HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLN 34-23Report to
Planning & Development Committee
Report Number: PLN 34-23
Date: November 6, 2023
From: Kyle Bentley
Director, City Development & CBO
Subject: City Initiated Official Plan Amendment 50
Changes to policies to recognize and reinforce the new Pickering Integrated
Sustainable Design Standards
File: OPA 23-005/P
Recommendation:
1.That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA 23-005/P, initiated by the City of Pickering,
to amend existing policies related to the review of Planning Act applications to recognize
and reinforce the new Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards, as set out in
Exhibit ‘A’ to Appendix I to Report PLN 34-23 be approved; and
2.That the Draft By-law to adopt Amendment 50 to the Pickering Official Plan, to amend
existing policies to recognize and reinforce the new Pickering Integrated Sustainable
Design Standards, as set out in Appendix I to Report PLN 34-23, be enacted.
Executive Summary: In September 2022, Council approved the Pickering Integrated
Sustainable Design Standards (ISDS). The ISDS were created to advance sustainability and
resilience objectives in new development, and replaced the 2007 Sustainable Development
Guidelines for new development applications. Concurrent with Council approval of the ISDS,
Council directed staff to initiate a technical amendment to the Pickering Official Plan to add
new policies that support the ISDS.
Staff have prepared an amendment that supports the implementation of the ISDS during the
review of new development applications (see recommended Amendment 50, Appendix I to
Report PLN 34-23). Sustainability staff have reviewed and concur with the recommendations.
As this Amendment is technical in nature, a Statutory Public Meeting is being held the same
evening as this Recommendation Report is being considered by the Planning & Development
Committee.
Committee may either recommend to Council to approve the application as submitted, approve
it with such modifications as deemed appropriate, refuse the application, or adjourn
consideration until a later date. Staff recommend the application be approved and the by-law to
adopt Amendment 50 be forwarded to Council for enactment.
Financial Implications: This report has no direct financial implications to the City.
PLN 34-23
Subject: City Initiated Official Plan Amendment 50
November 6, 2023
Page 2
Changes to policies to recognize and reinforce the new
Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards
Discussion:
1.Background
On September 20, 2022, Council adopted the new Pickering Integrated Sustainable
Design Standards (ISDS), a tool that had been created to advance sustainability
and resiliency in new development. Replacing the City’s previous Sustainable
Development Guidelines (2007), the ISDS are intended to support Pickering’s goal of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage the construction of sustainable,
and climate-resilient buildings and neighbourhoods. To support the implementation of
the ISDS, Council directed staff to initiate an amendment to the Pickering Official Plan
(see Resolution #982/22, Attachment #1).
Similar to other municipalities, the ISDS consists of two tiers of performance criteria.
Tier 1 criteria are required for all new developments arising from Site Plans and
Subdivision applications deemed complete on or after January 1, 2023. Tier 2
performance criteria are optional and propose more advanced sustainability criteria to
be considered for new developments.
Identifying the ISDS as the City’s approved standard for new developments within the
Official Plan will create an updated and stronger planning policy basis for implementing
the new ISDS through the application review process.
2.The Recommended Official Plan Amendment
Appendix I to Report PLN 34-23 is the Recommended Amendment 50 to the City of
Pickering Official Plan. Amendment 50 revises existing policies that refer to sustainable
development objectives and other Council adopted Sustainable Guidelines to now
identify the ISDS as the applicable reference standard. More specifically, key proposed
amendments to the Official Plan include:
•providing a definition for the ISDS;
•replacing the reference in the Duffin Heights Neighbourhood Policies to the former
Sustainable Development Guidelines with a reference to the new ISDS;
•establishing the ISDS as the standard for private development;
•establishing either the ISDS or LEED Silver as the standard for municipal
development;
•clarifying how ISDS will apply to development of lands within Seaton and to all lands
beyond Seaton; and
•Sustainability staff have reviewed, and are in agreement with, the recommended
official plan amendments.
PLN 34-23
Subject: City Initiated Official Plan Amendment 50
November 6, 2023
Page 3
Changes to policies to recognize and reinforce the new
Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards
3.Public Notice
The electronic Open House and electronic Statutory Public Meeting were advertised on
the Community Page of the News Advertiser on September 14, 2023. It was also
featured on the City’s Development Applications website and was promoted through the
City’s social media channels. The electronic Open House was held on October 3, 2023,
prior to the electronic Statutory Public Meeting, to provide the opportunity for the public
to learn and ask questions about the proposed changes to the Official Plan, and to
provide comments.
