BUILDING DURHAM

On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, the Region of Durham's council adopted Report #2020-P-14: Durham Region's response to Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (ERO Posting #019-1679) and Proposed Land Needs Assessment Methodology for A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (ERO Posting #019-1679).

The staff report recommended:

It is recommended to Regional Council:

A) That Report # 2020-P-14 be endorsed and submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as Durham Region’s response to Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) Postings #019-1680 and #019-1679 regarding Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow, 2019 and proposed changes to the Provincial Land Needs Assessment Methodology. Key comments and recommendations are that the Province:

i) update Schedule 3 of A Place to Grow to implement population and employment forecasts as proposed in the Reference Forecast that includes a 2051 population forecast of 1,300,000 and a 2051 employment forecast of 460,000.

ii) include only a 2051 total population and employment forecast in the updated Schedule 3 of A Place to Grow (referred to as “Mock B”) and not provide the interim forecasts for 2031 and 2041.

iii) not proceed with the amendment to A Place to Grow that allows municipalities to develop their own higher growth forecasts, which could result in the siphoning of growth from other municipalities across the GGH and exacerbate the challenges for underperforming municipalities.

iv) not proceed to delete Policy 4.2.8.2 a) ii of A Place to Grow, as this change could erode environmental protection of habitat of endangered and threatened species, particularly in communities that are outside the boundaries of the Greenbelt Plan.

v) amend its municipal comprehensive review conformity date from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023 to account for the impacts caused by the continued changes to Provincial Policy and the remaining outstanding Provincial decisions.

vi) expand the proposed Land Needs Assessment Methodology to include detailed steps, assumptions, data sources and processes that will align with the latest amendments to A Place to Grow.

vii) remove the requirement under subsection 17 (17.1) of the Planning Act which requires municipalities to provide a copy of the proposed Regional Official Plan (or Amendment) to the Minister 90 days before notice is issued of a public meeting and/or open house to help expedite the completion of the Region’s municipal comprehensive review.

viii)reconsider, as part of Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow, the existing hard cap of 10 hectares for Settlement Area Boundary Expansions within the Greenbelt Plan Area. Instead, municipalities should be permitted to consider larger Settlement Boundary Expansions to support the long-term viability of small urban settlements, subject to the completion of a servicing capacity study, and provincial approval through an MCR process.

ix) reconsider, as part of Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow, additional permissions to expand rural employment areas to accommodate new employment opportunities and provide the ability to establish new rural employment areas, subject to certain conditions such as availability of servicing, protection of the natural heritage system and ensure compatibility with surrounding uses.

B) That a copy of this report be forward to Durham’s area municipalities for their information.

Download/View Report

In October, the Durham Region Home Builders' Association will be hosting (perhaps virtually) their Annual General Meeting and electing their board of directors for 2020-2022. 

The following positions are available for election:

• One (1) Builder/Renovator directors
• One (1) Trade Contractor directors

Elected directors will serve a two year term.

DRHBA's top priority is advocacy work for the building industry as a whole.  We also provide networking opportunities and great events for our members.  We are looking for individuals who are willing to share their time, knowledge and experience to further the interests of the building community.  We believe that each director brings a unique skill set and perspective to the table.

Directors will be required to attend four board meetings per year (November, February, May and September), and will be asked to join one of our committees.  We ask that you share your time and expertise, whether that means speaking at a council meeting or helping to plan one of our gala events. 

Being on the Durham Region Home Builders' Association's board of directors is a great way to meet others in the industry, get more involved and be on top of what's going on in the building world.

If you are interested in becoming a director, please forward the nomination form  to Stacey at s.hawkins@drhba.com by Friday, August 28, 2020.  All resumes will be forwarded to the nominations committee for review.  If there are more qualified applicants than positions available, an election will be held at the Annual General Meeting in October.  Qualified candidates will be able to provide a bio and photograph to be published in a future news bulletin.

If you have any questions, please contact Stacey at 905-579-8080 ext. 2 or s.hawkins@drhba.com.

Download nomination form

The City of Pickering will be hosting an electronic meeting from 2:30 - 3:30 PM on Thursday, August 13^th, targeted to builders and developers of infill projects within the City to share the draft planning recommendations resulting from the Infill and Replacement Housing in Established Neighbourhoods Study (the Study). If you are interested in joining the meeting, please respond to Margaret Kish at mkish@pickering.ca by noon on Wednesday, August 12^th. Please ensure that you provide the email address that you wish to be contacted at so that you can be connected via audio and video for the meeting. You will be provided with an electronic link and instructions prior to the meeting.

The City of Pickering is undertaking the Study to determine how to manage infill and replacement housing construction in established neighbourhoods within the South Pickering Urban Area. The Study is now in its third and final phase.

