August 24, 1998
To:Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:Amendment to Existing By-laws that Delegate Planning Powers to Staff of Former
Metropolitan Toronto Municipalities.
Purpose:
To recommend an amendment to existing by-laws that delegate planning powers to staff of
the former municipalities of East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto,
York, and Metropolitan Toronto (the "former municipalities") in order to identify staff
positions that reflect the current structure of the Planning Division of Urban Planning and
Development Services.
Source of Funds:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)The City Solicitor, in consultation with the Commissioner of Urban Planning and
Development Services, bring forward a by-law(s) to the October 1, 1998 meeting of Council
to amend the existing delegation by-laws of the "former municipalities" so as to name the
Executive Director and Chief Planner and Community Planning Director of each of the
relevant district offices as the titled officials to whom previously delegated planning powers
remain delegated.
(2)That authority be granted for the introduction of the necessary Bills in Council.
Background:
The existing delegation by-laws of the former municipalities remain in effect until they are
repealed by City Council. The result is a variety of practices throughout the City since some
delegations of site plan approval power, for example, were limited and others were not.
Planning staff are currently reviewing and will soon be reporting on the introduction of a
harmonized by-law respecting the delegation of certain planning powers to staff. Delegation
of approval authority to the Commissioner and appropriate designates has proven to be a
significant streamlining and cost efficiency measure.
Discussion:
The issue at this time is that amendments to the provisions of existing delegation by-laws
are required before a new harmonized by-law can be recommended to Council and existing
by-laws can be repealed. Recent changes in the organizational structure of the Planning
Division mean that some of the titled officials and alternates named in the existing by-laws
have ceased or may soon cease to be employees of the City. Therefore, as an interim step,
the existing delegation by-laws should be amended to reflect the current structure of the
Planning Division. This will not in any way change the extent or nature of the powers
currently delegated to staff. If these amendments are not made, individuals responsible for
delegated approvals at a particular district office may not possess the power to approve
applications processed in that district.
Conclusions:
It is desirable and necessary to amend the existing delegation by-laws of the former
municipalities to name titled officials and alternates by position in accordance with the
Planning Division's current structure in order to ensure that the benefits of streamlined
development approvals are maintained. Pending the completion of my on-going review, I
will report on a harmonized and improved delegation by-law for the City.
Contact Name:
Raymond David, South District Office, 392-7188
Rob Dolan, North District Office, 395-7120
Reviewed by:
____________________________________________________________
Paul J. BedfordVirginia M. West
Executive Director and Chief PlannerCommissioner of Urban Planning and
City Planning DivisionDevelopment Services
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