July 29, 1999 To:East York Community Council
Etobicoke Community Council
North York Community Council
Scarborough Community Council
Toronto Community Council
York Community Council
Subject:New Practices For The Review Of Development Applications
From:City Clerk, Planning and Transportation Committee
Recommendation:
The Planning and Transportation Committee:
(1)referred the attached report (June 25, 1999) from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development
Services respecting New Practices for the Review of Development Applications to Community Councils for review
and comment back to the Planning and Transportation Committee for its meeting on October 4, 1999; and
(2)requested each Community Council to schedule deputations from the public on this report.
For the information of Community Councils, the Committee reports having requested that:
(1)notice of meetings of Community Councils be given by way of a newspaper advertisement using plain language;
(2)copies of the report be distributed to resident and ratepayers groups in the City of Toronto;
(3)Councillor Filion forward his suggested amendments to the foregoing report to the Acting Commissioner of Urban
Planning and Development Services for consideration by the Community Councils; and
(4)the Acting Commissioner develop an informal process to better educate the Community Councils on the proposed
changes
Background:
At its meeting on July 12, 1999, the Planning and Transportation Committee gave consideration to the attached report
(June 25, 1999) from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services proposing new practices for the
review of development applications and for the delivery of City Planning services across the City and recommending that:
(1)this report be referred to the Community Councils for review and comment to the Planning and Transportation
Committee for its October 4, 1999 meeting;
(2)Council endorse the following principles as the foundation for new practices in City Planning:
(i)delegation of authority to staff, as permitted by statute, to approve applications for site plan control approval, various
classes of consents, draft condominium approval (except for conversion of rental housing) and authority to execute, amend
and release site plan agreements on behalf of the City;
(ii)a case management system which provides for a continuity of planning staff assignment from the beginning to the
completion of any project;
(iii)a one-window review and comment process which is streamlined to the essential agencies and which establishes time
frames for responses;
(iv)use of preliminary evaluation reports, for applications to amend the official plan or zoning by-law, to identify issues,
set up a community consultation process and to establish a target for delivery of a final recommendation report and
statutory public meeting;
(v)provision for roundtable meetings between applicants and empowered staff from City departments to identify issues,
technical studies needed and other relevant matters early in the review process;
(vi)use of plain language and common formats in reports to Council, notices to the public and agreements related to
development approvals; and
(vii)use of informal and formal dispute resolution throughout the approval process o avoid appeals and referrals to the
Ontario Municipal Board
(3)the City Solicitor be directed to prepare by-laws for presentation to and approval by City Council as follows:
(i)to delegate authority to approve applications for site plan control approval to the Chief Planner or delegate(s), subject
to a provision for the Ward Councillor(s) to request a "bump-up" to City Council for approval;
(ii)to establish areas of site plan control on a consistent basis across the City, establishing appropriate thresholds defining
the intensity of development or redevelopment which would require the submission of an application for site plan approval
as detailed in this report;
(iii)to delegate authority to grant draft condominium approvals except for applications involving the conversion of rental
housing, and exemptions from draft approval as appropriate, to the Chief Planner or delegate(s);
(iv)to delegate approval authority for the creation of new lots by consent to the Committee of Adjustment as permitted
under Section 54 of the Planning Act;
(v)to delegate approval authority for all consents, other than the creation of new lots, to the Secretary-Treasurer of the
Committee of Adjustment or delegate(s) in accordance with Section 54(2) of the Planning Act; and
(vi)to delegate authority to execute, amend and release agreements as required, to the Chief Planner or delegate(s);
(4)the City Solicitor be authorized and directed to prepare and present for Council approval,standard form agreements as
required and authorized by the Planning Act and any other statutes to replace standard form agreements currently in use;
(5)Council request the Province of Ontario to amend the Planning Act to delete the requirements for a public meeting in
conjunction with plans of subdivision;
(6)staff be authorized to accept certificates of completion from Provincially registered professionals as proof of
compliance with City requirements and Provincial statutes with regard to site plan approval and condominium registration;
(7) staff be directed to bring forward any amendments to the Official Plans of the former municipalities required to
implement the findings of this report;
(8) staff be directed to bring forward a report to the Planning and Transportation Committee recommending a new
structure for the Committee(s) of Adjustment;
(9)staff be directed to bring forward a report to the Planning and Transportation Committee recommending new practices
for harmonizing the Committee of Adjustment function; and
(10)staff in the Urban Planning and Development Services Department, Corporate Services Department, Economic
Development Culture and Tourism Department, and Works and Emergency Services Department, be authorized to
undertake necessary actions to give effect to these recommendations.
Yours truly,
City Clerk
Christine Archibald
Item 5
cc:Acting Commissioner or Urban Planning and Development Services - Attn: Ted Tyndorf, Director, Community
Planning, East District