August 25, 1998

URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

I am enclosing for your attention, Clause No. 15 contained in Report No. 7 of The Scarborough Community Council, headed: "Ontario Municipal Board Appeal - Group Homes", which was struck out by the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on July 29, 30 and 31, 1998, and referred to The Urban Environment and Development Committee for consideration.

Interim Contact,

Scarborough Community Council.

Margaret O'Neil

Encl.

CITY CLERK

Clause embodied in Report No. 7 of the Scarborough Community Council, which was before the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on July 29, 30, and 31, 1998.

15

Ontario Municipal Board Appeal - Group Homes

(City Council on July 29, 30 and 31, 1998, struck out and referred this Clause to the Urban Environment and Development Committee for consideration.)

The Scarborough Community Council recommends that City Council:

(1)direct that the Ontario Municipal Board appeal by the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto respecting Group Homes be withdrawn;

(2)request the Ontario Municipal Board to defer the hearing on the appeals filed by TheCatholic Childrens' Aid Society and The St. Leonard's Society of Metropolitan Toronto, with respect to Group Homes, in order for the City of Toronto to establish a position respecting these appeals; and

(3)adopt the recommendation contained in the following report from the Commissioner of Planning and Buildings, Scarborough, subject to directing that the report to be submitted to The Urban Environment and Development Committee in the last quarter of 1998 be first submitted to The Scarborough Community Council to permit the Community Council the opportunity to forward its comments thereon to The Urban Environment and Development Committee.

The Scarborough Community Council submits the following report (July14,1998) from the Commissioner of Planning and Buildings, Scarborough:

Purpose:

To advise Scarborough Community Council of the status of the above-mentioned appeal.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that staff report on this item to the Urban Environment and Development Committee at a meeting in the last quarter of this year.

Comments:

Background

The Council of the former City of Scarborough passed a By-law on September 2, 1997, to increase the distance between group homes in Scarborough from 300 metres to 800 metres. The former Metro Council adopted a Motion (attached), at its meeting held on October 8 and 9, 1997 to appeal the Scarborough By-law to the Ontario Municipal Board primarily on the grounds that the By-law was contrary to the intent of the policies of the Metropolitan Official Plan.

Two other agencies have also filed appeals: The Catholic Children's Aid Society and TheSt.Leonard's Society of Metropolitan Toronto. The effect of the new distance separation on these agencies would be to further limit possible locations for new group homes and to make most existing group homes legal non-conforming uses, with attendant restrictions.

Each of the former municipalities had different rules for locating group homes. Now that we have amalgamated, it may be desirable to harmonize the regulations. This issue should be dealt with by the Executive Director of Urban Planning and brought to Council's attention through a report to the Urban Environment and Development Committee, in the last quarter of 1998.

Contact Name:

Susan Filshie

Telephone: 396-4270

Facsimile: 396-4265

E-mail: filshie@city.scarborough.on.ca