Item - 2015.PG2.4

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to review the composition of the Committee of Adjustment and report back to the Executive Committee with recommendations on whether it is advisable to amend Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 4, Committee of Adjustment to periodically enable the rotation of panel members across districts to address application backlogs.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee:

1.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Chief Corporate Officer to report to the April 13, 2015 meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee on: 

a.  the resources needed to provide recordings at all Committee of Adjustment meetings, whether this can be achieved without additional staff,  and how recordings can proceed as soon as possible at all locations where recording equipment is currently available; and

b.  the scheduling of all meetings of the Committee of Adjustment in rooms with audio/visual recording equipment and record the meetings. 

2.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to give a presentation to the April 13, 2015 meeting of the Planning and Growth Management Committee on E-Service Delivery Program and Application Information Centre for Committee of Adjustment.

3.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to hold a roundtable with residents' associations and neighbourhood groups to gather feedback on improvements to the Committee of Adjustment and report to the Planning and Growth Management Committee in the second quarter of 2015 on the results.

4.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to report in the second quarter of 2015 to the Planning and Growth Management Committee on Committee of Adjustment improvements, such report to include:

a.  The cost implications of extending the public hearing notice area to 80 metres, 100 metres and 120 metres as well as options to defray or fund those costs;

b.  A delivery date for City Planning's review of the public notice and the public notice sign associated with the Committee Adjustment;

c.  A review of best practices related to public participation and communication from Committee of Adjustments-like processes from comparable jurisdictions outside Ontario;

d.  A delivery date for the use of the Application Information Centre by the public for Committee of Adjustment applications; and

e.  The feasibility of requiring a new notice and public hearing for any significant revision to a Committee of Adjustment application.

5.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report on the implications of expanding the notification area to 120 metres.  Additional cost associated with the expanded notice area are to be recovered through fees charged to applicants. Staff to report back on the timing to implement the expanded area based on when the new fee will be implemented. (merge with above request)

6.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to include, in Notices of Variance Applications, information that the application is within a Heritage Conservation District or is on the City's Heritage Registry

7.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to provide an annual review and additional training for Committee of Adjustment members on the operation of the Committee of Adjustment, changes to the Official Plan, Zoning By-law and other applicable legislation to assist members in the execution of their responsibilities.

8.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to consider designating staff member(s) in the Committee of Adjustment to assist the public with inquiries.

9.  Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report on all consent/severance applications to the Committee of Adjustment.

This report reviews the operation of the Committee of Adjustment and on-going work program actions intended to improve, among other matters, public awareness of Committee operations, public engagement and member training. The measures to further improve operations are proposed to be implemented in the 2014-2018 term.