July 22, 1998

 To:Chairman and Members, Etobicoke Community Council

 From:Karen V. Bricker, MCIP, Commissioner of Urban Development, Etobicoke

 Subject:By-law to Designate Certain Areas with High Concentrations of Rental Housing as Areas of Demolition Control within the former City of Etobicoke

File No. 300.12.3.1

Purpose :

 To designate all lands zoned for residential purposes, including commercial zones where residential uses are permitted, and containing five or more residential dwelling units, as areas of Demolition Control, within the former City of Etobicoke, in response to the repeal of the Rental Housing Protection Act.

 Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

 There are no funding sources or financial implications.

 Recommendation:

 It is recommended that the Etobicoke Community Council endorse the attached draft by-law to introduce Demolition Control for certain areas within the former City of Etobicoke, and, direct staff to forward same to the City of Toronto Council for adoption.

 Background:

 In a report to Etobicoke Community Council, dated June 24, 1998, regarding Condominium Conversion and the Demolition of Rental Housing, staff recommended that consideration be given to designating areas with high concentrations of rental housing as demolition control areas in response to the repeal of the Rental Housing Protection Act. The report noted that, unlike other former local area municipalities, Etobicoke implements demolition control through the use of site-specific by-laws, as opposed to on a more comprehensive basis. At its meeting of June 24, 1998, Etobicoke Community Council directed the Commissioner of Urban Development to prepare the necessary by-law and to report back to the next meeting of the Etobicoke Community Council on the criteria for designating demolition control areas.

 Comments:

 Staff have reviewed various options for implementing demolition control for areas containing rental housing and have concluded that the most effective and comprehensive approach would be to apply the control to specific zones as opposed to areas.

 The attached by-law, once enacted and passed by Toronto Council, will designate all lands zoned for residential and/or commercial purposes, and containing five or more residential dwelling units, as areas of Demolition Control within the former City of Etobicoke. Commercial properties have been included as residential uses are permitted as-of-right in certain commercial zones. Said wording corresponds to the definition for an apartment building as "a residential building or part thereof containing at least five dwelling units...", as contained in the Etobicoke Zoning Code.

 This regulation will allow Toronto Council to refuse to issue a permit to demolish all or part of a residential building, until such time as a building permit is issued, and/or to impose conditions prior to issuance. By-laws are already in force in the former Cities of York and Toronto which provide for the similar treatment of residential properties containing six or more residential dwelling units. The attached by-law has been reviewed by the City Solicitor and found to be acceptable.

 Conclusions:

 It is recommended that the attached draft by-law be forwarded to the City of Toronto Council for adoption.

 Contact Name:

L. Gary DysartTel: (416) 394-8233

Principal Planner, Policy and Information ServicesFax: (416) 394-6063

     Karen V. Bricker, MCIP

Commissioner of Urban Development

 Authority:Etobicoke Community Council

Report No.

Intended for first presentation to Council:

Adopted by Council:

  THE CORPORATION

OF THE CITY OF TORONTO

  BY-LAW No. 1998-

  To introduce Demolition Control for certain areas within the former City of Etobicoke.

  The Council of The Corporation of the City of Toronto HEREBY ENACTS as follows:

 1. That pursuant to Section 33 of the Planning Act, all lands zoned for residential and/or commercial purposes, and containing five or more residential dwelling units as defined in the Etobicoke Zoning Code, are hereby designated as areas of Demolition Control.

    ENACTED AND PASSED this day of A.D. 1998.

        MayorCity Clerk