Item - 2018.PG31.8

The Planning and Growth Management Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to develop a staffing strategy which will enable the City Planning Division to advance its work program.  The staffing strategy should ensure that the Division remains within the Council approved budget envelope, but permits City Planning to amend or exceed the staff complement for necessary and strategic positions, employing tactics including but not limited to batch hiring for key positions to enable delivery of the study work program.

The Planning and Growth Management Committee:

1. Amended Attachment 2: City Planning Study Work Program (2019 Forecast), to the report (June 12, 2018) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning by deleting the following items:

- Belmont-Hillsboro Heritage Conservation District Study
- Lawrence Park West Heritage Conservation District Study
- Beaconsfield Heritage Conservation District Study
- Harbord Village Phase 3 Heritage Conservation District Study
- West Annex Heritage Conservation District Study
- St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Phase 2 Heritage Conservation District Plan

2.  Amended Attachment 3: City Planning Study Work Program (Beyond 2019 and Hold Items), to the report (June 12, 2018) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning by deleting the following items:

- Sunshine Value Heritage Conservation District Study
- The Junction Phase 1 Heritage Conservation District Study

This report provides the City Planning Division's annual update on the Study Work Program.  The report outlines the Division's 57 completions and approvals to-date in 2018 and projected completions to the end of the Council term.  These completions demonstrate the Division's proactive approach to prioritizing and managing a range of complex planning issues, including large-scale city building studies, policy development, and deliverables related to building housing, transit planning and infrastructure.  It also demonstrates the Division's responsiveness to new Provincial planning initiatives.

Looking ahead to 2019, the Study Work Program will reflect Council's direction and the Division's commitment to bring forward implementation strategies to support the policies and objectives of larger planning studies.  Conformity with Provincial legislation, which includes review of the Official Plan's conformity with the 2017 Growth Plan including work relating to Major Transit Station Areas has been added to the Study Work Program.  Also added are items related to policy development to enable the City to utilize new powers related to Inclusionary Zoning. 

City Planning will also continue with local area studies and a range of planning initiatives that establish frameworks to enhance opportunities for place-making, growth-supported investment and social equity in all areas of the city.