City of Toronto Condo Consultation Public Meetings May 30, June 3, June 4 & June 5, 2013 1
Purpose of the Project Identify and help address issues related to Condo Living Consultation is focusing on: Identifying issues that condo residents are currently experiencing Identifying who is responsible for managing these issues (City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, the condo board, or others) Testing ideas and developing recommendations for the City of Toronto to address the issues Project Web Page: http://www.toronto.ca/planning/condo_consultation.htm DRAFT - May 24, 2013 2
Process Overview February March 2013 April June 2013 Summer/Fall 2013 Ongoing Consultation Part 1: Understand the issues Consultation Part 2: Test ideas to address issues Report to Toronto City Council Implementation 5 public meetings: Central, Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York, Ward 23 + Online Survey 4 public meetings: Central, Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York + Online Survey Staff report to Council with results of the consultation and recommendations to address issues Improvements to living in existing condos & improvements to future condos COMPLETE We are here 3
Purpose of the Meeting Tonight To test ideas on how to address issues raised during Part 1 of the consultation Key questions for you to consider as we work through the presentation: What ideas do you like? Which ones, if any, raise concerns and why? Are there other ideas you would like to see explored to address the issues raised during Part 1 of the consultation? DRAFT - May 24, 2013 4
Who Does What? There are many different governments, public agencies, organizations and individuals involved in condos. The key players are outlined below: Consultation focus is here City of Toronto 1. Reviews and approves plans for the physical building before it is built 2. Provides community services around the building 3. Enforces the Ontario Building Code and property standard bylaw Public Agencies Provides services such as transit, policing, schools, libraries, natural heritage (e.g. TTC, Police, school boards, Toronto Public Library, Conservation Authority) Private Actors Developers, Architects, Engineers, Lawyers, Property Managers, Condo Boards, Condo Owners, Tenants, others Province of Ontario 1. Regulates the management of condos through the Condominium Act (Ministry of Consumer Services) 2. Creates and enforces the Building Code 5
Consultation Part 1: Understanding Condo Issues FEEDBACK SOUGHT: Tell us about your experience and your ideas to make it better. Community outside the building: Places to walk dogs, Parks, Community Centres, Transit and Parking, etc. Physical condo building: Building height, Size of units, Sunshine, Shadows, Wind, Indoor and Outdoor amenity space, etc. Community inside the building: Maintenance Fees, Condo Governance, etc. 6
Consultation Part 1: Understanding Condo Issues Total Phase 1 participants 1,500 (approx.) Five public meetings: Tues Feb 12, 2013 (Downtown) Wed Feb 20, 2013 (Scarborough) Thurs Feb 21, 2013 (Etobicoke) Wed Feb 27, 2013 (North York) Tues Mar 5, 2013 (Ward 23) Working Session with Builders and Developers (Feb 11, 2013) Downtown Resident Groups Meeting BILD Toronto Presentation Twitter @TorontoComms Email submissions and letters 40 Survey responses 600 Total reach Approx 400 20 organizations 12 organizations 30 BILD attendees 12 tweets Many thousands 7
Consultation Part 1: Communications Communications campaign, City Planning press release, email invites to over 100 resident groups and property managers, etc. PowerPoint presentation delivered at public meetings and posted online Multiple mentions in the mainstream media, with articles published by the CBC and the Globe and Mail Webpage www.toronto.ca/planning/condo_consultation.htm 8
Overall Theme Participants said: Need to coordinate condo development with the provision of all types of infrastructure (transportation, transit, parking, parks, recreation amenities, hydro). neighbourhood planning should be done at the neighbourhood level, not condo-by-condo infrastructure should be able to handle the increased density 9
Applications Process Opportunity for Motion for Directions to OMB Pre-application Consultation Complete Application Decision Submission of Application Application Circulation Technical Response Preliminary Report to Community Council Community Consultation Timeline 9 months* * from submission of complete application Response to Applicant Application Revision and Resubmission Recirculation, Consultation, Further Revisions, Finalization and Staff Report Public Meeting at Community Council Council Decision Opportunity for Third Party Appeal to OMB OPA/Zoning By-law In Effect
