Improvement initiatives, service delivery and user engagement are tools that the Committee of Adjustment uses to provide valuable information to Toronto residents. Included on this page is future information on how to participate in annual engagement events with the Committee of Adjustment.

Participate and Provide Feedback

Participate in shaping the Committee of Adjustment Purpose Statement and Service Charter by providing feedback through our survey. We look forward to your participation!


Survey Public Consultation

The survey above contains a draft Purpose Statement and Service Charter for your review and comment. Answers to the survey are anonymous and will help to further refine this document to provide a shared understanding of the purpose of the Committee of Adjustment and the services it provides.

Opening and Closing Dates

The survey will be live from April 3-25 at 5:00p.m.

Review Refined Statement

Please check back on our webpage the week of May 5-19 to review a refined statement for further comment.

Finalization

Once finalized, the Committee of Adjustment Purpose Statement and Service Charter will serve as a document to provide a shared understanding of the Committee of Adjustment and be integrated into existing and new communication and education materials.


Background

In 2022, the City retained KPMG to conduct a review of the Committee of Adjustment (CoA) in order to improve the effective participation of the public and applicants in the public hearing process.

In order to improve the CoA, staff have already implemented some recommendations including:

  • annual update meetings with interested parties;
  • addressing virtual hearing technical challenges; and
  • implementing quarterly Panel Member training.

More CoA improvements are also underway including:

  • supporting equitable tenant participation in the public hearing process;
  • new Notice of Hearing and Notice of Decision templates;
  • a CoA Participation Handbook; and
  • Service Delivery improvements.

One of 15 KPMG improvement recommendations was to develop and communicate a clear purpose statement and service charter to align all interested parties around a shared understanding of the Committee of Adjustment.

Transformational Work Program

City Planning staff are undertaking a multi-year, transformational work program focused on improving users’ ability to participate in the Committee of Adjustment process and public hearings.

Final Report on Committee of Adjustment Review

At its May 5 and May 6, 2021 meeting, City Council directed the City Planning Division to retain a third-party consultant to conduct a review of the Committee of Adjustment. Broadly, the objective of the review was to identify recommendations to improve the effective participation of the public and applicants in the hearing process. From February to November 2022, KPMG conducted this review, holding extensive stakeholder consultations.

Report Findings and Results

KPMG’s Final Report on the Committee of Adjustment Review identified 15 recommendations to improve the public hearing process for members of the public and applicants and proposed a high-level implementation plan for their recommendations. This report was presented at the February 2023 Planning and Housing Committee meeting, along with a staff report supporting the recommendations.

Future Implementation

Staff established a multi-year implementation plan for the recommendations, with some improvements coming in 2023 and others in 2024-2025. In April 2024, City Planning staff delivered an implementation update to the Planning and Housing Committee.

As staff move forward with implementation, they continue to engage with all Committee of Adjustment users: experienced and inexperienced applicants, building industry representatives, resident groups and other community organizations, members of the public, Committee of Adjustment panel members, staff in the City Planning and Development Review Divisions, Legal Services, Toronto Building and other partners in development review.

Committee of Adjustment Annual In-Person Engagement

On May 6, 2025, City Planning staff from the Committee of Adjustment (CoA) office will hold an annual in-person engagement session with applicants and members of the public.

Updates

The meeting will provide an update on the implementation of the KPMG CoA Review recommendations, the larger CoA work plan, and the review of the KPMG Service Delivery Model.

Asking for Feedback

The meeting will also solicit feedback on new CoA participation materials, including the Purpose Statement and Service Charter, Participation Handbook, and Revised Notice templates. Meeting details are provided below.


Location and Time

Tuesday, May 6, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at City Hall (100 Queen Street West), Council Chambers/Members Lounge. There will be no virtual option for participation.


Registration

To participate in the engagement session please register online (opens in new window). Due to room capacity, we would ask that you please limit registration to 1-2 individuals per organization.


Questions and Information

If you have further questions regarding this engagement event, please contact Vanessa Covello, Project Manager, Committee of Adjustment at vanessa.covello@toronto.ca (opens in new window) or 416-394-8220.