Long Branch Conservation – August 2019 update from David Godley

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The following text is from David Godley of Long Branch; please note the layout has some minor issues related to working with an Excel spreadsheet for some data:

Attachment [which I’ve converted from Word to PDF for ease of online access]:

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Greetings from Long Branch

which is enjoying a beautiful stretch of summer weather

Contents: 1) Council Decisions 2) JK Quotes 3) Governance Committee 4) Application Status

1) City Council Decisions

City Council on July 16, 17 and 18, 2019, adopted the following:

1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report to the Planning and Housing Committee in the fourth quarter of 2019 on options and a timeline to increase housing options and planning permissions in areas of Toronto designated as Neighbourhoods in Toronto’s Official Plan and that Planning staff consult with registered community associations prior to submitting their report.
2. City Council request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to include in the report back in Part 1 above opportunities for a missing middle pilot area in Ward 19, Beaches-East York, in consultation with the local Councillor.

(attached are articles about this issue)

City Council on July 16, 17 and 18, 2019 adopted the following:

1. City Council appoint the following candidates to the Committee of Adjustment for a term of office ending November 14, 2022 and until successors are appointed:

Etobicoke York Panel:

Laura Alderson

Danny Bellissimo

Michael Clark (previously on Toronto/ East York panel)

Douglas Colbourne (continues on Etobicoke/York panel)

Stan Kumorek

Michi McCloskey

Neil Palmer

Donald Taylor

(NB.  appointments are from Sep 1st so Sep 12 COA meeting will find 5 members in action, thank you Barbara)

2) JK Quotes

Jennifer Keesmaat‏Verified account @jen_keesmaat May 27

Among Canada’s provinces, Ontario is the lowest per capita spender. Ontario is last in total spending – 10th out of 10. The lie that spending is out-of-control is being used to fuel the dismantling of our transit, healthcare and schools. Shameful.

Jennifer Keesmaat‏Verified account @jen_keesmaat 9h9 hours ago

Jennifer Keesmaat Retweeted Rod Mickleburgh

I find this bizarre, too. Policy measures have been put in place precisely to cool the housing market. The market cools, and it is reported as a problem, not a win. This is a mentality that views housing as an investment as opposed to….housing.

“Political leaders must focus on solutions that include high-quality, purpose-built, affordable rental units, rather than forcing the square peg of postwar mentalities around housing into the round hole of today’s housing climate.” @jen_keesmaat

3) Special Committee on Governance due by the end of the year.

Special Committee on Governance (2018-2022)

The Special Committee on Governance is a special committee established by City Council to consider the impacts on the City’s governance structure and processes arising from the reduction in the size of Council and to make recommendations to City Council on any further changes to its governance structure. Meetings of the Special Committee on Governance are called by the Chair.

Search Special Committee on Governance

NRU bulletin 2 August 2019 reports that by U of T professor Marianne Valverde  says  that the way forward is a New York style appointed advisory model giving the community control over land use and zoning matters. At the controversial applications at the moment are being decided in court like settings where applicants have all the advantages. She is an international expert on governance. She also notes that the Committee of Adjustment is dysfunctional.

4) Application Status

1. A) DIVISIONAL COURT (No change in status)

9 38th Street. The Divisional Court judge decided on January 31st 2019 that there was enough evidence for one of several items to go to a full hearing – procedural fairness. The issue was how a Request for a Review should be answered after a TLAB decision was overruled. A hearing is expected within months.

11 Stanley was to go before a judge on February 19 about a leave to appeal to the Divisional Court on the legal points of a decision which refused the applications. However further discussions are taking place.

15 Stanley has been the subject of a Review Request and leave to Appeal to the Divisional Court. The resident who appealed both 11 and 15 and acted independently winning both decisions at TLAB has requested that TLAB change their rules not to allow both actions to be done simultaneously. The proposal was well received by TLAB at a business meeting. A classic strategy in legal matters where it is a well resourced party against a not so well resourced party (ie personal finance) is to wear down the opposition.

1. B) TLAB

Summary of TLAB hearings Courtesy Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (as updated)

1. a)  January 7^th and 8^th 2019 (extended hearing to Oct 15,18, 24,25)   80 39th Soldier houses 0.35 to 0.62 density, For TLAB Makuch, for Proposal Kanter/Romano.
2. b)  January 10, 80 23rd St (extended hearing to Oct 29,30 or 31st tbd) Soldier houses (variances only) 0.35 to 0.60. Approved by COA. Appeal by City. For Proposal Cheeseman/Cieciura.
   