Circulation - Internal Divisions Within Planning: Urban Design Transportation Planning Heritage Community Policy Official Plan Team Environmental Planning Data Maintenance Community Planning (adjacent districts) Engineering & Construction Services (formerly called Technical Services) - One window and they in turn circulate to: -Toronto Water -Transportation Services -Fire Services -Solid Waste Management Inter-Divisionally: Parks Development Urban Forestry (street trees and private trees) Urban Forestry - Ravine Protection Economic Development and Culture Toronto Building and Toronto Sign Unit Legal Services (when Agreements need to be created) City Clerks Public Health Real Estate Services
Circulation External Agencies Bell Canada Build Toronto Canada Post CNR, CP School Boards (4) DND Enbridge Enwave Go Transit GTAA Hydro One Library Board Ministry of Municipal Affairs Ministry of the Environment Ministry of Transportation Police Rogers Telus TRCA Toronto Community Housing Toronto Hydro Toronto Parking Authority TTC Trans Northern Pipeline Transport Canada Civil Aviation
Summary of What We Heard Community Around the Building Physical Building Community Inside the Building 1. Congestion 2. Lack of community influence in planning re: use of Section 37 funds and OMB decisions 3. Negative impact of new construction (dust, noise, traffic) 4. Buildings are too tall and lack creative design 5. Lack of amenities for dogs 6. Lack of green space 1. Lack of visitor parking 2. Lack of bike parking 3. Lack of family friendly buildings (Too many small units) 4. Issues related to construction quality 1. Condo Board Governance issues 2. Taxed disproportionately to services received 3. Condo resident supports 13
How We Are Addressing Issues Community Around the Building Physical Building Community Inside the Building Three responses to issues: Yes, already addressing (activities existing and underway) Testing ideas to decide whether/how to address No, not in the City s jurisdiction to address Where ideas to test came from: Suggested during Part 1 of the consultation (from public, builder/developers, City staff, consultant advisors) Best practices from other places 14
Community Around the Building Key Issues Raised Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway 1. Congestion UNDERWAY: City s Review of Transportation Policies in the Official Plan Feeling Congested www.feelingcongested.ca Improvements in North York Centre and studying better connections at Yonge and 401 Downtown Transportation Operations Study http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/dtos/inde x.htm Existing policy direction to shift the way we move: - To transit, cycling and walking as alternatives to the car IDEA TO TEST: Consider creating a requirement for developers to provide other benefits in lieu of reduced parking; e.g. a payment into a Transit Reserve Fund 15
Community Around the Building Key Issues Raised 2. Lack of community influence in planning re: use of Section 37 funds and OMB decisions Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway UNDERWAY: Section 37 review process is starting soon, and feedback from Condo Consultation will be key input The City has requested the Province to change the OMB s role in planning decisions Existing City resources available: Wellbeing Toronto website, 311, Open Data website IDEAS TO TEST: Work with Open Data team to make neighbourhood planning info accessible Provide Condo resident education 16
Community Around the Building Key Issues Raised 3. Negative impact of new construction (dust, noise, traffic) 4. Buildings are too tall and lack creative design Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway EXISTING : Contact Councillor and/or By Law Control IDEAS TO TEST: Consider refining the current review process for road closures to minimize lane closures and obstructions EXISTING: Urban Design Guidelines City of Toronto Design Review Panel, Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel Tall Building Guidelines IDEAS TO TEST: Consider strengthening City guidance regarding built form and tall buildings (e.g. set backs from side lot lines, separation distance between towers, min 1 st flr height) 17
Community Around the Building Key Issues Raised 5. Lack of amenities for dogs Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway EXISTING: Have Off-leash Areas Policy The Tall Buildings Guidelines address providing amenities for dogs IDEAS TO TEST: Provide incentives to developers to provide dog-specific amenities such as poop & scoop areas, dog run, dog wash, etc. A development with a minimum # of units could trigger a City requirement for dog amenities City take a lead role in collecting and sharing best practices currently in use in the City (e.g. Liberty Village Resident Association) Consider "dog free" buildings where adequate open space or amenities cannot be provided. 18
Community Around the Building Key Issues Raised Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway 6. Lack of green space EXISTING OP Policy protecting existing park space is an active policy to maintain, enhance and expand the system of parks and open spaces Toronto Green Standard Green roof by-law Staff working group on parkland acquisition IDEAS TO TEST: Increasing transparency on how/where money spent Look at other ways/places to provide public space benefits (e.g. sidewalks, benches, other elements of the public realm, social gathering spaces, etc.) City collect best practices related to green space provision as part of the City s Parks Plan 19
