Item - 2021.PH26.5

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to make a Minister's Zoning Order, pursuant to Section 47 of the Planning Act, for 150 Dunn Avenue to provide relief from the in-force zoning regulations in order to permit the development of the modular housing proposal as set out in Attachment 8 to the report (September 7, 2021) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and Executive Director, Housing Secretariat.

The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the community engagement undertaken, changes made to the proposal since originally submitted, and present the recommended plan and zoning relief sought for the modular housing proposal at 74, 82, 130, 150, 160, and 162 Dunn Avenue, 1-17 Close Avenue, and 74 and 78 Springhurst Avenue ("150 Dunn Avenue") in Parkdale-High Park (Ward 4). This proposal is advancing under the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) and will create approximately 51 supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness in partnership with the University Health Network (UHN) Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine and the United Way of Greater Toronto (UWGT).

The creation of modular affordable rental housing with support services is a key element of the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, which has an approval target of 18,000 supportive homes, including 1,000 modular homes, by 2030. To date, 100 modular homes were completed through Phase One at 11 Macey Avenue (Ward 20 - Scarborough Southwest) and 321 Dovercourt Road (formerly 150 Harrison Street) (Ward 9 - Davenport). Additional modular supportive housing proposals are underway that are targeted for completion by the end of 2021 and Spring of 2022.

The 150 Dunn Avenue site has been identified as suitable for construction of modular housing to create new affordable rental housing. The homes are targeted for occupancy by the spring of 2022.

City staff initiated a multi-channel community engagement process on June 3, 2021. City staff held a number of meetings with the Ward Councillor and community in June and July to provide information and obtain feedback on the proposal. A summary of engagement activities and the feedback received through the City's engagement consultant is included in Attachment 7.

Based on the review of the proposal and the comments received from the community engagement, and lessons learned on other modular housing sites, the proposal has been refined to:

• increase the size of the communal dining and lounge area, and increase the size of the tenant support area;
• improve the design of the building by adjusting the cladding design and adding coloured window coverings;
• refine the design of the outdoor amenity area and improve circulation and accessibility throughout the site;
• relocate the waste storage such that it is integrated within the building; and
• increase the number of healthy trees retained on the site. 

Collectively, these refinements respond to comments provided by City Staff, the Ward Councillor, members of the public and address commentary raised regarding the site, public realm and building design. The changes sensitively respond to the existing uses on site and in the surrounding area.

In response to the urgent need for providing affordable and supportive homes to the city's most vulnerable residents who are experiencing homelessness, and following City Council's request to prioritize planning and building approvals for these projects, staff recommend that City Council request the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to make a Minister's Zoning Order to provide the necessary relief to permit the construction of modular housing at this site. The Planning Act gives the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the power, by order, in respect of any lands in Ontario, to exercise any of the powers conferred on Council to zone lands and modify the zoning regulations for a given site. A Minister's Zoning Order would enable the City to more quickly implement the modular housing proposals.