HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD 23-03
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REPORT TO
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Report Number: PD 23-03
Date: April 25, 2003
From:
Neil Carroll
Director, Planning & Development
Subject:
Recommended Revised Process for Draft Plans of Condominium
Recommendation:
1.
That Council ENDORSE the revised process respecting approval of Draft Plans
of Condominium, recommended in Report Number PD 23-03.
Executive Summary: Following the delegation of approval authority from the
Region of Durham to the City of Pickering for Draft Plan of Subdivision, Draft Plan of
Condominium and Part Lot Control Bylaw approval, staff have continually reviewed
opportunities to streamline the processing of applications.
The standard reporting process of submitting detailed reports to City Council for each
proposed plan of condominium is considered unnecessary and could be eliminated in
specific circumstances, thereby reducing processing time.
The draft plan of condominium review process is technical in nature and relates in most
cases to development projects that have already undergone extensive public review
under related Planning Act processes, that have Council approval, and that have
received endorsement by the Site Plan Committee.
It is recommended that Council authorize the Director, Planning & Development to
issue draft approval for condominium applications under the delegated authority of
By-law 5391/01, at a Department level, without Council's consideration of a report from
the Planning & Development Department.
Staff will continue to bring reports to Planning Committee respecting draft plans of
condominium in situations where concurrence is not achieved between the applicant
and staff respecting approval or related approval conditions.
Financial Implications: No direct costs to the City are anticipated as a result of this
implementing this revised process.
Report PD 23-03
Date: April 25, 2003
Subject: Recommended Process for Draft Plans of Condominium
Page 2
1.0 BackÇlround:
1.1 Past Process
Prior to 2001, the processing and approval of draft plans of condominium was the
responsibility of the Region of Durham. The City was circulated draft plans of
condominium for review and comment. The Planning & Development Department
would prepare a report for Council's consideration outlining the proposed tenure of
the development, along with any conditions recommended to be imposed by the
City. Council's resolution and conditions would be forwarded to the Region of
Durham to be included in their conditions of draft approval.
1.2 The Process Changed
The process for the review and approval of Draft Plans of Condominium changed
in 2001 with the delegation of approval authority from the Region to the City.
Although the process has been somewhat streamlined, the Planning &
Development Department continues to submit detailed reports to Planning
Committee for each proposed plan of condominium. Through staff's continuing
efforts to identify process efficiencies, it has been concluded that this standard
reporting process is unnecessary and could be eliminated under specific
circumstances, thereby reducing processing times for the development industry.
1.3 No requirement to hold public meetings for Draft Plan of Condominiums
The provisions of the Planning Act do not require the approval authority to provide
notice of the application or hold a public meeting for an application for Draft Plan
of Condominium. The City's process does not currently involve public notice.
Public meetings are held in accordance with the Planning Act provisions and
Council procedures for related Planning Act applications that may apply to a
condominium project. The City of Pickering will continue to circulate plan of
condominium applications to agencies that have specifically requested notification,
and their comments\conditions will be considered for incorporation into the
conditions of draft approval.
1.4 The Director, Planning & Development proposes to exercise his delegated
approval authority for Plan of Condominium Applications that are technical
in nature, without formal reporting to Planning Committee.
The City of Pickering was delegated approval authority from the Region of Durham
to approve draft plans of condominium on January 1, 2001. City Council
subsequently passed By-law 5391/01, which further delegated approval authority
to the Director, Planning & Development.
Report PO 23-03
Date: April 25, 2003
Subject: Recommended Process for Draft Plans of Condominium
Page 3
Typically any development that is subject to an application for draft plan of
condominium has already been subject to another Planning Act application(s)
such as Site Plan Approval, Zoning By-law Amendment, Official Plan Amendment
or a Draft Plan of Subdivision. It is through the review of these applications that
City Council considers the merits of proposed development and renders decisions.
Plans of Condominium essentially deal with matters of tenure and are introduced
at the end of the development process, possibly during project construction.
Review, approval, and registration of condominium applications is technical in
nature. To ensure that the approval process is facilitated as expeditiously as
possible, it is recommended that the Director, Planning & Development be
authorized to exercise his delegated approval authority and proceed to issue draft
approvals for condominiums without formal review of a Report by Planning
Committee, and Council approval.
1.5
City Council will receive reports for Condominiums in the event disputes
between the applicant and the City cannot be resolved.
A report to Council will be prepared in the event that the applicant does not agree
with the proposed conditions of approval and/or does not concur with staff's
position respecting the plan of condominium. Most commonly, disputes over what
is to be included within a condominium unit boundary or common element
boundary may occur and therefore the applicant would have the opportunity to
address this issue at Planning Committee and Council.
The recommended process is similar to that used by other Municipalities in the
Greater Toronto Area and the Region of Durham. While some Planning
Departments still report to Council, it is not uncommon for condominium
applications to be dealt with at the department level.
Report PO 23-03
Date: April 25, 2003
Subject: Recommended Process for Draft Plans of Condominium
Page 4
Approved I Endorsed By:
~t~.
Lynda Taylor CIP, RPP
Manager, Development Review
TB:jf
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer
Recommended for the consideration of
Pickering City Council
.,