Item - 2022.PH31.1

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend the Official Plan, substantially in accordance with the recommended Official Plan Amendment attached as Amendment 1 to the report (January 27, 2022) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

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

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on February 15, 2022 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report recommends amendment to the City of Toronto Official Plan, in order to establish a consistent city-wide approach to public safety for development when a complete application to introduce, develop or intensify land uses in proximity to rail facilities is submitted.

The recommended Official Plan Amendment will introduce a new section, Section 3.6 Rail Facilities and Public Safety which will contain policies related to the requirements for a Rail Safety and Risk Mitigation Report for developments that propose to introduce a new or intensified land use within the area of influence of rail facilities. A recommended amendment to Schedule 3, Application Requirements incorporates the requirement for a Rail Safety and Mitigation Report for development within 30 metres of the property line for rail facilities. The Official Plan Amendment would require proposed development of new or intensified land uses to consider proximity to rail facilities and public safety in relation to rail facilities in a consistent manner.

Staff consider this approach to be an appropriate balance of provincial interests as identified by the Planning Act and are of the opinion the approach described in this Report and the amendments set out in Attachments 1 and 2 are consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and conform with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020) as amended. Staff recommend that the Official Plan Amendment be adopted as set out in Attachment 1 of this Report.