There will be a short pre-recorded presentation by the project team at 2:30 pm followed by an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the Draft Planning Recommendations Report and Draft Urban Design Guidelines (the key deliverables of Phase 3 of the Study). You are encouraged to review the Draft Planning Recommendations Report on the City’s website at pickering.ca/InfillStudy prior to the electronic meeting.

The Draft Planning Recommendations Report provides the analysis of the Preferred Strategy proposed in Phase 2 of the Study and proposes detailed recommendations for the City to address compatibility of new infill and replacement housing in established residential neighbourhoods.

Your comments will inform the staff report to the Planning & Development Committee meeting on September 14, 2020. Separate notification will be provided in advance of this meeting.

Your comments and/or questions regarding the Draft Planning Recommendations Report can be forwarded to:

Margaret Kish, MCIP, RPP

Principal Planner, Policy

City Development Department

Tel: 905.420.4660, ext. 2196

Email: mkish@pickering.ca

For more information please visit our website at pickering.ca/InfillStudy

Oshawa City Council adopted report CNCL-20-154, which contains the City's comments on the Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshow, and the Proposed Land Needs Assessment Methodology.

The following recommendations were adopted:

1. That report CNCL-20-154 dated July 8, 2020, be endorsed as the City's comments on Proposed Amendment 1 to A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshow, and the Proposed Land Needs Assessment Methodology; and
2. That staff be authorized to forward a copy of Report CNCL-20-154 dated July 8, 2020 and its related resolution by City Council to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for its consideration; and 
3. That a copy of CNCL-20-154 dated July 8, 2020 and the Council resolution be sent to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Region of Durham, Durham area municipalities, Durham area M.P.P.s., the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, the City’s Building Industry Liaison Team which includes the Durham Chapter of the Building Industry and Land Development Association and the Durham Region Home Builders’ Association.

At the July 13th Oshawa Council meeting, councillors voted to receive report CNCL-20-149 regarding requiring 15% of new homes built have "visitable" features, including wider entrance ways, an accessible bathroom on the main floor, no stairs to the entrance, etc. 

Of note in this report is that staff will request the Province of Ontario to amend the Ontario Building Code in consultation with municipalities and the building and development industry to permit municipalities to establish their own approach to accessible units.  If the OBC is ultimately amended by the Province, the preparation of accessibility standards would be undertaken in consultation with the public, building and development industry and other stakeholders (O.A.A.C.) and presented to Council for approval.

Background:

Oshawa Will Not Mandate 15% "Visitable Homes"

June 10, 2020 2:27 PM | Anonymous

In the Fall of 2019, the Oshawa Accessibility Advisory Committee provided the following recommendation to council:

"Whereas the O.A.A.C. Built Environment Subcommittee is finding numerous site plans with only inaccessible townhomes and stacked townhouses; 

Therefore the City require that all residential projects be designed with 15% accessible units with visitable features, including no stairs to entrances doors as well as entrance door and washroom door widths sufficient for mobility devices."

Council referred the recommendation back to staff to have the matter discussed with Oshawa's Building Industry Liaison Team (BILT).

DRHBA was present at the October 29, 2019 meeting where representatives voiced concerns over mandating accessibility, which was followed up by a letter.  It was pointed out that many builders offer this option to purchasers already.

As a result, staff presented Report CNCL-20-67 to council on May 25, 2020.

In the report, the following recommendations were made:

• Implement conditions in planning agreements to promote consumer awareness of developers' accessible construction programs but maintain status quo pursuant to Ontario Building Code Requirements.
• Staff to encourage builders to construct model homes with accessible features to further increase consumers' awareness.

It should also be highlighted that the staff report noted that "municipalities are not permitted to require houses, triplexes, and boarding or rooming houses with fewer  than eight boarders, to exceed the minimum standards established by the OBC for barrier-free design or otherwise."

At the council meeting, Councillor Rosemary McConkey moved "That the Report CNCL-20-67 be amended to add the following as Parts 2 and 3:

2. That the Province of Ontario be requested to implement changes to the Ontario Building Code to require a portion of all new single-detached dwellings, semi-detached dwellings, row townhouse dwellings proposed in developments in excess of 6 new dwelling units to contain an accessible front entrance, an accessible width front door and an accessible washroom on the ground floor; and,

3. That all Durham Region municipalities be notified of the recommendation directly above and their respective councils encouraged to support this resolution."

Councillor Brian Nicholson moved "That Parts 2 and 3 to Report CNCL-20-67 be referred to staff for a report back to the next meeting of City Council."  This recommendation was carried.

Councillor McConkey then moved "That Part 1 of the recommendation contained in Report CNCL-20-67 be referred back to staff."  This motion lost.

