Proposed provincial changes to the development process will likely have âsignificant impactsâ on Torontoâs finances and âunderminesâ the cityâs ability to build livable communities, a new city staff report says.The provincial government introduced new legislation on May 2 that will alter how development gets built, is disputed and pays for growth in surrounding neighbourhoods, drawing immediate concerns from elected city officials and staff alike as well as residents.Bill 108, named the More Homes, More Choice Act, promises to cut red tape, simplify processes used by cities to negotiate development and speed up the creation of all types of housing. But city manager Chris Murray and chief planner Gregg Lintern, who signed off on the report to council in light of the new legislation, say the province hasnât made that case.âBill 108 contains limited evidence that its central objectives, making it easier to bring housing to market and accelerating local planning decisions, will be achieved,â the report says.The act âmoves away from the provinceâs stated âgrowth pays for growthâ objective and sets the conditions for two tiers of neighbourhoods in Ontario municipalities: those completed before Bill 108, where residents benefit from local community infrastructure versus neighbourhoods developed in a post-Bill 108 environment where neighbourhoods may have limited facilities and parks to support daily life.âRead more:Ford government housing bill could leave developers paying less, Toronto communities with fewer benefitsGTA councillors call for halt to provincial proposal to bring back OMBStar project: Should OMB be allowed to continue wielding its unelected power?Council is scheduled to debate the report Wednesday, after senior city staff, planners and lawyers were left scrambling to understand the proposed legislation and its impact on the city with little information from the province.N ...
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