Item - 2019.PH8.5

The Planning and Housing Committee:

1.  Received the report (August 30, 2019) from the Director, Court Services for information.

This report responds to Planning and Housing Committee's direction through Item PH5.7 to investigate the feasibility of creating a support centre to replace the functionality of the Province's Local Planning Appeal Support Centre (LPASC) for Committee of Adjustment and Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB) matters. Staff conducted this feasibility study by completing a jurisdictional scan, reviewing the Province's LPASC and the City's Mediation Pilot Program, and considering the role that City of Toronto officers and employees currently play in connection with TLAB and Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) proceedings. It is important to note that the Province's LPASC was not mandated to provide advice or professional services related to Committee of Adjustment and TLAB matters. The LPAT has jurisdiction over a much broader range of appeals.

Staff have analyzed the support centre approach and have identified three factors that need to be considered. The relatively modest number of inquiries administered by the Province's LPASC, combined with the lack of public participation in the City's Mediation Pilot Program, suggests that there may not be sufficient demand to justify the administration and costs for a support centre. The jurisdictional scan demonstrates that other municipalities do not provide support centre services for planning variance applications and appeals. Finally, the City may face challenges in providing this service given the frequency that it appears as a party at TLAB hearings.