Provincial changes to the development process could mean communities experiencing growth and the new residents moving in will have fewer resources like child care, parks and other amenities with less cash from developers to pay for them, city officials warn.As part of an omnibus bill reforming 13 separate pieces of legislation, Premier Doug Ford’s government is proposing big changes to how and where development gets built in a booming Toronto and elsewhere in the province.One fine-print detail in that Bill 108, titled the More Homes, More Choice Act, is a significant shift in how the city can charge developers wanting to build taller and denser than the rules allow.A new “community benefits charge” would combine three separate tools planners and cities have now to secure things like child care space, parkland and cash for services and infrastructure.Since the legislation was tabled last week, city planners and lawyers have been combing through the sometimes vaguely-written bill in order to understand the impact, with, they say, little additional information from the province.“In the absence of implementation details, city staff are unable to provide detailed conclusions regarding the impacts that Bill 108 will have on the city from a financial impact, planning approval and appeal process and longer-term city-building perspective,” a memo sent May 9 to all council members reads.Read more: Rental housing providers say provincial plans to ‘fast track’ building could help ease apartment shortage Souped-up basements fetching condo-style rents in Toronto’s heated housing market‘You might forget an address but you won’t forget a catchy name’: Toronto real estate agent creates rap video to sell houseWhat is understood, is with a cap on the amalgamated charge proposed by the province, there is a concern cities will wind up with less cash or direct benefits from new buildings. In Toronto, where high-growth ...
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