Item - 2017.PG21.3

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council direct the City Planning Division to apply the draft "Growing Up Guidelines" appended as Attachment 4 to the report (May 11, 2017) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in the evaluation of new and under review multi-unit residential development proposals.

2.  City Council direct the City Planning Division to consult with the design and development communities on the draft "Growing Up Guidelines" appended as Attachment 4 to the report (May 11, 2017) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, through the development approvals process and report back on proposed modifications if required by the end of the first quarter of 2018.

3.  City Council direct the City Planning Division to use the draft "Growing Up Guidelines" and findings from the Growing Up: Planning for Children in New Vertical Communities study to inform future Official Plan policies updated or new Secondary Plans and Site and Area Specific Policies, Area Studies and Urban Design Guidelines.

4.  City Council request the City Planning Division to monitor the Growing Up guidelines and report back on the implementation results in 2019.

5.  City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the General Manager, Children's Services to advance the 10-year Child Care Growth Strategy by prioritizing space for non-profit licensed child care facilities in new developments as part of the City's Capital Budget or as a Section 37 Community Benefit.

The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning gave a joint presentation on the following agenda items: 2016 Annual Report, How Does the City Grow? and Growing Up: Planning for Children in New Vertical Communities.

In 2015, the City Planning Division initiated a study entitled, Growing Up: Planning for Children in New Vertical Communities (the Study). The Study explored how new multi-unit residential buildings/vertical neighbourhoods can better accommodate the needs of households with children. 

The objectives of the study are rooted in the Official Plan vision to create an attractive, safe and healthy city where children are valued and residents have access to housing, support services and recreational activities.  The study outcome has resulted in draft   guidelines to implement Official Plan policies that highlight the importance of integrated community facilities and amenities, the need for a comfortable and safe public realm and the creation of a range of housing options in communities.   

The draft Growing Up guidelines were developed through a consultation strategy that sought to understand the specific needs of families living in vertical communities as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by architects, landscape architects and developers of mid and high rise buildings.  The draft Guidelines have been informed by other City Divisions, School Boards and the Toronto Public Library all of whom provide services and facilities to households with children and youth.  Structured into the Study's three scales - the neighbourhood, the building and the unit - the Growing Up guidelines take a comprehensive approach to building a child-friendly city.

Housing affordability is an important component of the Official Plan objective to provide a full range of housing. The draft Growing Up Guidelines encourage the development of long-term supply and availability of housing suitable for larger households. Tools for further addressing the need for affordable housing will require additional policy measures in addition to investment from all orders of government. The draft Guidelines will help to inform a number of upcoming housing policy initiatives, including inclusionary zoning policies, the Official Plan Review of the Large Sites policy and the use of Section 37 for new affordable housing. 

The Guidelines are structured at three scales: neighbourhood, building and unit.  The objective is that developments deliver tangible outcomes to increase liveability for larger households, including families with children at each scale.  At the neighbourhood scale, the guidelines focus on children's experience in the city, promoting independent mobility, access to parks, schools and community infrastructure.  The guidelines emphasize the benefits of co-location of community facilities in new developments.  In particular new child care facilities, which the City has proven success in securing, and which aligns with the growth strategy for the City of Toronto's licensed child care system.  At the building scale, the guidelines seek to improve community within new developments by increasing the number of larger units, encouraging the design of functional and flexible amenity space and common space that supports resident interaction and lingering.  For example recommending that developments provide a critical mass of larger units located in lower portions of the building to create a sense of community for families with children and direct access to outdoor child-friendly amenity.  At the unit scale, the guidelines focus on size and functionality, recommending minimum areas for each element to ensure that a unit provides the space for the social functions of family life.

This report recommends that staff use the draft Growing Up guidelines as appropriate in the review of development applications for a two year period.  During this period, staff will monitor the number of larger "family friendly" two and three bedrooms secured through the development approvals process as well as public realm and community improvements that are made to create more child friendly environments in our growing vertical communities.  Where appropriate the guidelines will be applied on individual development applications, and to inform updated or new Secondary Plans, Area Studies and Site and Area Specific Policies.

Further consultation with the development community will be undertaken.  Feedback from the industry will be used to inform any refinements to the guidelines that may need to be made by the end of Q1 2018.

Following the end of the two year period staff will report back to the Planning and Growth Management Committee on the effectiveness of the draft guidelines, potential modifications and implementation measures.