As of the writing of this report, no comments have been received from the public.
4.Official Plan Amendment Approval Authority
The Region of Durham may exempt certain local official plan amendments from
Regional Approval if such applications are determined to be locally significant, and do
not exhibit matters of Regional and/or Provincial interest.
The Region has advised that this amendment is exempt from Regional approval.
5.Conclusion
Amendment 50 incorporates appropriate revisions that strengthen the City’s Official
Plan policies in support of the new Pickering ISDS, in accordance with Council
Resolution #982/22.
Staff recommends:
a)That Official Plan Amendment Application OPA 23-005/P, to amend existing
policies related to the review of Planning Act applications to recognize and
reinforce the new Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards, as set out in
Exhibit ‘A’ to Appendix I to Report PLN 34-23 be approved; and
b)That the Draft By-law to adopt Amendment 50 to the Pickering Official Plan, to
amend existing policies to recognize and reinforce the new Pickering Integrated
Sustainable Design Standards, as set out in Appendix I to Report PLN 34-23, be
enacted.
Appendix
Appendix I Draft By-law to adopt Amendment 50 to the Pickering Official Plan
Attachment:
1.Council Resolution #982/22
PLN 34-23
Subject: City Initiated Official Plan Amendment 50
November 6, 2023
Page 4
Changes to policies to recognize and reinforce the new
Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards
Prepared By:
Original Signed By
Ish Chowdhury
Planner II, Policy
Original Signed By
Déan Jacobs, MCIP, RPP
Manager, Policy & Geomatics
Approved/Endorsed By:
Original Signed By
Catherine Rose, MCIP, RPP
Chief Planner
Original Signed By
Kyle Bentley, P. Eng
Director, City Development & CBO
IC:PW:ld
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
Original Signed By
Marisa Carpino, M.A.
Chief Administrative Officer
Appendix I to
Report PLN 34-23
Recommended Amendment 50
to the Pickering Official Plan
The Corporation of the City of Pickering
By-law No. XXXX/23
Being a by-law to adopt Amendment 50 to the Official Plan for
the City of Pickering (OPA 23-005/P)
Whereas pursuant to the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.p. 13, subsections 17(22) and 21(1), the
Council of The Corporation of the City of Pickering may by by-law adopt amendments to the
Official Plan for the City of Pickering;
Whereas pursuant to Section 17(10) of the Planning Act, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and
Housing has by order authorized Regional Council to pass a by-law to exempt proposed area
municipal official plan amendments from its approval;
Whereas on February 23, 2000, Regional Council passed By-law 11/2000 which allows the
Region to exempt proposed area municipal official plan amendments from its approval;
Whereas the Region has advised that Amendment 50 to the City of Pickering Official Plan is
exempt from Regional approval;
1. Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the City of Pickering hereby enacts as
follows: That Amendment 50 to the Official Plan for the City of Pickering, attached
hereto as Exhibit “A”, is hereby adopted;
2. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward to the Regional
Municipality of Durham the documentation required by Procedure: Area Municipal
Official Plans and Amendments;
3. This By-law shall come into force and take effect on the day of the final passing hereof.
By-law passed this XX day of XXXX, 2023.
________________________________
Kevin Ashe, Mayor
________________________________
Susan Cassel, City Clerk
Exhibit “A” to By-law XXXX/23
Amendment 50
to the City of Pickering Official Plan
Recommended Amendment 50 to the Pickering Official Plan
Purpose: The purpose of this Amendment is to recognize and reinforce the new Pickering
Integrated Sustainable Design Standards (ISDS) with policy in the Pickering
Official Plan and update references to the previous Sustainable Design
Guidelines (2007).
Location: This amendment applies to all lands within the City of Pickering.
Basis: The City of Pickering has recently adopted ISDS for all new development in the
City to replace the 2007 Sustainable Development Guidelines.
The new ISDS is a set of standards that allows the City to review development
applications through a “sustainability” lens, based on modern, green technology
criteria and best practices.
Although the ISDS have already been approved by Council, making reference to
the ISDS within the Pickering Official Plan will provide added weight to their
application in the review of draft plans of subdivision, site plans, and rezonings.
