But where’s the solution?

Don’t people love to complain? It’s never a nice quality to be critical without being solution-oriented but, alas, it seems to be a specialty of politicians everywhere.

This week, and not for the first time, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) came under fire, as a Private Member’s Bill was tabled in the Ontario Legislative Assembly by MPP Rosario Marchese proposing that Toronto no longer fall under the jurisdiction of the OMB. As usual when politicians object to a body like the OMB, a solution was not forthcoming. But let’s get real.

Marchese’s objections are about neither the public welfare nor the shape of Toronto’s future, nor the (horrors!) unconscionably deep pockets of developers — it’s about politics and posturing. The OMB is a thorn in the side of many a left-leaning councillor who loves to make the argument that developers can afford better advice.

Twas ever thus and ever will be — wealthy people, um, have more money. One of life’s sometimes unsavoury truths. But that doesn’t change the need for an appeals body and a process in place, especially in a city that is so rapidly growing.

Marchese says on his blog that “almost all new development proposals in the riding (Trinity – Spadina) demand zoning changes, and developers often begin preparing their OMB case even before meeting with residents and councillors. Expecting to pay the costs of an OMB hearing no matter what they do, developers have little incentive to seek compromises with the local community and every incentive to push the envelope of what is allowable.” If the market is demanding, and developers clamouring to build projects that, practically without exception, involve zoning changes, perhaps that should tell you something about the state of our zoning bylaws.

He adds, “My bill would allow the City of Toronto to assume authority over zoning bylaws, development approvals and other planning matters within its boundaries. Toronto would also have the ability to establish an appeals body of its own, if it wishes.”

Oh, OK, it’s becoming clearer now — having a system that is entirely one-sided is fine, as long as it’s the side you’re on, and not that of the evil developers. Let’s give all the power to the politicians, with no appeals process unless those same politicians decide to establish one. Good thinking.

Marchese asserts, too, that, “OMB process pits cash-strapped residents and overworked city planners against deep-pocketed developers.”

We’re not going to change the developers — they have a vested interest in, well, developing. It’s right there in the name. (I can’t seem to curb the sarcasm today, can I?) But demonizing them as deep-pocketed mercenaries who don’t care about their communities is a wrong-minded oversimplification. Are they self-interested? Yes, to a degree. But aren’t the residents whose interests Marchese purports to protect just as self-interested?

They may not have the same financial resources, but to portray the citizen’s side of every case before the OMB as some altruistic quest to protect a utopian future Toronto, where every yard has all-day sunshine and no building need ever rise above 10 storeys, is just silly.

Yes, some of our neighbourhoods are charming, low-rise enclaves of mature trees and Golden Retrievers, but they are increasingly priced completely out of reach for the average buyer. In a roundabout way, doesn’t that mean our left-leaning councillors are advocating for an elitism of the rich? The only way to make housing more affordable is to have more of it. Since we’ve nowhere to go but up, that means obsolete zoning laws have to change. (Incidentally, we can thank some of those zoning changes for the Distillery District, now one of Toronto’s favourite and most distinctive neighourhoods.)

Toronto city planning needs an appeals system. If the OMB is flawed, what’s the alternative? Instead of just complaining about what is, our dissatisfied councillors need to tell us what they think should be. The developers aren’t coming up with an alternative solution because they’re happy with the OMB. If you’re unhappy, you need to propose a solution or two, and get some support behind it, not just whine.

You know that guy who comes to all the meetings, drinks the coffee and complains, but never adds anything of value? Every company has one. Don’t be that guy.

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Congratulations to Mitchell Cohen, president of The Daniels Corporation, on his receipt of a Diamond Jubilee Medal for his community leadership and contributions to our fair city. Mitchell has had a hand in the revitalization of Regent Park, as well as numerous innovative ownership incentives across the GTA that help lower-income families get into homes of their own. He’s also been a staunch supporter of Second Harvest, Habitat for Humanity, and assorted other worthy non-profits. The commemorative medal was created in 2011 to mark the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. Cohen is among a select group of Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to their fellow citizens, their communities and their countries. Well deserved.