CBA Municipal Law Section

New PPS - ERO Listing: https://lnkd.in/edKjuCH5

MMAH just issued an announcement respecting timber construction: Ontario’s Building Code allows Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction buildings to be up to 12-storeys tall. The province intends to amend the Building Code in the coming months to permit encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys. See: https://lnkd.in/eJJz-5QJ

Ontario CodeNews Issue 353 advises on the launch of the next edition of the Building Code: "Ontario is planning to release the 2024 edition of the Building Code next week to reduce regulatory burdens for the construction industry and make it easier to build housing. The 2024 Building Code will come into effect on January 1, 2025. There will be an additional transition period allowing permit applicants to continue to use the 2012 Building Code for applications submitted before March 31, 2025, if applicants can demonstrate that their working plans were substantially completed under the 2012 Building Code prior to December 31, 2024. More details about the transition period and training opportunities will be shared in the coming weeks. The new Building Code will be released in digital and hard copy versions to support the industry's transition and ensure applicants have sufficient time to become familiar with the new edition of the Building Code before it comes into effect on January 1, 2025."

Staring April 1, 2024 [no joke], O.Reg. 41/24 will take effect setting out standard rules respecting development near rivers, streams and wetlands; replacing the current rules found in 36 discrete conservation authorities' regulations. Amongst other matters, reduced setbacks established. See: https://lnkd.in/eDesAVeG. O.Reg. 41/24 will be attached to next post.

Province just announced a freeze on new MZOs: "The province will launch consultations on a go-forward framework for how requests for zoning orders will be received and considered. The intention is to develop a new process that is more open and transparent while maintaining this important tool to cut through red tape to get shovels in the ground sooner. The province is in receipt of three zoning order requests that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing intends to approve ahead of these consultations: - A request received from the Minister of Health related to the protection of air flight paths of Ornge emergency helicopters, patients, and crews that need to land at hospitals in downtown Toronto. - A request received from the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade that allows Ontario to create jobs and protect taxpayers by issuing downstream permits to meet project timelines associated with the new battery plant mega-site investment in St. Thomas. - A request endorsed by Mayor Olivia Chow intended to support a new location for a regionally significant Halal grocery store in the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood of Toronto. The province will not consider or issue any other zoning order requests until the completion of consultations on the go-forward framework."

Another Provincial Announcement at the AMO Conference: Minister Clark announced that the province intends to appoint regional facilitators in Durham, Halton, Niagara, Waterloo, York and Simcoe County by September 11, 2023. These facilitators will be tasked with assessing local governance structures in these communities to ensure they are prepared to support future growth and meet the needs of their residents, particularly when it comes to building homes and housing-enabling infrastructure.