Modular Housing Initiative: Phase Two - 175 Cummer Avenue - City Initiated Rezoning - Final Report

At the time of writing of this report, the requested Ministerial Zoning Order had not yet been made. This report contains a summary of the community engagement undertaken, changes made to the proposal since originally submitted, and presents the final recommended zoning by-law amendment to City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 to permit the proposed apartment. This report was prepared in consultation with the Housing Secretariat staff. The 175 Cummer Avenue site has been identified as suitable for construction of modular housing to create new affordable rental housing. The creation of modular affordable rental housing with support services is a key element of the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan. The City's HousingTO Plan has a target of approving 40,000 affordable rental homes over the next 10 years, including 18,000 supportive homes, at least 1,000 of which will be modular homes. Phase One of the Modular Housing Initiative was advanced in 2020 with approval and construction of 100 modular homes on two City owned sites: 11 Macey Avenue (Ward 20 - Scarborough Southwest) and 321 Dovercourt Road (formerly 150 Harrison Street (Ward 9 - Davenport)). In response to the urgent need for providing affordable and supportive homes to the city's most vulnerable residents who are experiencing homelessness, and following City Council's request to prioritize building and planning approvals for these projects, City Council made a request to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in June of 2021 to make a Ministerial Zoning Order to provide the necessary relief to permit the construction of modular housing at this site. The Planning Act gives the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the power, by order, in respect of any lands in Ontario, to exercise any of the powers conferred on Council to zone lands and modify the zoning regulations for a given site. A Ministerial Zoning Order would have enabled the City to more quickly implement this modular housing proposal. There continues to be an urgent need to provide affordable and supportive housing for the city's most vulnerable residents who are experiencing homelessness. As the Ministerial Zoning Order has yet to be made, this report recommends that a City-initiated zoning by-law amendment be approved to provide the necessary zoning relief to permit the development.