The vote to adopt the recommendation contained in Report CNCL-20-67 carried.

At the July 6, 2020 council meeting, Clarington council voted to approve a zoning bylaw amendment and passed Bylaw 2020-050.

This by-law adds restrictions to building new homes and renovating current homes in the specified area.

The passed bylaw can be viewed here.

In July, students returned to Durham College (DC) to complete the practical components of their programs which were impacted by the closure of the college campuses in response to COVID-19.

Three-quarters of these “stranded” students are studying skilled trades and will spend the rest of the summer acquiring the hours and hands-on experience required to complete their studies and qualify for graduation.

As they have resumed their training, the college has resumed its Building for Skills campaign, in support of DC’s Whitby campus phase IV expansion. Slated to open in September 2021, this new 60,000 square foot building will include shop labs, classrooms and student spaces, allowing 750 more learners prepare for careers in the building construction and industrial skilled trades each year.

Funding for the $35 million building project is coming from a number of sources. DC is covering 70 per cent of the cost through a loan and use of reserves, and is seeking $10 million from the community through the Building for Skills campaign. Prior to closure, $4.2 million had already been secured, thanks to the Region of Durham, the Town of Whitby and several individuals and foundations.

DC is doing what it can to address the demand for skilled workers, from employers looking for talent, to students looking for space in the college’s programs so they can learn the skills needed to secure work or open businesses in the skilled trades. DC seeks to raise the remaining funds to support this expansion from companies, organizations, foundations and individuals that see value in opening more doors for those interested in careers in the skilled trades.

To learn more about how you can help please contact Jennifer Clark, senior development officer, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs (Jennifer.clark@durhamcollege.ca or 905.259.4598).

Part-time Course Developer- Stairs and Railings, Walls and Floors and Interior Trim

Durham College is seeking an experienced and motivated professional who shares our commitment to quality and student success.  The Centre for Professional and Part-Time Learning (PPL) requires a part-time course developer to create quality learning materials in three courses entitled Stairs and Railings, Walls and Floors and Interior Trim.  These courses are part of a new program entitled Construction Jobsite Readiness.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO):

 Reporting to the Director, the course developer will create a highly engaging and effective learning environment for students. This will include:

1.     Create course content using the appropriate tools including the D2L (Desire2Learn) learning management system;

2.     Fully develop the course, including writing lessons, curating and incorporating resources, designing navigation, creating assessments and rubrics, and adding appropriate multimedia content etc.;

3.     Implement the principles of Universal Design for Learning during development of materials;

4.     Maintain alignment of all teaching materials with the course learning outcomes;

5.     Ensure all materials are AODA and WCAG 2.0 compliant and follow copyright law.

 THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL MEET OR EXCEED THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

·       Minimum of five years of recent industry experience that relates directly to the topic being taught;

·       Holds a 4-year Bachelors (or higher) in a construction-related field. A Master of Education is considered an asset;

·       Minimum of 3 years teaching/training experience at the post-secondary level or within a construction industry environment, with the demonstrated application of adult educational principles and teaching/assessment methodologies;

·       Strong technical skills using various applications such as Word, PowerPoint, YouTube;

·       Experience with the various tools within a learning management system (such as D2L Brightspace) an asset;

·       Superior skills in the areas of verbal and written communication, interpersonal skills, critical thinking and problem solving;

·       Excellent organizational and time management skills;

·       A proven track record in consistently meeting deadlines;

·       Self-motivated and independent worker who also functions well in a team environment;

 

Preference will be given to candidates with relevant educational credentials and a proven track record of relevant work/teaching experience.  Please note that a cover letter is required in addition to a resume in order to apply for this position. Combine these within one document, with the cover letter appearing first. Job competition closes at 4:00pm on Friday July 24, 2020. Competition number is PT-PPL-175.

All applications can be submitted through our online portal: https://durhamcollege.ca/about/employment-opportunities

TORONTO — The Ontario government, in consultation with Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, has extended all emergency orders currently in force that were made under s.7.0.2(4) of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to July 22, 2020. The extension was made to ensure the province maintains the necessary flexibility to protect public health and safety as more businesses reopen and people go back to work.

The extension of the emergency orders will help protect vulnerable people, such as seniors, by allowing the redeployment of frontline staff in long-term care facilities, retirement homes and other congregate care settings, like women's shelters and residential services. In addition, the extension would allow public health units to redeploy or hire staff to support case management and contact tracing.

"Our government is getting Ontario back on track and more people back to work, but at the same time taking steps to ensure we don't undo the tremendous progress we have made together," said Premier Doug Ford. "By keeping these emergency measures in place, we will continue to support our frontline care providers, protect our most vulnerable, and ensure we can rapidly respond to potential outbreaks or surges."

