May 25, 1999
To:Planning and Transportation Committee
From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services
Subject:Changes to the City's Planning Documents to Permit Second Suites As-of-Right
Purpose:
To update the Committee on achieving Council's May 11, 1999 directive that within 60-days
the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services amend the City's planning
documents to permit second suites as-of-right in all single- and semi-detached houses.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no additional funding or financial implications stemming from this report.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the Planning and Transportation Committee schedule a statutory public meeting for July
12, 1999, to consider proposed official plan and zoning by-law amendments which will allow
second suites as-of-right in all single- and semi-detached houses; and
(2)the appropriate City officials be authorized to undertake any necessary action to give
effect thereto, including preparing and introducing any necessary bills and giving notice of the
public meeting.
1.Background:
At its meeting on May 11 and 12, 1999, Council considered Notice of Motion J(3) respecting
a number of reports on the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force Final Report that were
before a Special Joint Meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee and
the Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee on May 3, 1999. The meeting was
not formally convened due to a lack of quorum. Motion J(3) was moved by the Chairs of the
two committees. The Motion referred to a report dated April 15, 1999 from the Commissioner
of Urban Planning and Development Services regarding "The Mayor's Homelessness Action
Task Force Final Report: Recommendations and Policy Directions related to the Housing
Policies of the Official Plan". The report included the following recommendation:
"It is recommended that the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services . . .
(5)prepare draft amendments to the City's Planning documents, for consideration by the
Planning and Transportation Committee, Community Councils and Council, to permit second
suites as-of-right in all single- and semi-detached houses, subject to appropriate building, fire
and planning standards being met and consistent with the approach taken in the 1994
provincial legislation".
Council amended the Motion by deleting Recommendation No. (5) and inserting the
following:
"5(a)within 60 days, amend the City's planning documents to permit second suites
as-of-right in all single and semi-detached houses, subject to appropriate building, fire and
property standards being met and consistent with the approach taken in the 1994 provincial
legislation;
(b)address the removal of unnecessary barriers to the creation of second suites while
maintaining the integrity of the building code, fire code and property standards".
This report outlines progress on these items.
2. Discussion:
To meet City Council's 60-day timeline, the Planning and Transportation Committee (PTC)
would have to recommend scheduling the statutory public meeting for July 12, 1999, at its
meeting on June 14, 1999, and authorize staff to place a notice of the public meeting in the
newspaper. The notice of the public meeting should appear in the newspaper no later than
June 17. The deadline for placing the notice is June 14. Council would consider PTC's
recommendations at its meeting on July 27, 28 and 29, 1999.
With respect to official plan amendments, the Planning Act requires that:
- the notice of public meeting include an explanation of the purpose and effect of the proposed
official plan amendments; and
- where and when a copy of the proposed official plan amendment and background materials,
if any, will be made available to the public.
The requirements for zoning by-law amendments are slightly different as the Act does not
require that a copy of the proposed zoning by-law amendment be made available but does
require the notice to include an explanation of the purpose and effect of the proposed zoning
by-law and where and when additional information regarding the proposed zoning by-law will
be available to the public for inspection. More time is provided to prepare the details and
technicalities usually included in zoning by-law amendments. The zoning by-law amendments
would be ready for the public meeting.
Therefore, draft official plan amendments and explanations of proposed zoning by-laws
amendments must be available for public viewing at the Clerks Office in all the municipal
civic centre offices by June 17. Staff are reviewing the City's Official Plans and Zoning
By-laws and have begun the work necessary to meet the June 17 deadline. Therefore, it is
recommended that the PTC schedule a statutory public meeting for July 12, 1999, to consider
proposed official plan and zoning by-law amendments which will allow second suites
as-of-right suites in all single- and semi-detached houses.
Contact:
Ross Paterson (392-7863)Matt Rea (392-8124)
Principal PlannerPlanner
Reviewed by:
Paul J. BedfordVirginia M. West
Executive Director and Chief PlannerCommissioner of Urban Planning
City Planning Divisionand Development Services
