BUILDING DURHAM

The Municipality of Clarington is hosting a Special Meeting of Council to hear from residents and stakeholders about what should be explored as part of their Official Plan Review.  This meeting represents the first opportunity of many that will be part of a comprehensive consultation program for this project.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.  Stakeholders can participate in the meeting online or in person in council chambers.  A link to join the meeting online or by telephone will be available shortly before the start of the meeting here.

Clarington has released an Introductory Discussion Paper about the Official Plan Review.

You can view Clarington's current Official Plan here.

To be added to the project mailing list, please email OPReview@clarington.net.

The Regional Municipality of Durham (Region) is initiating a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) Study to plan for the sanitary sewerage servicing needs of the Beaverton Employment Area, identify and review various alternative sites for the SSPS, and ultimately select a preferred alternative to allow for existing non-serviced areas to be serviced plus future growth of the Beaverton community.

Currently the Employment Area is largely undeveloped and has no sanitary sewer collection system, rather existing development relies on private sewage systems.

The geographic area of interest is outlined in the Notice of Study Commencement. As indicated in the attached Notice of Study Commencement, first published in local newspapers as well as posted on the Region’s website on June 15, 2023, the Region is undertaking this study following the planning and design process for Schedule “B” projects as described in the MCEA Document (as amended 2023).

Public consultation is a key component of this Class EA and there will be forthcoming opportunities for agencies and the public to review study information and to provide input. The Region wanted to ensure you were aware of this Class EA being undertaken.

If you would like to be placed on the mailing list to receive all future notices relating to this Class EA, please send your contact information to either one of the listed study team members found on the attached Notice of Study Commencement. If you require additional information or would like to discuss this project, please do not hesitate to contact Kelly Murphy by telephone (905-668-4113, ext. 3370) or by email (kelly.murphy@durham.ca).

As of June 1, 2023, employers must provide naloxone in the workplace if certain circumstances described in the Occupational Health and Safety Act apply.

Employers must provide a naloxone kit when an employer becomes aware, or ought to reasonably be aware, of the following scenarios:

• There is a risk of a worker opioid overdose
• There is a risk that the worker overdoses while in a workplace where they perform work for the employer
• The risk is posed by a worker who performs work for the employer.

If all of these scenarios are present, the employer must comply with the OHSA requirements to provide naloxone in the workplace.  If any one of these scenarios are not present, an employer does not need to comply with the OHSA requirements to provide naloxone in the workplace.

Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and allow time for medical help to arrive.

Information from the Ontario Government to note:

• In 2020, 30% of workers who died from opioid-related causes were employed in construction.
• The construction and manufacturing sectors account for 45% of participating workplaces.
• Employers who do not comply with their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act may be subject to orders and, where appropriate, prosecution.

For more information, click here.

Please be advised that the Municipality of Clarington will be bringing forward a recommendation report (not posted at the time of publishing) and Parkland and Open Space Dedication By-law to the Joint Committee meeting on Monday, June 19, 2023.  

The by-law will be replacing the current dedication by-law that was approved in September 2022 (By-law 2022-0043).  The proposed changes address some minor technical issues with the existing by-law and clarifies rates and exemptions for certain developments.  It is also consistent with the recent changes in the Planning Act as a result of Bill 23.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Stacey.

At a special meeting of Regional Council on June 14, 2023, council voted 26-1 in favour of approving the new development charge bylaw.

The Durham Region Home Builders' Association, in partnership with BILD, have been working with Daryl Keleher (formerly of Altus Group) and Julie Bottos of SCS Consulting to review the DC background study and provide commentary.  Despite the consultants' feedback to Regional staff, the quantum remained unchanged when it went before council.  

DRHBA sent correspondence to council ahead of the meeting and received this response from the Region.

At the meeting, Regional Councillors Leahy and Yamada brought forward an amendment to provide a freeze on development charges for two years specifically for industrial sites greater than 100,000 sq. ft.  That amendment was defeated 23-3.

During discussion, Regional Councillor Nicholson expressed a desire to create separate categories for condo units and purpose-built rental units.  He believes that the private sector needs to be incentivized to build purpose-built units for low-to-medium income residents. 

Regional Chair Henry asked staff if the Region was the first to go through a DC update since the new provincial legislation, and staff said yes, with the exception of a few smaller municipalities.  Chair Henry also asked if other regions/municipalities will be seeing the increased costs and staff said they would.

Regional Councillor Chapman asked for a recorded vote, and the motion to approve won 26-1, with Regional Councillor Jubb voting against.

DRHBA and BILD, along with our consultants, will be hosting a meeting with interested members on June 21, 2023 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. to gauge interest and discuss a possible appeal.  If you are interested in attending this meeting, please contact Stacey.

In November, the Durham Region Home Builders' Association will be hosting their Annual General Meeting and electing their board of directors for the 2023-2025 term. 

The following positions are available for election:

• Six (6) Builder/Renovator directors
• Two (2) Trade Contractor directors
• One (1) Supplier directors
• Two (2) Professional 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 managing a GR file, speaking at a public meeting or helping to plan one of our gala events. 

As a director, you will be representing the Durham Region Home Builders' Association.  You will be expected to attend most of our events, including member events, seminars, the Awards of Excellence, President's Ball and golf tournament.

Being on the Durham Region Home Builders' Association's board of directors is a great way to help shape the industry, steer the direction of the Association, network, get more involved and stay informed on what's going on in the building world.

If you are interested in becoming a director, please forward your nomination form to Stacey at s.hawkins@drhba.com by Wednesday, August 16, 2023.  All forms 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 November.  Qualified candidates are encouraged to provide a bio and photograph to be published in an upcoming 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 Region of Durham released the Recommended Official Plan  earlier this year and received feedback from interested stakeholders and the public.  

Recommendations on the New Regional Official Plan will be brought to a Special Meeting of Regional Council on May 17, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

Regional staff are recommending that Regional Council adopt the final draft ROP and direct staff to forward the new ROP to the province for approval.

If you have any comments, please direct them to Stacey to be included in DRHBA's correspondence to the Region.

Last month, the Region of Durham has released its Development Charge Background Study, which contained a substantial increase to the current charges (average of 100% increase - depending on housing type).

DRHBA and BILD hired Altus Group to review the background study.  On May 2, our correspondence was submitted to the Region.

DRHBA and BILD have also retained SCS Consulting to review the water, sewer and roads component of the new DC bylaw.

If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please contact Stacey.

On Thursday, May 18, 2023, Report SF-23-18 - Proposed Policy Options for the Residential Rental Housing Licensing Program and Other Rental Housing Regulatory Considerations will be brought to Oshawa's Safety and Facilities Services Committee.

Last year, DRHBA submitted correspondence to the City of Oshawa based on members' comments.

The Safety and Facilities Services Committee will be considering four policy options related to the Residential Rental Housing Licensing (RRHL) Program and other rental housing regulatory considerations.

DRHBA is currently collecting feedback from members to form a submission to the City.  Please send your comments to Stacey.