Item - 2021.PH29.9

The Planning and Housing Committee: 

1. Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to undertake further community and stakeholder consultation and technical review of the ideas presented in this report to facilitate expanded permissions for multiplex building types in Neighbourhoods, and report back with recommended policy, zoning and process changes by the end of the second quarter of 2022.

2. Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to produce massing studies and landscape proposals for different multiplex and site options as visual aids to solicit informed feedback during the community consultation.

The Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives, Policy and Analysis, City Planning gave a presentation on Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods: Multiplex Study.

The Multiplex study is part of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods initiative, intended to support the construction of a range of low-rise housing across the City's low-rise neighbourhoods, increasing both the variety and type of housing available in these areas. The scope of this study includes multiplexes - buildings with two, three, and four units - and low-rise apartment buildings.

This study on expanding Multiplex housing permissions relates to a number of City and Provincial policy objectives to provide a full range of housing options to Torontonians, in a form that makes efficient use of land, infrastructure, and existing services. These low-rise housing forms are compatible with the Official Plan's objective that physical change to Neighbourhoods will be sensitive, gradual, and fit the existing physical character.

This report presents research to date on the expansion of multiplex permissions in Toronto's Neighbourhoods, initial consultation outcomes, and ideas for further consultation in the fourth quarter of 2021 and first quarter of 2022.

The results of technical review, further research, and feedback provided during the consultation will help shape policy proposals, potential zoning changes, and Official Plan policy amendments to be presented to Planning and Housing Committee in the second quarter of 2022.