Item - 2024.PH14.4

The Planning and Housing Committee:

1. Received the report (June 20, 2024) from the Deputy City Manager, Development and Growth Services, for information.

This report responds to Planning and Housing Committee's direction requesting that staff report development review timeline metrics to Planning and Housing Committee on a quarterly basis (2023.PH6.2). Quarterly reports include the following:

a. Average timeline to complete the Pre-Application Consultation Process; 

b. Average timeline to reach a decision on a Zoning By-law Application;

c. Average timeline to reach a decision on a combined Official Plan Amendment/Zoning By-law Application; and

d. Average timeline to approve a Site Plan Application. 

In addition to a description of the metrics listed above, the report provides context on how ongoing improvements to the development review process impact application review timelines in the medium to long term.

In Q1 2024, the report (2024.PH9.2) included aggregate metrics for items b. through d., above. The Q2 2024 report (2024.PH11.5) broke these metrics out into two categories (non-Bill 109 and Bill 109 files) to highlight timeline management improvements for Bill 109 files.

On June 6, 2024, Bill 185: the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act received Royal Assent. Bill 185 removes application fee refund provisions introduced under Bill 109. However, legislated timelines for review of combined Official Plan Amendment/Zoning By-law Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Control applications remain unchanged. The Q3 2024 report includes application timeline metrics up to June 3, 2024 and continues to distinguish between non-Bill 109 and Bill 109 files.