Letter from Andy Tran, Suite Additions Inc. (PH.New.PH19.4.24)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/comm/communicationfile-124594.pdf
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from Effie Carson (PH.New.PH19.4.25)
(December 3, 2020) E-mail from Andreas Metzner (PH.New.PH19.4.26)
(December 2, 2020) E-mail from John Maedel (PH.New.PH19.4.27)
(December 3, 2020) E-mail from Simon Routh (PH.New.PH19.4.28)
(December 3, 2020) E-mail from Ryan Cousins (PH.New.PH19.4.29)
(December 3, 2020) E-mail from Mike Bieber (PH.New.PH19.4.30)
(December 3, 2020) E-mail from Peter and Jillian McCracken (PH.New.PH19.4.31)
(December 3, 2020) E-mail from Holly Gnaedinger and Al Merson (PH.New.PH19.4.32)
(December 3, 2020) Letter from Sean Gailbraith, Galbraith and Associates (PH.New.PH19.4.33)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/comm/communicationfile-124679.pdf
(December 4, 2020) E-mail from Philip Kocev (PH.New.PH19.4.34)
(December 4, 2020) E-mail from Daniel Cayen (PH.New.PH19.4.35)
(December 4, 2020) E-mail from Tom Kinezic (PH.New.PH19.4.36)
(December 4, 2020) E-mail from Peter Fallico (PH.New.PH19.4.37)
(December 4, 2020) E-mail from Barbara Treviranus (PH.New.Ph19.4.38)
(December 6, 2020) E-mail from Mark J. Richardson (PH.New.PH19.4.39)
(December 6, 2020) E-mail from Marc Morisset (PH.New.PH19.4.40)
(December 6, 2020) E-mail from Rohan Walters (PH.New.PH19.4.41)
(December 7, 2020) E-mail from Deborah Mesher (PH.New.PH19.4.42)
(December 7, 2020) Letter from Uri Ron-Amit (PH.New.PH19.4.43)
(December 7, 2020) E-mail from Nicole Leaper (PH.New.PH19.4.44)
(December 7, 2020) E-mail from Brad Nelson (PH.New.PH19.4.45)
(December 7, 2020) Letter from Blair Scorgie (PH.New.PH19.4.46)
(December 7, 2020) E-mail from Carla Crawford (PH.New.PH19.4.47)
(December 7, 2020) Letter from Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence (PH.New.PH19.4.48)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/comm/communicationfile-124802.pdf
(December 7, 2020) E-mail from Edith Young (PH.New.PH19.4.49)
(December 7, 2020) Letter from Michelle German, Vice-President, Vice-President, Policy and Strategy, Woodgreen and Craig Ruttan, Policy Director, Energy, Environment and Land Use, Toronto Region Board of Trade (PH.New.PH19.4.50)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/comm/communicationfile-124817.pdf
(December 7, 2020) Letter from George Emerson and Mark Campbell, Roncesvalles Macdonell Residents Association (PH.New.PH19.4.51)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/comm/communicationfile-124805.pdf
(December 8, 2020) E-mail from Joel Gilbert Anderson (PH.New.PH19.4.52)
(December 8, 2020) Letter from Geoff Kettel, Co-Chair and Cathie Macdonald, Co-Chair, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations (PH.New.PH19.4.53)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/comm/communicationfile-124808.pdf
(December 8, 2020) E-mail from Geoff Mortson (PH.New.PH19.4.54)
(December 8, 2020) E-mail from Stepheanie Beaune (PH.New.PH19.4.55)
(December 8, 2020) E-mail from Rod Wilson (PH.New.PH19.4.56)
(December 8, 2020) Letter from Christian Chan, C2 Planning (PH.New.PH19.4.57)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/ph/comm/communicationfile-124811.pdf
(December 8, 2020) E-mail from Sara Rowshanbin (PH.New.PH19.4.58)
Speakers
Craig Ruttan, Toronto Region Board of Trade
Paul Gorrie, Moss Sund Architects
Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence
Cathie Macdonald, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations
Rod Wilson
Motions
That:
1. The Planning and Housing Committee request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Chief Building Official, and Executive Director, Toronto Building to provide specific consideration to existing garden suite and coach house dwellings, and consider incorporating any concurrent policies necessary to grandfather in these units, including a pathway to compliance, as part of the report back in the second quarter of 2021.