March 2016 update from David Godley: “Long Branch is now Ground Zero”
The following text is from David Godley of Long Branch:
Long Branch is now Ground Zero for severances in Canada
Almost one application a week represents what seems to be the most concentrated neighbourhood for severance applications.
With 83% odds of developers (and some homeowners) getting approval at the OMB as well as additional approvals at the local level, the stream of applications for soldier houses has grown into a torrent.
See attached omgrid2:
SUBMITTED AS A COMMENT TO GLOBE AND MAIL BY LONG BRANCH RESIDENT ON MARCUS GEE”S OMB ARTICLE
by Mark Davidson, LL.B., Ph.D. See attached ombgee:
Mark also took architects Sustainable TO (Paul Dowsett, Principal Architect and assistant) for a walking tour of Long Branch and they were easily able to point out improvements to existing recent designs as well as having designed a model upgrade at 64 Ash.
FOLLOW UP REPORT ON LOCAL APPEAL BODY (LAB) FOR TORONTO
9th March 2016 9.30am Executive Committee, Committee Room 1 (First Item) Being heard now.
Theoretically it could operate for new applications later this year.
This seems the best hope of leaving the OMB behind.
SEVERANCE COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Two have been held, one for 22 30th street, where there was general agreement that the severance should go ahead revised to 2 storeys, pitched roof and contrasting styles. The box design with flat roof was truly awful. There is no reason that a traditional shape cannot be modernistic in appearance. But we need skilled architects such as Sustainable. TO
The other one was for 24 33rd Street where the applicant’s planner agreed to revise plans although the opposition from residents was noticeably cool to severing at all.
The community meeting discussions risk the Planning Department supporting a severance with improved design of housing. However approval by the OMB is highly likely for soldier houses. Attached is my report of meeting addressed to their planner.
2433rd.
88 LABURNHAM, SEVERANCE FOR 2 SOLDIER HOUSES ON A 50 FEET WIDE LOT
A comment to support a revised application reducing the storeys from 3 to 2 and density from 1.10 to 0.78 and 0.72 from the Planning Department was made the day before the COA meeting. Drawings were not available to the public and this is a much higher density than has been supported before. My comments to the COA and presentation (which was not made) ended in the applicant agreeing to defer for a community meeting on the request from Councillor Mark. See attached 88lab:
A community meeting will take place in April.
IMPORTANT OMB DECISION RELATING TO HERITAGE BUILDINGS BUT WITH WIDER IMPLICATIONS FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING
See attached heritage:
From Counclillor Mark Grimes’ Office on Urban Design Guidelines for Long Branch
I wanted to share information with you regarding the Long Branch Design Guidelines that I hope you would be able to convey at your LBRA meeting tonight.
Last week Councillor Grimes met with Planning staff regarding the status of the Long Branch Design Guidelines as he, like all of Long Branch, is extremely frustrated with the amount of severance applications and approvals occurring in the neighbourhood.
His frustration has been exacerbated by the amount of time that it is taking with regards to establishing Design Guidelines for Long Branch.
From City of Toronto Planning, Neil Cresswell, Jill Hogan, Sabrina Salatino and James Parakh were present.
The Councillor requested an update on the Design Guidelines as well as a community meeting regarding them as soon as possible.
Planning has confirmed that a meeting for the community will take place in April, at which the Design Guidelines can be discussed at length with the Long Branch Community.
Once further details of this meeting are available, I will be sure to share them with you and your group.
The Councillor appreciates any help he can get in spreading the word regarding this.
20 Garden Place
The attached report has been sent by me to the Committee of Adjustment.
If the applicant decides to proceed it is necessary to give reasons why the applications are turned down. If the applicant agrees to defer it is only necessary to support deferral.
See attached 20 garden:
Expert Witness
Expert witness, Supreme Court of Canada says a person can still be an expert witness, even if there is a relationship between the expert witness and the group for which the expert is testifying.
Long Branch Neighbourhood Association
The group, under the superb leadership of Brian Liberty, is preparing the terms of reference has been meeting monthly and will continue to do so. Incorporation/AGM is not expected till Fall. New items are coming onto the agenda and at the last meeting delegation to individuals on planning matters at COA and Community meetings was supported. Volunteers need to be at all COA and community meetings where there are severance issues and several members have offered their services.
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAVE REPLIED THAT THE COA ISSUES STEMMING FROM RECENT MEETINGS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED.
Jill Hogan, Manager of the Planning Department is setting up a meeting with me and other key participants. See coaissues attached:
Thank you to all who supplied information and comment and helped move forward the planning agenda for Long Branch.
David
[End of text from David Godley]
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!