Other Items Considered by the Committee(a) Toronto Perspective on GTA Transit Issues

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having received the following report:

(November 18, 1999) from the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission forwarding for information the TTC report (November 10, 1999), entitled "Toronto Perspective on GTA Transit Issues", which was considered by the Commission on November 17, 1999.

(b) Russell Hill Subway Train Accident of August 11, 1995 due Diligence Checklist Update

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having received the following report:

(December 10, 1999) from the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission forwarding for information the TTC report (November 5, 1999), entitled "Russell Hill Subway Accident of August 11, 1995 Due Diligence Checklist Update", which was considered by the Commission on December 8, 1999.

(c) Rail Safety Audit Report - American Public Transit Association

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having received the following report:

(December 9, 1999) from the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission forwarding for information the report (December 8, 1999), entitled "Rail Safety Audit Report - American Public Transit Association", which was considered by the Commission on December 8, 1999.

(d) Free Transit on Air Quality Advisory Days

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having received the following report:

(November 19, 1999) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer responding to the request on the source of revenue to finance the initiative of providing free transit on air quality advisory days and recommending that this report be received for information.

(e) Timelines for Sign By-laws

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having:

(1) received the report (December 22, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner, Urban Development Services; and

(2) requested the Acting Commissioner to forward his report on the harmonization of sign by-laws to the Steeles Avenue Sub-Committee for prior review before submitting it to the Planning and Transportation Committee.

(i) (December 22, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner, Urban Development Services informing Council of the schedule for the development of harmonized sign by-laws and recommending that this report be received for information;

(ii) (November 12, 1999) from the City Clerk, East York Community Council reporting having received the report (October 28, 1999) from the Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services and the communication (October 12, 1999) from the City Clerk;

(iii) (November 19, 1999) from Eva H. Gnissios, Vice President, Administration, Coffee Time advising of their vested interest in any new rules and regulations that may affect the sign by-laws;

(iv) (November 3, 1999) from the City Clerk, Planning and Transportation Committee outlining the action taken by the Planning and Transportation Committee at its meeting on November 1, 1999, with respect to the Acting Commissioner's report (October 18, 1999) and the responses from the Community Councils; and

(v) (October 18, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner, Urban Planning and Development Services reporting on the harmonization process for the sign by-law and recommending that this report be received for information.

(f) Organizational Structure for the New Committee of Adjustment

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having deferred sine die the report (November 29, 1999) from the City Clerk and related material.

(i) (November 29, 1999) from the City Clerk forwarding Clause No. 1 contained in Report No. 6 of the Planning and Transportation Committee, headed "Organizational Structure for the New Committee of Adjustment" which Council, at its meeting on November 23, 24 and 25, 1999, directed be struck out and referred back to the Planning and Transportation Committee for further consideration;

(ii) (December 1, 1999) from John Mastoras advising that the Parkview Hills Community Association passed a motion on November 8, 1999 "that the City's Ward 1 (East York) retain its own independent Committee of Adjustment or, alternatively, that Ward 1 be included as part of the City of Toronto's Committee of Adjustment rather than with that of (the former) Scarborough";

(iii) the following communications which were also before the Planning and Transportation Committee at its meeting of November 1, 1999:

(1) Appendices A to D appended to the report ((September 24, 1999) from the Acting Commissioner, Urban Planning and Development Services;

(2) communication (October 8, 1999) from Peter Milczyn, Chair, Lakeshore Planning Council, appended to the transmittal letter ((October 14, 1999) from the City Clerk, Etobicoke Community Council;

(3) communications (October 12, 1999) from J.F. Henderson and (October 5, 1999) from Clancy Delbarre, President, Highland Creek Community Association, appended to the transmittal letter (October 13, 1999) from the City Clerk, Scarborough Community Council;

(4) Appendix A (October 5, 1999) from the Chairman, Committee of Adjustment York Services and communication from William H. Roberts, Director, Swansea Area Ratepayers Association, appended to the transmittal letter (October 18, 1999) from the City Clerk, York Community Council;

(5) communication (October 27, 1999) from Robin Fraser, President, Rathnelly Area Resident's Association strongly supporting the continuation of the practice of evening meetings for the Committee of Adjustment; and

(6) communication (October 31, 1999) from Agnes Vermes, President, Leaside Property Owners' Association Incorporated requesting that the Committee of Adjustment meetings be held in the evenings and at the same location (East York) as in the past;

(iv) (January 5, 2000) from Richard Jessop, Chair, Confederation of Resident & Ratepayer Associations advocating that development issues impacting residential areas be heard during evening meetings of the Committees of Adjustment;

(v) (January 7, 2000) from Morry Smith, Vice President, Lansing Community Association Inc. requesting that a clear and detailed definition of the term "minor variance" is required, and that an opportunity to appeal a Committee of Adjustment decision, either to Council or the OMB, be permitted; and

(vi) (January 10, 2000) from Brian Athey, Chair, East York Committee of Adjustment submitting his verbal presentation to the Committee.

The following persons addressed the Committee with respect to the foregoing matter:

- Ben Loughlin

- Justin J. VanDette, Secretary, Parkview Hills Community Association (PHCA) and Chair, PHCA Municipal Affairs Committee (East York)

- Marion Lick, President, Willowdale Central Ratepayers' Association

- Barry Mcmonagle, President, Bayview Willowdale Homeowners' Association

- Brian Athey, Chair, Committee of Adjustment for East York

- Jim Hannah, Leaside Property Owners' Association

- Councillor Prue

- Councillor Pitfield

- Councillor Nunziata

(g) Implementation of New Practices for the Review of Development Applications

The Planning and Transportation Committee reports having recommended the adoption of the report (January 4, 2000) from the Acting Commissioner, Urban Development Services subject to amending Recommendation (2) to read:

"(2) that the delivery of planning services by the City Planning Division of Urban Development Services be implemented by an incremental increase with the addition of 20-25 staff to allow the City Planning Division to deal with Council's expectations in a phased manner. Increased resources for development approval partners could also be required;"

and in view of the financial impact of the above recommendations forwarded this matter directly to the Budget Advisory Committee for consideration in conjunction with the 2000 Operating Budget and reports having requested the Budget Advisory Committee to:

(1) advise the Chair and members of the Planning and Transportation Committee when this matter is being considered by the Budget Advisory Committee; and

(2) report back to the Planning and Transportation Committee for consideration by the Committee at its March 20, 2000 meeting, being the meeting when the Committee will be conducting its review of, and hearing public deputations on, the 2000 Operating Budget.

(January 4, 2000) from the Acting Commissioner, Urban Development Services reporting on two City Council requests relating to the implementation of New Practices for the Review of Development Applications and recommending that:

(1) the definition of Preliminary Report as contained in this report be approved;

(2) the Planning and Transportation Committee determine an appropriate direction for the delivery of planning services by the City Planning Division of Urban Development Services based on the status quo or the provision of additional staffing resources;

(3) if necessary, the Acting Commissioner of Urban Development Services, in consultation with all departments, agencies, boards and commissions involved in the development approval process, report back to the Planning and Transportation Committee on specific staffing resources required to deliver local and city-wide planning services efficiently including re-arrangements, re-allocations and/or new staff in time to be considered in the 2000 operating budget cycle; and

(4) the Acting Commissioner, Urban Development Services, report back to the Planning and Transportation Committee in December, 2000 with respect to the experience of delivering planning services with the staffing resources which have been approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Councillor Joanne Flint,

Chair

Toronto, January 10, 2000

Christine Archibald

Tel. (416) 392-7039