Item - 2024.PH9.6

The Planning and Housing Committee:

1. Received the report (January 12, 2024) from the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning for information.

This report provides the City Planning Division's annual update on its Study Work Program. It outlines the Division's 68 completions and approvals in 2023, including a broad range of city building work across Toronto. The report also provides a forecast for the Division's 2024 Study Work Program.

The Study Work Program Update highlights City Planning-led initiatives to manage the city’s growth and the physical form – including how it looks, feels and moves, and the opportunities it provides in terms of housing, jobs and services to all its residents. The Division’s Study Work Program supports the City’s equity strategies and is aligned with the Corporate Strategic Plan’s four Priorities: housing, mobility, quality of life, and climate change and resilience. The Study Work Program is further shaped by the targets and priorities in the Housing Action Plan 2022-2026 and the directions captured in the recent report on the ‘Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System to Urgently Build More Affordable Homes’.

City Planning stands alongside its interdivisional partners in pursuing all available tools to address the housing crisis. The policies, plans and programs advanced by the Division encourage responsible development to increase the supply of housing within complete, inclusive and resilient communities that have the necessary infrastructure to support growth. Partnerships with the provincial and federal governments are critical to deliver that vision. Intergovernmental housing initiatives announced throughout 2023, and other initiatives to improve the City’s long-term financial sustainability are essential to achieving the city building objectives that underlie City Planning’s Study Work Program.

The Division’s achievements in 2023 reflect the coalescing of efforts around housing. City Planning took lead and partner roles in delivering the City’s Housing Pledge, Housing Action Plan, report on the Generational Transformation of Toronto’s Housing System, Recommended Framework for the Community Infrastructure and Housing Accelerator tool, and proposals under the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund and Province’s Building Faster Fund. The Division also delivered the Final Report on Multiplexes – approving permissions for multiplexes city-wide, and advanced the Mid-rise Transition Review to provide more flexibility in housing forms. Under the Housing Now Initiative, three Zoning By-law Amendments were completed to leverage City-owned land for new affordable housing as part of complete communities. The Division also delivered planning frameworks and implementation strategies to guide future investment and development in major growth areas across Toronto, including a Final Report for Woodside Square and progress reports for Our Scarborough Centre, Downsview and future communities along the Waterfront.

The Division’s other city building work in 2023 included advancing the Official Plan Growth Plan Conformity and Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR), with final policy updates addressing the definition of “areas of employment” and final recommendations on 116 employment area conversions. Key research and analysis included the fourth phase of the Land Needs Assessment (LNA) required as part of the Municipal Comprehensive Review, and the annual Toronto Employment Survey. City Planning also delivered Zoning By-law amendments to support commercial uses like restaurants and entertainment venues as part of vibrant neighbourhoods and released the Toronto Green Standards Version 4 (TGS v4) incorporating a cap on embodied emissions for new developments. On the mobility front, the Division completed the Prioritization of Higher Order Transit Projects assessing how well the City’s transit network responds to growth.

In 2023, the Division continued to lead the City's response to Provincial legislative changes, including the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement (PPS), Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023 (Bill 97), and Transportation for the Future Act, 2023 (Bill 131), which focused on affordable housing, employment areas and funding tools. In responding to the ever-shifting legislative landscape, the Division continues to promote the City's and public’s interest and manage uncertainties and risks to its service delivery as new legislative demands are placed on finite resources. The Division will continue to prioritize resources to deliver on its city building agenda, and update and advise Council on the impacts of legislative change.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Study Work Program continues to capture a range of city building activities, with an emphasis on initiatives that support an increase in housing supply and improving housing affordability, as part of an integrated approach to building complete and inclusive communities.

Affordable Housing and More Housing Options – in 2024, the Division will advance its work to facilitate new housing across Toronto and fulfil commitments associated with the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Application. As part of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) initiative, City Planning will complete Prevailing By-laws for Multiplexes, the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods Major Streets Final Report, and Avenues Policy Review. The Division will also bring forward Zoning By-law Amendments for three Housing Now sites, and advance reports on optimizing density and affordable housing along the Waterfront. Pending Provincial approval of the City’s Protected Major Transit Stations Areas (PMTSAs) (adopted by Council in 2022), City Planning will proceed with bringing forward Implementation Guidelines for Inclusionary Zoning and zoning to reflect the new densities.

Investing in People and Neighbourhoods – the Division will continue its work on major growth areas, with final reporting on the Jane Finch Initiative, Bloor Yorkville, Scarborough Centre, Update Downsview, and the Community Services and Facilities Study for Liberty Village. In addition, City Planning will advance a range of initiatives along the waterfront including zoning and policy direction for Villiers Island, a Public Realm Plan for Under the Gardiner, and an update on improvements to Billy Bishop Airport. Guidance on neighbourhood change and preservation will continue as the Division delivers Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Plans and Cultural Heritage Resources Assessments (CHRAs) for Bloor West Village, Jane and Finch and Kensington Market amongst others. City Planning will also deliver items with city-wide significance, such as a revised Chapter 1 of the Official Plan, an Office Space Needs Study and Community Benefits Charge Implementation Guidelines for In-kind Matters.

Keeping Toronto Moving - the Division will continue to bring forward transformative transportation policies and mobility strategies as part of area-based studies and play an important role in shaping the transit network and the Province’s Transit Oriented Communities program by delivering the Transit Design Guide Update, Durham Scarborough BRT TPAP Addendum, and the East Harbour Transit Oriented Communities proposal - Final Negotiated Arrangements.

Tackling Climate Change and Building Resilience – the Division will continue its work on climate change mitigation and resilience by advancing the Toronto Green Standard Version 5 (TGS V5) to accelerate carbon reduction in new development. City Planning will also report on the feasibility of mapping Toronto’s historic watercourses.