Item - 2020.PH19.3

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges and Chapter 442, Fees and Charges, Administration of, to establish a new Employment Areas Conversion Request User Fee of $20,000 per conversion request received from December 18, 2020 up to and including August 3, 2021.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision, and appropriate City staff be authorized and directed to take the necessary actions to give effect thereto.

The City's Official Plan Growth Plan Conformity and Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) commenced on August 4, 2020.  The Work Plan adopted by City Council defines a year-long window between which City staff will receive formal written requests to convert lands designated as Core Employment Areas and General Employment Areas.  Conversion and Removal Policies for Employment Areas are provided in Official Plan policies 2.2.4.14 to 2.2.4.18.

Upon receipt of a conversion request, division staff work together to consider and evaluate the request.  The process includes reviewing the material submitted in support of the request; staff research on the site and surrounding area; and, the preparation of recommendations to City Council.  This equates to a cost of about $20,000 in salaries and benefits, indirect costs, and capital costs to the City for each conversion request.  The City's User Fee Policy states that user fees will be set to recover the full cost of a service where it is determined that it provides direct benefits to identifiable individuals, groups of individuals or businesses, beyond those that accrue to the general public.

This report provides details on City Planning staff's recommended new Employment Areas Conversion Request User Fee of $20,000 per request.  The recommended fee would only apply to requests received from December 18, 2020 up to and including August 3, 2021.  The fee would be waived in circumstances where a complete application for an Official Plan Amendment (OPA) has been received for the same address(es), including payment of the OPA application fee.