Actual The City of Pickering Official Plan is hereby amended by:
Amendment:
(New text is shown as underlined text, deleted text is shown as strikeout text, and retained text
is shown as unchanged text.)
1. Revising City Policy 12.17 (k)(vii), Duffin Heights Neighbourhood Policies, in Chapter 12
– Urban Neighbourhoods, so that it reads as follows:
City Council shall:
(k) in the consideration of development proposals within the neighbourhood:
(vii) require the submission of a Sustainability Report that demonstrates
how the proposal is consistent with the City’s Sustainable
Development Guidelines Integrated Sustainable Design Standards;
2. Supplementing City Policy 14.3 (e), Corporate Initiatives, in Chapter 14 – Detailed
Design Considerations, so that it reads as follows:
City Council shall:
(e) in the design of City owned properties and facilities, meet the Integrated
Sustainable Design Standards, and/or achieve a minimum of LEED ® silver
certified, or alternative equivalent through the implementation of sustainable
design measures such as: the selection of energy conserving and energy
efficient products for facilities; the salvaging and reuse of construction,
demolition, and land clearing debris; and use of permeable surfaces and
pervious pavement in areas such as parking lots and sidewalks;
Recommended Amendment 50 to the Pickering Official Plan Page 2
3. Adding a definition of the term “Integrated Sustainable Design Standards” in alphabetic
order to Section 15.15, Glossary, in Chapter 15 – Implementation, that reads as follows:
“Integrated Sustainable Design Standards (ISDS) means a set of mandatory (Tier 1)
and voluntary (Tier 2) standards that allows the City to review development
applications through a lens that includes modern, green, best practices and
technology. The ISDS replaces the 2007 Sustainable Development Guidelines.”
4. Revising City Policy 16.5A (xxix), Required Studies for an Official Plan Amendment,
Zoning By‑law Amendment, Draft Plan of Subdivision, and Draft Plan of Condominium
Approval, in Chapter 16 – Development Review, so that it reads as follows:
City Council shall require the following materials and studies prepared by
qualified experts, as scoped or expanded as a result of the pre-submission
consultation required by Section 16.2, to be submitted at the time of application
for an official plan amendment, zoning by-law amendment, draft plan of
subdivision, and draft plan of condominium approval:
(xxix) a sustainable development report, or checklist, required within the Seaton
Urban Area, and for all lands outside of the Seaton Urban Area, for
development applications that were approved prior to the Council
enactment of the Integrated Sustainable Design Standards (January 1,
2023), describing the sustainable measures being implemented in the
development,. Measures includinged but were not limited to initiatives
related to energy efficiency, water efficiency, building materials, indoor
air quality, landscaping, stormwater management and construction
waste. For development applications that were approved in the Seaton
Urban Area, prior to the enactment of the Integrated Sustainable Design
Standards, the sustainable development report, or checklist shall, at a
minimum, be consistent with the Seaton Sustainable Place-Making
Guidelines;
On lands within the Seaton Urban Area, and for all lands outside the
Seaton Urban Area, for which development applications have not been
received or approved as of Council’s enactment of the Integrated
Sustainable Design Standards (January 1, 2023), such development
applications shall be accompanied by a sustainable development report,
and checklist, describing the sustainable measures which at a minimum
meet the Tier 1 requirements of the City of Pickering’s Integrated
Sustainable Design Standards;
5. Revising City Policy 16.5B (xxii), Required Studies for Site Plan Approval, in Chapter 16
– Development Review, so that it reads as follows:
City Council shall require the following materials and studies prepared by qualified
experts, as scoped or expanded as a result of the pre-submission consultation
provided for by Section 16.2, to be submitted at the time of application for site
plan approval:
Recommended Amendment 50 to the Pickering Official Plan Page 3
(xxii) a sustainable development report, or checklist, required within the Seaton
Urban Area, and for all lands outside of the Seaton Urban Area, for
development applications that were approved prior to the Council
enactment of the Integrated Sustainable Design Standards (January 1,
2023), describing the sustainable measures being implemented in the
development,. Measures includinged but were not limited to initiatives
related to energy efficiency, water efficiency, building materials, indoor
air quality, landscaping, stormwater management and construction waste.
