Item - 2019.PH3.2

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 and Municipal Shelter By-law 138-2003 with respect to the locational criteria for municipal shelters in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 1 to the report (February 28, 2019) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.

The Planning and Housing Committee:

1.   Directed the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, and the General Manager, Shelter Supports and Housing Administration, to undertake an analysis of the 12-month Action Plan for the Downtown East enacted by City Council at its regular meeting held on June 26-29, 2018, and report directly to the March 27, 2019 meeting of City Council on the following:

a.  How the development of the 5-year Action Plan for the Downtown East can be used to inform the locating of new shelters, respite sites, and other services for vulnerable populations in the Action Plan boundaries.

b.  How the as-of-right provisions would impact decision making with regards to siting new shelter facilities in local geographies with existing shelter or respite facilities already lacking adequate programming and wrap-around services, including access to washrooms, daytime programming, counselling and referrals, and complex case work support systems.

The Planning and Housing Committee held a statutory public meeting on March 20, 2019, and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

This report reviews the current zoning for municipal shelters, and recommends a Zoning By-law Amendment to delete the existing 250-metre separation distance requirement between shelters, and delete the requirement to be on or within 80 metres of a major street. It also summarizes the city-wide public consultations held in November 2018 on proposed options to increase the as-of-right zoning permissions for municipal shelters.

While they are a short-term measure, municipal shelters are an important part of housing in the city. The proposed Zoning By-law Amendment supports the provision of municipal shelters in all areas of the city, by removing the conditions which currently restrict where they may locate. This will provide adaptability for the City in addressing the growing demand for shelter services, and allow for quick responses to changing circumstances.