For a more in-depth review of Bill 23 and Bill 109 (Bill 109 – More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022) , see the FoNTRA Forum Presentation 2023 for the slide presentation by City Planning.
A few of the changes resulting from the Province’s Bill 23:
Growth Funding Tools – City loses over $230,000,000
Bill 23 change
- Discount, eliminate, or amend fees for development charges (DCs), community benefits charge and parkland dedication
- DCs cannot be collected for: housing, growth studies or land acquisition
- Discounts DC rates for rental units
- Exempts DCs for certain residential types – affordable ownership, rental, non-profit housing and inclusionary zoning units.
Impact / Analysis
- Preliminary analysis, the City will lose at least $230 million annually in development charge and parkland revenues
- a reduction of over 20% in growth funding revenues
- development charge rates will be reduced to levels below previous (2018) development charge bylaw.
Parkland Dedication – 25%-33% lower
Bill 23 change
- Parkland dedication rates capped
- 10% for sites 1-5 ha,
- 15% for sites 5+ ha
- Encumbered and stratified parkland can meet parkland dedication
- New parkland exemptions for affordable ownership housing and “attainable” housing
- Developers can propose parkland dedication size and location.
Impact / Analysis
- Parkland dedication rates will be 33%-25% lower on affected sites
- City discourages the use of encumbered parkland, which create higher design, operating, and maintenance costs
- City previously applied parkland exemption for non-profit housing, affordable rental housing and gentle intensification units.
Cultural Heritage Resources – 4,000 Listed Heritage Properties will be removed if not Registered before January 1, 2025
Bill 23 change
- The Ontario Heritage Act, now prescribes a two-year time limitation on the listing of heritage properties
- Council may only designate properties subject to a development application that are already listed
- Minimum thresholds for holding cultural heritage value have been prescribed for listing, individual designation, and heritage district designation
Impact / Analysis
- It may not be possible for the City to conserve properties with cultural heritage value through the development process unless they are already listed on the City’s Heritage Register
- New time limitations and owner objections will add to the administration of the Heritage Register
- 4,000 listed properties on the Register will need to be removed unless designated by Jan. 1, 2025.