The government intends to extend emergency orders to align with the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, if passed. This proposed legislation is part of the government's plan to cautiously reopen Ontario in a way that recognizes the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 even after the provincial declaration of emergency has ended. The bill, if passed, would allow Ontario to continue its path to recovery by easing restrictions where appropriate, while maintaining important select tools to address the ongoing threat of this deadly virus and protect Ontarians.

A full list of emergency orders can be found on the e-Laws website under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and at Ontario.ca/alert.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has posted a number of online resources and Environmental Registry postings that members should be aware of.

As part of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation & Parks (MECP) proposed components of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, MECP is proposing to move forward with the next phase of environmental assessment modernization, to further reduce delays and focus resources on projects with a higher potential of environmental impacts so that the provincial government can help communities get important infrastructure projects built faster, while maintaining strong environmental oversight.

Proposed amendments to the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA)

The legislation (Bill 197) would allow the MECP, through subsequent regulations and proclamations, to allow online submissions, reduce the average time by half for the largest projects and match the potential environmental impact of a project to the level of study required. The proposed changes are aimed at getting important infrastructure projects built faster, while maintaining strong environmental oversight by focusing on projects that have the most potential to impact the environment.

Please refer to https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-2051 for more information.  

Amendments to Class Environmental Assessments (Class EAs)

The MECP is seeking input on proposed amendments to 8 Class EAs (including Municipal Class EAs for which OHBA has been engaged with a variety of recommendations to the MECP). These proposed changes would support the MECP modernization initiative as they would exempt low-impact projects from the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act, eliminate duplication and find efficiencies in the planning process. This would speed up projects that are important to communities, such as erosion, repair, or remediation initiatives, or important upgrades to machinery such as waterpower generators.

MECP is seeking input on these proposed amendments during a 45-day comment period, closing on August 22, 2020.  Details of this proposal may be found at https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1712. 

Exempting Regulations

MECP is proposing regulatory exemptions from the Environmental Assessment Act to eliminate duplication and reduce delays for projects and activities related to Indigenous land claim settlements and other agreements with Indigenous communities dealing with land, projects within provincial parks and conservation reserves, and select highway projects being planned by the Ministry of Transportation. Some of these projects and activities are already subject to other legislation or planning processes that would provide the appropriate level of assessment and consultation. Other projects may be exempted from the EAA but would still be subject to conditions such as requirements to post notifications or undertake technical studies as appropriate.

MECP is seeking input on these proposed amendments during a 45-day comment period, closing on August 22, 2020. Please refer to https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1805.

Proposed changes to environmental approvals for municipal sewage collection works

MECP is proposing to modernize Ontario’s environmental approval process for low-risk municipal sewage works by implementing a Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Permissions Approach. The proposed approach will consolidate and update the approvals process for these types of works and incorporates measures that will enhance environmental protection. OHBA Resolution #1 (Modernization of Approvals) passed at our AMM in September 2019 and, the OHBA Modernizing Ontario’s Environmental Assessments (ERO 013-5101) submission the OHBA Made in Ontario Environment Submission have supported streamlining the redundant ECA process for SWM facilities and in particular SWM ponds that require sign off by the MECP following municipal approvals

MECP is seeking input on these proposed amendments during a 45-day comment period, closing on August 22, 2020. Please refer to https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1080

Proposals for select Ministry of Transportation projects

The provincial government is proposing a regulation to exempt select Ministry of Transportation projects from the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act, subject to conditions for environmental protection: the Bradford Bypass and several Ministry of Transportation Provincial Transportation Facilities class environmental assessments (Class EA) projects. The full list of projects is included in the Environmental Registry link below. MECP is seeking input on these proposed amendments during a 45-day comment period, closing on August 22, 2020. Please refer to https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1883

The provincial government is a regulation to update the existing environmental assessment process for the Ministry of Transportation’s Greater Toronto Area (GTA) West Transportation Corridor. The regulation would create a new streamlined process for assessing potential environmental impacts of the project, as well as consulting on it. MECP is seeking input on these proposed amendments during a 45-day comment period, closing on August 22, 2020. Please refer to https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-1882.

Many of the MECP proposals listed above respond directly to OHBA advocacy through the OHBA Submission to Ontario’s Jobs and Recovery Committee, OHBA Resolution #1 (Modernization of Approvals) passed at our AMM in September 2019, the OHBA Modernizing Ontario’s Environmental Assessments (ERO 013-5101) submission and the OHBA Made in Ontario Environment Submission. OHBA would like to thank our many volunteer members who have dedicated countless hours on these files.