3. c) January 22, 27 39^th,(extended to July 23, 24, 25 and again Jan 8, 9, 10 2020) 2 storey houses (revised from soldiers) 0.35 to 0.60. For Proposal Stewart/Romano. d) February 26^th and 27^th 2019 (extended hearing December 4, 5 and 11), 11 Shamrock. Soldier houses 0.35 to 0.69 For Proposal Artenosi/Romano.
4. e) March 21, 25 and April 1 2019 (extended hearing Aug 2 , 20) 38 31st Soldier houses35 to 0.66. For Proposal Guglietti/Romano. 
5. f) April 17^th and 18th, (extended hearing July 17, 18) 99 27th St Soldier houses 0.35 to 0.94. For TLAB Yao, for Proposal Weston Consulting. Plans being revised to lower density.  TLAB Chair Ted Yao.
   
6. g) Aug 6th and 7th (extended Oct 4, 21 and 22), 65 40th, (2) 2 storey houses 0.35 to 0.79 . Approved by COA and appealed by City. A test case for the Long Branch Character Guidelines.
7. h) July 9th 10th, 77 35^th,(extended to Oct 11 and 16) 2 storey semis 0.60 to 0.61 and 0.7. Approved by COA and appealed by City. City dropped appeal because of lack of planner. Neighbour Resident also appealed. LBNA a party. A test case for Long Branch Character Guidelines Guidelines.
8. i) Nov 19th and 20th, 74 38th, soldier house and 2 storey house 0.58, 0.59  Approved by COA and appealed by City.
   
9. j) July 26th 6B Shamrock, rear balcony, 4sqm approved. Owner appealed for 8 sqm. Estoppel motion failed. Settlement may be in the offing. Planner Romano.
   
10. k) Oct 2nd and 3rd 90 Ash Crescent, approved by COA and appealed by neighbour. Planner for proposal  Cheeseman/Cieciura.
    

1. C) COA Files. For the time being severance applications have diminished, in no small part due to LBNA (particularly Christine Mercado and Judy Gibson strongly supported by residents) opposing all of them at TLAB. These are multi day hearings full of procedural matters against Toronto’s top lawyers and wily Planners who do not seem to follow their professional code. LBNA are dealing with 10 severance/variance cases. I believe Christine and Judy have cloned themselves. If TLAB had not been initiated we would probably have many more severances granted as well as a line up of applications.

1. D) Aug 24 2019  COA
   

76 39th St. Addition to detached house (0.35 to 0.39 density) NEW

1. E) Sept 12 2019 COA
   

15 Iris, Addition to detached house (0.35 to 0.53 density) NEW

95 James, 2nd Storey addition (0.35 to 0.64)

1. F) Other Applications

36 Ash, Soldier Houses 0.35 to 0.71 Deferred

11 Garden Place, Soldier Houses 0.35 to 0.71 Deferred

46 Park Blvd. Legalising triplex with addition and affecting two healthy trees. Planning Recommends refusal

39 Fairfield, no data. Postponed

29 Lake Promenade, Raising (illegally) flat roof by 0.5m. Deferred. No hearing scheduled

19-21 29th Street, 3 houses replacing 2. 2 soldier houses and a 3 storey without garage. 0.35 to 0.74, 0.75 and 1.07. (postponed for rationale) NEW

19 33rd St. Severance and variances. 2 storey houses (0.35 to about 0.40) (postponed) NEW

62 Thirtieth Street. No data. NEW

If you wish to look at all the material online go to “Development Applications Toronto” then check “Committee of Adjustment” “Ward 3”  “Search” and follow the cues. However the number of applications in Ward 3 has outstripped the capacity of the Applications Information Website and you cannot view the whole list of applications together.

Previous “Updates” can be found on preservedstories.com a major blog site run by Jaan Pill, formerly of Villa Road.

Submissions on applications need to be in to COA by 3pm on the Thursday before the COA meeting for inclusion in the package that is given to COA members. Submissions before 10am on the day of the hearing will be considered. E&EO. Please feel free to correct, add to or forward information. Feel free to circulate.

Have a great month and stay cool. David