Public Consultation Comments and Revised Official Plan Policies to Address the Loss of Dwelling Rooms

The consultation process included public open houses, stakeholder roundtable sessions, an online survey, written submissions and consultations with relevant City Divisions. Revisions made to the draft policies aim to balance the City's need to address the loss of this deeply affordable housing stock with the impacts of replacement on development. Key revisions to the policies include: a lowered minimum threshold of dwelling rooms; adjustments to the affordability period; the introduction of rent thresholds; and the inclusion of references to Section 5.1.1 of the Official Plan, Height or Density Incentives (Section 37 policies) to achieve full replacement of dwelling rooms. Definitions for Dwelling Room Affordable Rent and Mid-Range Rent have also been introduced. The proposed Official Plan amendment would provide a citywide policy framework for dwelling rooms and apply to both licensed and unlicensed dwelling rooms. The proposed Official Plan Amendment reinforces the City's policy objectives for providing a full range of housing across the City including affordable housing, provides for the replacement of dwelling rooms consistent with existing Official Plan policies that require the replacement of rental housing, and is a key policy initiative to advance the yardstick and address affordable housing challenges within the City.

3. Planning and Housing Committee direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to continue to use the Consultant's summary report on the consultations on the draft policies, appended as Attachment 2 to this report, when preparing the Final Recommendations report.