Item - 2024.PH11.4
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Planning and Housing Committee on April 5, 2024 and was adopted with amendments.
- See also MM36.33
PH11.4 - Zoning for Residential Basements - Preliminary Report
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Planning and Housing Committee:
1. Endorsed the contents of the report (March 14, 2024) from the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning as the basis for public consultation and request staff report back with final recommendations in the fourth quarter of 2024 in conjunction with the Growing Space for Trees: Protecting and Enhancing the Tree Canopy While Supporting Infill Housing Final Report.
2. Directed the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to forward the Preliminary Report (March 14, 2024) from the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to the Director, Zoning and Secretary-Treasurer, Committee of Adjustment, to be shared with all Committee of Adjustment Members and Application Technicians.
3. Requested the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to consider as part of the fourth quarter report back, identifying applications for iceberg homes on Public Notices, in the Application Information Centre, Committee of Adjustment Agendas, and on application materials distributed to Committee of Adjustment Members.
4. Requested the Executive Director, Environment and Climate, to include information on iceberg homes in future work on the Net Zero Buildings Strategy and other reporting, where appropriate.
5. Requested the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to apply a climate lens to the final recommendations in the report expected for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Origin
Summary
This report responds to a City Council direction (2021.MM36.33) to report back on strategies to address the impacts of iceberg homes. Iceberg homes are houses which exhibit a larger below grade footprint than their above grade footprint. This includes houses which have more than one level of basement.
This report identifies issues associated with iceberg homes, presents a jurisdictional scan of policies and regulations applied to below grade construction in jurisdictions across Canada and internationally, and presents considerations to address the impacts of iceberg homes, including potential changes to the zoning by-law.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-244336.pdf
Attachment 1 - Jurisdictional scan of policies and regulatory frameworks relating to below ground construction and iceberg homes
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-244337.pdf
Communications
(April 4, 2024) E-mail from Bryon Patton (PH.New)
(April 4, 2024) E-mail from Chris Hewat (PH.New)
(April 4, 2024) E-mail from Laura Lamarche (PH.New)
(April 4, 2024) E-mail from Shannon Rancourt and Laura Marche, Hoggs Hollow Tree Watch (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ph/comm/communicationfile-178638.pdf
(April 4, 2024) Letter from Councillor Jaye Robinson (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ph/comm/communicationfile-178644.pdf
(April 4, 2024) Letter from Geoff Kettel and Cathie Macdonald, Co-Chairs, Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations (FoNTRA) (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ph/comm/communicationfile-178659.pdf
(April 4, 2024) E-mail from Paula von Stedingk and Vicko von Stedingk (PH.New)
(April 5, 2024) E-mail from Jan Zucker (PH.New)
(April 4, 2024) E-mail from Stephen Morson (PH.New)
Speakers
Motions
That the Planning and Housing Committee:
1. Direct the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to forward the Preliminary Report to the Director, Zoning and Secretary-Treasurer, Committee of Adjustment, to be shared with all Committee of Adjustment Members and Application Technicians;
2. Request the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to consider as part of the fourth quarter report back, identifying applications for iceberg homes on Public Notices, in the Application Information Centre, Committee of Adjustment Agendas, and on application materials distributed to Committee of Adjustment Members;
3. Request the Executive Director, Environment and Climate, to include information on iceberg homes in future work on the Net Zero Buildings Strategy and other reporting, where appropriate;
4. Request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to apply a climate lens to the final recommendations in the report expected for the fourth quarter of 2024.