Report to: Development Services Committee                           Report Date: September 4, 2007

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Status Report on Subcommittee on Second Suites

PREPARED BY:               Murray Boyce, Senior Policy Coordinator

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That this report be received and that at the request of the Subcommittee on Second Suites, all members of Council be invited to attend an upcoming Subcommittee workshop, with representatives from the Region of York and other invited GTA municipalities, scheduled from 1-3 pm on September 18, 2007 in the Canada Room. 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not required.

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide an update to the Development Services Committee on the establishment and proceedings of the Subcommittee on Second Suites and to notify and invite all members of Council to an upcoming workshop scheduled in September.

 

BACKGROUND:

At its meeting of  June 26, 2007, Council recommended that a Subcommittee of Development Services Committee be established to review the continued appropriateness of the Town’s current strategy for second suites and to investigate whether options for a strategy that would apply wider zoning permissions for second suites should be considered for public review and input. 

 

At that time, Council recommended that the Subcommittee report back to Development Services Committee in the fall on a preferred option(s) for moving forward with a strategy for second suites including a public consultation/engagement process.  See Council Resolution in Appendix “A”

 

In response, a Subcommittee on Second Suites, has been established comprising Mayor Scarpitti, Regional Councillor Heath, Regional Councillor Wong, Councillor Webster and Councillor Kanpathi.  

 

DISCUSSION:

The Subcommittee which is chaired by Regional Councillor Wong has met twice over the summer to review and provide input on Subcommittee Tasks including an investigation of Town-wide zoning permissions for Second Suites in other municipalities and a preliminary identification of Town-wide options for wider zoning permissions in Markham. 

 

Among other tasks, it is the intention of the Subcommittee members to involve all members of Council on how to engage and consult with the public on strategy options and to review any public communication material to be prepared on strategy options.

 

Copies of the powerpoint presentations from July 9th and August 15th Subcommittee meetings are attached in Appendix “B”

 

A Subcommittee workshop, with representatives from the Region of York and other invited GTA municipalities, has been scheduled to follow the September 18, 2007 Development Services Committee meeting.  The purpose of the workshop will be to hear the Region of York’s perspective on second suites as they relate to the emerging Regional Growth Management Strategy and to learn more about the experiences of other GTA municipalities which have recently adopted wider Town-wide zoning permissions for Second Suites.  

 

A copy of a recent survey of eight Greater Golden Horseshoe communities with Town-wide zoning permission for second suites in place is attached in Appendix “C”.  The September 18th workshop is intended to provide an opportunity for all members of Council to discuss issues and options with representatives from a select number of these communities and learn more about their experiences with permitting second suites Town-wide. The Subcommittee is recommending that all members of Council be invited to attend the workshop scheduled from 1-3 pm on September 18, 2007 in the Canada Room. 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

 Not applicable.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None.

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

None.

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

None.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Staff from Fire Services, Building Standards, Clerks (By-law Enforcement), Planning and Urban Design, Legal and Corporate Communications will be invited to attend the September 18, 2007 Subcommittee workshop as well.

 

RECOMMENDED BY:

 

________________________                           ______________________________

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.                                Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P.,R.P.P

Commissioner of Development Services           Director of Planning and Urban Design

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix “A”- June 26, 2007 Council Resolution

Appendix “B”- July 9, 2007 and August 15,2007 Subcommittee presentations

Appendix “C”- Second Suite Permissions in Greater Golden Horseshoe Communities

Q:development\planning\MISC\MI464\Second Suites\DSC Reports\Sept 4, 2007 report Second Suites