For development applications that were approved in the Seaton Urban
Area, prior to the enactment of the Integrated Sustainable Design
Standards, the sustainable development report, or checklist shall, at a
minimum, be consistent with the Seaton Sustainable Place-Making
Guidelines;
On lands within the Seaton Urban Area, and for all lands outside the
Seaton Urban Area, for which development applications have not been
received or approved as of Council’s enactment of the Integrated
Sustainable Design Standards (January 1, 2023), such development
applications shall be accompanied by a sustainable development report,
and checklist, describing the sustainable measures which at a minimum
meet the Tier 1 requirements of the City of Pickering’s Integrated
Sustainable Design Standards;
Implementation: The provisions set forth in the City of Pickering Official Plan, as amended,
regarding the implementation of the Plan shall apply in regard to this
Revision.
Interpretation: The provisions set forth in the City of Pickering Official Plan, as amended,
regarding the interpretation of the Plan shall apply in regard to this
Revision.
City Initiated: ISDS
OPA 23-005/P
Attachment #1 to PLN 34-23
Legislative Services Division
Clerk’s Office
Directive Memorandum
September 28, 2022
To: Kyle Bentley
Director, City Development & CBO
From: Susan Cassel
City Clerk
Subject: Direction as per Minutes of the Meeting of City Council held on
September 20, 2022
Director, City Development & CBO, Report PLN 38-22
Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards
City of Pickering
Council Decision Resolution #982/22
1.That Council adopt the Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards: Low-Rise
Residential Checklist, dated August 2022, for Site Plan and Plan of Subdivision
Applications for development of less than four storeys and a minimum of five dwelling
units, as set out in Appendix I to Report PLN 38-22, save and except that Number T1,
Electric Vehicles including plug-in hybrid vehicles, Tier 1 Mandatory provision be
amended to read as follows:
“Require 40% EV Rough-in & 10% EV Ready charging infrastructure or
equivalent electric vehicle energy management systems (load sharing/circuit
sharing) capable of providing Level 2 or higher charging for the resident parking
spaces;
or
Require EV Ready charging infrastructure capable of providing Level 2 charging
or higher for 50% of the resident parking spaces.”
2.That Council adopt the Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards: Mid to High
Rise Residential & Non-Residential Checklist, dated August 2022, for Site Plan and Plan
of Subdivision Applications for development of residential buildings of four storeys and
higher, and all Industrial, Commercial and Institutional buildings, as set out in Appendix
II to Report PLN 38-22, save and except that Number LN7, Common Outdoor Amenity
Space, Tier 1 Mandatory provision be amended to read as follows:
“For residential buildings with 20 or more dwelling units, provide 4.0 square
metres of common outdoor amenity space per dwelling unit (a minimum
contiguous area of 40.0 square metres must be provided in a common location).
Where lot areas are constrained in some cases, flexibility on providing the
common outdoor amenity space requirement may be provided at the discretion of
the Director, City Development.”
Please take any action deemed necessary.
Susan Cassel
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer
And, that Number T1, Electric Vehicles including plug-in hybrid vehicles, Tier 1
Mandatory provision be amended to read as follows:
“For multi residential buildings, require 40% EV Rough-in & 10% EV Ready
charging infrastructure or equivalent electric vehicle energy management
syste ms (load sharing/circuit sharing) capable of providing Level 2 or higher
charging for the resident parking spaces;
or
Require EV Ready charging infrastructure capable of providing Level 2 charging
or higher for 50% of the resident parking spaces.”
3. That Council require all Site Plan and Plan of Subdivision Applications, for the type and
scale of development referenced in Recommendations 1 and 2 above, that are deemed
complete on or after January 1, 2023, to meet Tier 1 – Mandatory Performance Criteria
as outlined in the Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards Checklists;
4. That Council direct staff to:
a. initiate an amendment to the Pickering Official Plan to add new policies that support
the Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards;
b. add provisions to the City’s Draft Comprehensive Zoning By-law that support the
Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards;
c. identify any additional staff resources, and cost recovery mechanisms, necessary to
implement and enforce the ISDS, for inclusion within the proposed 2023 budget;
d. review the Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards every four years to
reflect Ontario Building Code revisions, updated industry standards and climate
science, and changing market demands; and,
e. report back to Council on a proposed non-financial incentive strategy that supports
the Pickering Integrated Sustainable Design Standards by the end of 2023;
5. That Report PLN 38-22 of the Director, City Development & CBO, which responds to
Council Resolution #914/22 regarding a green roof by-law, be received for information;
and,
6. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the necessary
actions as indicated in this report.