Community Around the Building Key Issues Raised Other Lack of diverse and successful retail Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway UNDERWAY OP and zoning provides for maximum store size on pedestrian strips IDEA TO TEST: While developer is trying to lease space for a longterm tenant, allow short-term lease or use by arts and culture groups 20
Physical Building Key Issues Raised 1. Lack of visitor parking Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway UNDERWAY: Downtown Transportation Operations Study is testing ideas for courier drop-offs IDEAS TO TEST: Flexible resident/visitor parking Reduce the required parking spot size in condos (e.g. to match the smaller size parking spots in Green P lots) Create more Green P parking (along with funding mechanisms to enable it) Have more parking provided in the community around the building 21
Physical Building Key Issues Raised 2. Lack of bike parking Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway EXISTING: New City of Toronto Zoning By-law requires minimum number of bike parking spaces Direct bicycle locking ring requests tostreetfurniture@toronto.ca (for more details see www.toronto.ca/cycling/postandring/) IDEAS TO TEST: Allow bikes inside units City require developers to increase the number of bike parking spots provided per resident Have more bike parking provided in the community around the building 22
Physical Building Key Issues Raised 3. Lack of familyfriendly buildings (too many small units) Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway EXISTING / UNDERWAY: Larger units being provided in some developments (Sec 37) Developing policy to require some units to be family-sized units IDEAS TO TEST: City s ongoing work on the Affordable Housing policies should expand its focus on affordable ownership Determine whether there are incentives that could be offered to encourage the development of familysized/flexible units Explore other mechanisms, such as conditional zoning (in concert with research on affordable housing policy) 23
Physical Building Key Issues Raised 4. Issues related to construction quality Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway EXISTING: What s involved in building inspection 101 Toronto Building and TARION have an open line of communications to discuss matters of mutual interest. If TARION were to identify a recurring issue, it would be part of this discussion. IDEAS TO TEST: City consider commending TARION for the recent improvements made to the Bulletin 19 encouraging TARION to ensure their requirements are enforced 24
Physical Building Key Issues Raised Other Amenities and storage Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway IDEAS TO TEST: Developments can reduce the amount of amenity space they provide in individual buildings if they contribute toward the creation of a neighbourhood community facility - Railway Lands model) Minimum requirements for storage space/unit Explore public use of private amenities 25
Community Inside the Building Key Issues Raised 1. Condo Board Governance issues 2. Taxed disproportionately to services received 3. Community Education Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway UNDERWAY: Forward all issues and ideas raised from Part 1 of the City of Toronto Condo Consultation to the Province of Ontario for consideration in their work to review the Condo Act City of Toronto to monitor the Condo Act Reform Process being undertaken by the Province to ensure key Toronto issues are addressed UNDERWAY: Issue raised with Province through the review of the Condo Act would require change to the Assessment Act IDEAS TO TEST: Develop way for City to help facilitate residents who want to share ideas with each other or want help navigating City Hall for condo-related issues 26
Community Inside the Building Key Issues Raised 4. Space for Polling Booths Ideas to Address Them and/or Processes Underway IDEA TO TEST: Change to Condo Act to require Condo Boards to provide space for polling booths in municipal, provincial and federal elections, if requested by election officials 27
Next Steps Complete four public meetings (May 30, June 3, 4, 5) Online survey posted June 17, 2013 with deadline for responses by June 30, 2013 Write final report from Condo Consultation that includes: - Feedback received during Parts 1 and 2 - Recommendations on what the City can do to address the issues raised Report to Committee & Council in the Fall 2013 28
Part 2 Focus Seeking feedback on the ideas to address the issues raised: What ideas do you like? Which ones, if any, raise concerns and why? Are there other ideas you would like to see explored to address the issues raised during the consultation? 29
Thank you 30