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
The Etobicoke Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report
(July 22, 1998) from the Commissioner of Urban Development, Etobicoke District:
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 Dysart, Principal Planner, Policy and Information Services
Tel: (416) 394-8233; Fax: (416) 394-6063
(The attachment referred to in the foregoing report was forwarded to all Members of
Council with the agenda of the Etobicoke Community Council meeting of July 22, 1998,
and copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)