Bill 23 and Heritage Planning

 In past newsletters, I've shared my concerns about recent Provincial planning legislation, including Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act which undermines local decision-making in the planning process. A lesser-known impact of Bill 23 is the significant amendments it made to the Ontario Heritage Act which limit the City's ability to protect heritage sites and will leave thousands of properties vulnerable to demolition.
 
One of the most significant changes introduced by Bill 23 is the treatment of "listed" properties – a status that identifies properties with potential heritage value or interest before they are protected under the Heritage Act. When a listed property is slated for demolition, the owner must provide advance notice to the City, which allows an opportunity to evaluate the property and recommend formal designation when appropriate. Unfortunately, Bill 23 introduced a two-year deadline for all listed properties to be designated, after which point they would be removed from the Provincial register.
 
According to a Heritage Planning staff report on the impacts of Bill 23, there are a staggering 3,981 properties listed on the City's Heritage Register that have not yet been designated and which will lose their status at the end of 2024. Delisted properties will be subject to a five-year waiting period before they can be added back onto the register, during which time they would be left vulnerable to redevelopment. A follow-up report from Heritage Planning with recommended strategies to preserve valuable heritage sites is expected at City Council before the end of this year.
 
At City Hall, I continue to support community initiatives to preserve important heritage sites in Don Valley West. Most recently, I moved a motion directing City Planning and Heritage Planning staff to explore all options to preserve Leaside's beloved Talbot Quads, which are currently proposed to be demolished as part of a development application at 1779-1787 Bayview Avenue. As some of you will know, this is the location of the Leaside LRT Station, which will see thousands of commuters daily – an excellent location to celebrate a slice of North Toronto history.

Agnes Macphail House, designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2012