The CORRA PRESS - DPS OPEN HOUSE AND PUBLIC MTGS - RANACA GROUPS
Eileen Denny
Confederation of Resident and Ratepayer Associations in Toronto ~ Our Official Newsletter The CORRA PRESS The VOICE of resident and ratepayer associations in Toronto | |
Vol. 2014 no. 4 | March 17, 2014 |
Development Permit System (DPS) Open House and Public Meetings Inaction by us now is likely to result in residents becoming little more than spectators to development applications in their own community and around the City. CORRA encourages ALL to attend, learn more, and be part of the discussion. Meeting details are provided below (with links to google maps).
CORRA’s DPS Discussion Paper is online at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/212699657/CORRA-DPS-Discussion-Paper
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March 18 2 Civic Centre Ct. Etobicoke, M9C 5A3
March 19 Open House: 5:30pm - 7pm
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March 22 Open House: 10:30am to 12:30pm
March 24 Open House: 5:30pm - 7pm
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DEVELOPMENT PERMIT SYSTEM (Reset TO)
Here are the three main provisions of the Development Permit System (also known as Reset TO) that Toronto City Council will be considering:
1. REMOVING RESIDENTS’ RIGHTS to appeal development proposals once a DPS by-law is adopted. In return for those rights, you and your residents get area-based planning that allows for a faster 45-day decision-making process for individual development proposals while retaining the right to appeal for the developer only.
2. ELIMINATING RESIDENT PARTICIPATION on a project-by-project basis. Once the DPS area by-law is adopted, there will be no need to consult or provide for Notice as there will no longer be any rights to appeal for those who may be impacted or have an interest in the decision. As already noted the developer retains his right to appeal under this system.
3. DELEGATING FINAL APPROVAL authority to either the Chief Planner/planning staff, or Standing Committee, or Citizen-based Committee. The approval by whichever authority becomes final without consultation, notice and rights to appeal except for the developer. This DPS framework is asking each of us to give up our fundamental rights to consultation, to notice and to appeal in exchange for neighbourhood area zoning (as set out by City planning staff) that would allow all those that develop, build and expand in the DPS area neighbourhood flexible standards, a streamlined 45-day approval process with decisions made by a delegated few while preserving the developer’s rights to appeal such decisions.
The Planning Act was amended in 2007 to provide for a DPS. It was probably welcomed by the development community because it eliminates the ability of external parties, including resident groups, to object to development applications. We do not know of any residents groups who may have appeared at the Legislature to depute on the amendments.
You can read more about the DPS from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs at: http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page5911.aspx#1.1
CORRA is ASKING each group to:
1. Make the DPS (Reset TO) issue part of your Board’s next agenda meeting; and 2. Consider a motion to request CORRA to seek an alternative framework that would retain fundamental rights, make people central to the planning decisions, and to find ways to defend and reinforce the laws that capture the context and enduring character of the places where we live. 3. Express your concerns to your City Councillor. 4. Let CORRA know your views and/or position at corrat...@gmail.com.
CORRA is a consultative body. We take our position after consulting with our resident groups. Please let us know your position. Each voice makes a difference and CORRA encourages you to be part of our discussion for change. Residents, ratepayers and their groups will thank you.
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CORRA – CORRAT...@GMAIL.COM CONFEDERATION OF RESIDENT AND RATEPAYER ASSOCIATIONS IN TORONTO | |