Item - 2024.EX16.20

The Executive Committee recommends that:

Development Review - Planning Approvals

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415-16 to rescind authority from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their designates to approve plans of subdivision.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415-17 to rescind authority from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their designates for the giving of draft condominium approvals.

3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415-18 to rescind authority from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their designates to execute, amend, or release agreements to secure conditions imposed by the Committee of Adjustment or the Ontario Land Tribunal.

4. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415-18.1 to rescind authority from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their designates to instruct the City Solicitor on what position to take at an Ontario Land Tribunal hearing relating to a plan of subdivision, condominium, site plan approval, complete planning application and removal of a holding provision.

5. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415-18.2 to rescind authority from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their designates to pass Minor Zoning By-laws to remove a holding provision where the conditions for the removal have been satisfied.

6. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415-19 to rescind authority from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their designates to consider and approve or refuse to approve site plans.

7. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 415-19.1 to rescind authority from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their designates to determine whether a planning application submitted to the City is complete or incomplete.

8. As a condition of the delegations of authority by City Council to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their authorized designates, as set out in Recommendations 1 through 7 above, City Council direct the Executive Director, Development Review and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to enter into a partnership agreement to, among other things, identify the roles, accountabilities, competencies and responsibilities of the respective divisions, related to the development application review process, ensuring adherence to Official Plan Policy and other applicable plans, policies and guidelines to the satisfaction of the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services.

Development Review - City Infrastructure

9. In addition to the authority currently delegated by City Council to the General Manager, Toronto Water, the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, and their respective authorized staff designates in writing, City Council delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their authorized designates in writing, to sign verification forms and applications required by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks under the Municipal Drinking Water Licensing Program.

10. In addition to the authority currently delegated by City Council to the General Manager, Toronto Water, the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, and their respective authorized staff designates in writing, City Council delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their authorized designates in writing, to sign any application forms required by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as part of the Transfer of Review Program under the Ontario Water Resources Act, and subject to any applicable requirements of the City's Transfer of Review Agreement entered into with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks dated October 3, 2018.

11. In addition to the authority currently delegated by Municipal Code Chapter 415-20 to the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, City Council delegate authority to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their authorized designates, to enter into Municipal Infrastructure Agreements with developers to secure the construction of municipal infrastructure required to support developments or redevelopments.

12. As a condition of the additional delegations of authority by City Council to the Executive Director, Development Review, and their authorized designates, as set out in Recommendations 9, 10 and 11 above, City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water, the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, and the Executive Director, Development Review, to enter into a partnership agreement to, among other things, identify the roles, accountabilities, competencies and responsibilities of the respective divisions, related to the development application review process, including the establishment of a harmonized practice for the circulation, review and commenting on water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure requirements or conditions, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Toronto Water, the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services and the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services.

Development Review - Planning and City Infrastructure

13. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce any necessary Bills required to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, including stylistic, format and organization, minor modifications, technical amendments or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the Executive Director, Development Review, the General Manager, Toronto Water and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services.

Other

14. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services to provide the following information to all Members of Council by October 2024:

a. an organization chart that lists positions within the new Development Review Division, City Planning and other Divisions affected by this reorganization, such chart to include positional reports and accompanying rationales; and

b. clarity over which official has authority over which decision in the new Development Review Division and the remaining sections of City Planning.

15.  City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services to report to the July 2025 meeting of the Executive Committee to provide an update on implementation and performance of, and challenges facing the Development Review Division.

Development review shapes how the City grows and delivers services necessary to successfully promote and manage growth. The development review and approval system is critical in developing affordable housing, securing parklands, driving economic growth and job creation, supporting landmark projects, and delivering complete communities that meet approved service standards and regulatory requirements across Toronto.

In September 2019, City Council adopted the End-to-End Review of the Development Review Process final report, which outlined several recommendations to improve the City's development review process. This included implementing a new operating model focused on organizational structure, process improvements and technology.

Implementation of the new operating model began in March 2020 by establishing an interim team-based structure, comprised of a core team of staff across several City divisions, to streamline the review of all development applications received by the City. To expedite implementation of the new operating model in response to the housing crisis, as well as the Government of Ontario’s legislated application review timelines through Bill 109, the More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022, in June 2023, the City established a new centralized service area, Development and Growth Services, and appointed a new Deputy City Manager for the service area. All development and growth-related services and functions in the City, including the review of development applications, are now reporting to the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services. The City divisions under Development and Growth Services include: City Planning, Toronto Building, the Housing Secretariat and a newly created Development Review Division (Development Review).

Development Review's mandate is to expedite the review of all development applications received by the City, with a focus on getting more homes, notably affordable homes, built faster within complete communities. To help achieve this mandate, core staff who review development applications across a number of City divisions and disciplines, some working under previously delegated Council authorities currently in effect, will now be consolidated under Development Review. This is vital to streamline decision-making; improve consistency, transparency and accountability; improve service delivery for applicants and City staff; and ultimately, accelerate the City's development application review process.

As a result of this consolidation, the delegation of certain development review related authorities to the Executive Director, Development Review, and the appropriate City staff, is required, accompanied by changes to authorities currently delegated to the Chief Planner position. The purpose of this report is to seek the necessary delegated authority from City Council. This is required to move and consolidate City development review-related authorities within the new division.

Council approval of the recommendations in this report will help accelerate the establishment of Development Review and advance many of the City’s strategic priorities aimed at improving the quality of life for Torontonians. This includes promoting a well-run city, creating housing that is affordable and helping Torontonians along the housing continuum, keeping Toronto moving, investing in our people and neighbourhoods, and addressing climate change.