Item - 2024.PH14.10

The Planning and Housing Committee:

1. Endorsed the proposed workplan and directed staff to report back with detailed proposals in the second quarter of 2025.

The City of Toronto, and many other jurisdictions domestically and internationally, are experiencing a housing affordability and availability crisis. Existing apartment sites in Toronto, including “tower in the park” sites, provide opportunities for contextually appropriate infill development to accommodate additional housing. However, apartment infill development is generally not permitted as-of-right through the city-wide zoning by-law. Planning approval processes for these types of development are typically required, can include multiple lengthy reviews, and are sometimes litigated through appeals at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

The Apartment Infill Study is one of 54 initiatives of the Housing Action Plan (HAP). This study is intended to accelerate the supply of housing through removing policy and zoning barriers to support the goal of achieving (or exceeding) the provincial housing target of 285,000 new homes over the next 10 years. This study seeks to advance infill housing in the city's apartment neighbourhoods through establishing best practices and developing new tools to simplify and streamline the approval process for infill housing on existing apartment sites.

This report provides an overview of the current policy and regulatory context for infill development in the city's apartment neighbourhoods, summarizes emerging development trends and best practices, identifies potential barriers, and sets out a proposed workplan to identify opportunities to streamline the approval process for infill housing.

Should Planning and Housing Committee endorse this proposed workplan, staff will undertake further analysis and focused stakeholder engagement and will report back in Q2 2025 with a proposals report outlining recommendations to advance public consultation.