The Development Permit System: Make Your Voice Heard
By Lucas on Mar 10, 2014
Recently, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) hosted a live and interactive event called “Building Futures,” which featured councillors Adam Vaughan and Peter Milczyn, as well as Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat. The event was about how to build Toronto in a healthy and sustainable manner. One of the main points of the conversations was the implementation of an improved Development Permit System (DPS).
The DPS is an alternative to the zoning system to implement Toronto’s Official Plan. The zoning bylaw is city-wide, whereas the DPS will be applied to specific areas in the city at a neighbourhood scale.
“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,” stated a recent news release from the City of Toronto.
At Building Futures, Keesmaat stated that she was surprised that many residents’ organizations are concerned that the DPS will exclude the community from voicing their opinions on their neighbourhoods’ growth. It seems like the DPS does the exact opposite, especially since the city of Toronto just announced that it will be hosting four open houses/public meetings to receive input about specific areas targeted for growth.
See below for upcoming meeting places to discuss the DPS (via City of Toronto news release) :
- 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.
So, if you’re a resident of an area targeted for growth, like Yonge & Eglinton or King & Spadina, then attend one of these meetings and have your say. The residents of Toronto have been fighting for years for the kind of growth they want and expect out of the city, and this the chance to be heard.
If you can’t make it to one of the four meetings, email your thoughts to htoft@toronto.ca or mail a letter to DPS Consultation Team, City Planning, Metro Hall, 55 John St., 22nd Floor, Toronto ON, M5V 3C6.
To learn more about the DPS, click here.
