3/16/2014 3:01:33 PM

March 7, 2014
The City of Toronto is holding four open houses/public meetings on a new land use planning tool available to all Ontario municipalities.

A Development Permit System (DPS) offers an alternative to the use of zoning to implement Toronto's Official Plan. Unlike the city-wide zoning bylaw, a DPS is applied area by area at a neighbourhood scale to reflect local neighbourhood character and distinctiveness.

The DPS process involves the creation of a comprehensive vision and objectives for an area with the participation of the area's residents. The DPS will ensure neighbourhood development is in line with the vision and objectives.

Specific and detailed Official Plan policies are required as a first step in implementing a Development Permit System. Even with the policies in place, a separate bylaw must be passed for any area of the city where Council may want to initiate a Development Permit System.

Draft Official Plan policies have been presented to the Planning and Growth Management Committee. The Committee requested that staff consult with members of the public and report back in April 2014.

Public open houses and meetings will include a staff presentation and an opportunity to discuss the proposed Official Plan policies for the DPS. Meetings will be held:
- March 18: Council Chamber, Etobicoke Civic Centre, 2 Civic Centre Ct.
Open house 5:30 to 7 p.m., public meeting 7 to 9 p.m.
- March 19: Council Chamber, Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr.
Open house 5:30 to 7 p.m., public meeting 7 to 9 p.m.
- March 22: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St.
Open house 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., public meeting 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
- March 24: Council Chamber, North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge St.
Open house 5:30 to 7 p.m., public meeting 7 to 9 p.m.

For those unable to attend in person, comments can be sent by March 31 to:
Email: htoft@toronto.ca
Fax: 416-392- 3821 – Attention: DPS Consultation Team, City Planning
Mail: DPS Consultation Team, City Planning, Metro Hall, 55 John St., 22nd Floor, Toronto ON, M5V 3C6

More information is available at: http://www.toronto.ca/planning/dps and http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-64067.pdf