Item - 2020.PH15.6

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council approve the recommended approach and work plan described in Attachment 1 - Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods, to the report (June 26, 2020) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to consult with the public, various stakeholders including community associations, and equity seeking groups to provide for a broad and inclusive consultation process.

3. City Council endorse the following priority projects for staff to commence work on the work plan and direct staff to report back on Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments that could advance consideration of these matters:

a. Increasing permissions for additional residential dwelling units generally within currently permitted building envelopes in residential zones;

b. permissions for other forms of low-rise housing in areas designated as Neighbourhoods, along Major Streets; and

c. Allowing garden suites, coach houses, through-lot suites, and other forms of additional units in accessory buildings.

4. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to include consideration of a variety of co-housing forms as part of the overall work program.

5.City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, CreateTO, to prepare a pilot implementation project in Ward 19 no later than the fourth quarter of 2020 to achieve the objectives outlined in the report (June 26, 2020) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

The Senior Planner, City Planning gave a presentation on Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods.

On July 16, 2019, City Council adopted Member Motion MM9.36 entitled "Expanding Housing Options in Toronto - Tackling the Missing Middle and the Yellowbelt". The motion directed City Planning to report on options and a timeline to increase housing options and planning permissions in areas of Toronto designated as Neighbourhoods in Toronto's Official Plan and to consult with registered community associations. In addition, staff were to include opportunities for a missing middle pilot in Ward 19 -Beaches-East York.

The term “missing middle” refers to housing types ranging from duplexes to low-rise walk-up apartments, all of which can be found in many parts of Toronto today, but which are also limited in where they can be newly built.