Assessing the Impacts of Iceberg Houses - by Councillor Jaye Robinson, seconded by Councillor Mike Colle

The environmental impacts of iceberg houses are also a cause for concern, particularly within sensitive contexts such as ravines and flood plains. The limited soil depth resulting from extended basements can reduce soil permeability, increasing stormwater runoff and disrupting root systems. These applications also often require the injury or removal of trees, while extended basements reduce the viability of on-site replanting post-construction. In a recent example, an iceberg home was approved by the Committee of Adjustment in the Hoggs Hollow neighbourhood, which is a City-designated Natural Heritage System, despite a report from Urban Forestry recommending refusal. The approval resulted in the loss of nine trees, including a mature sugar maple tree estimated to be roughly 250 years old. This Motion is urgent because a holistic review of the impacts of this form of development is urgently required to address current and future minor variance and building permit applications for homes with extended, multi-storey basements.

a review of issues including, but not limited to: i. soil permeability and erosion; ii. mature tree injuries and removals; iii. dainage and stormwater management; and iv. impacts to neighbouring properties during and post-construction; b. mechanisms to address water management issues through the minor variance review process, with a specific focus on environmentally-sensitive areas; c. a review of soil depth requirements to achieve the functional benefits of softscaping, including soil permeability, water absorption and root health, as well as the implications of reduced soil depth due to an extended underground basement for on-site tree replanting agreements; and d. a jurisdictional review of best practices in other high-density municipalities, including London, England.