WE ADD VALUE TO OUR CITYWE ADD VALUE TO OUR CITYTORONTO TORONTO FAITH FAITH COALITIONCOALITION

PLACES OF WORSHIPPLACES OF WORSHIP

Concerns with Present Proposed By-law

All former by-laws are about to change. Big and small Places of Worship will have limited

opportunities where they can locate.

The proposed by-laws will determine where all Places of Worship can Rent Buildings OR Buy Land in Toronto

The Challenges Facing POWPROBLEM #1

Limited Zones where Places of Worship can Locate

A. Limited Approved Areas This draft by-law has almost no approved areas where churches will be permitted 

B. Saturation in Limited Zones: Hundreds of Places of Worship will be forced into the same few permitted areas

Almost NO Zones for Places of Worship

Note: Some Blue & Some Red are allowed but not necessarily available or affordable

New by-law says NO Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange and only

Limited Red

According to a recent paper on places of worship in the GTA, a large number of places of worship have obtained rezoning to move into industrial areas.It is also reported that 22% of Toronto’s places of worship are located in industrial areas.  It appears that about 50% of new places of worship were located in Employment Districts between 1995 and 2005. 

Where will these Rental Places of Worship relocate? There are basically no options for new Places of Worship

City of Toronto Study on Zoning For Places of Worship

IBI Group 04/09 page 6

A. Leased or Rented Properties: Landlords in employment lands who previously rented to Places of Worship will be prohibited from doing so. This will require hundreds of people to relocate from their present facility. B. Purchased Properties: If the Place of Worship is NOT already zoned with their building permits: there is a strong probability they will not be protected for the future. ■Zoning can cost on average $50 000 for; fees, studies and representation ■If the Place of Worship zoning is rejected because it doesn't meet the city by-laws for "permitted use".  Places of Worship must appeal their case to OMB (Ontario Municipal Board) it can cost $100 000.  After spending $100 000+ in this process it will not guarantee that you will get your necessary zoning and may still be required to move

The Challenges Facing POW

PROBLEM #2 Possible Removal of Places of

Worship

The Challenges Facing POWPROBLEM #3

Restrictions on Renovation of Present Facilities

If you are presently zoned in employment lands and your congregation grows, requiring future expansion, it could present problems a. You Will Be Required to update your facility to Meet the New By-law Codes b. Any increase in the worship area will require the parking to comply with all new Parking Standards Proposed by-law 150.50.40

The Challenges Facing POWPROBLEM #4

Standardized Parking Formula The proposed parking formula will make it almost impossible for Places of Worship located in High Density areas OR At Risk neighborhoods.

Mid-Size to Larger Places of Worship over 30 000 ft2 will be required to have 10% more parking

NOTE: There are items to be resolved such as the definition of auditorium

The Challenges Facing POWPROBLEM #5

Zoning Impact on Financing

Places of Worship will be caught between City by-laws and BanksBanks won’t approve the loan until churches have approved zoning (too risky)Commercial Banking Professional from CIBC said: "Unless the existing zoning already confirms that the building can be used as a place of worship, an organization would not receive financing until the zoning is complete."

This by-law will make it almost IMPOSSIBLE for many Places of Worship to Purchase their own facility or to expand to a larger facility

Very few sellers will wait for months for a POW to go through the zoning process

We had one City Staff member tell us: "Places of Worship

should move to where they can afford"

This by-law is sensible but not reasonable.  It is not practical for 1st Generation Canadians who want to worship in their neighborhood

AND for At Risk neighborhoods whose people are unable to afford a building for their Place of Worship.   What do we tell the residents in

our poorest communities? **They live where they can afford - they want to worship and receive

support there also. The privilege to practice Faith is not for the wealthy, it is for everyone.

Conclusion: This by-law doesn’t understand the vital role Places of Worship play and why it is necessary for us to exist in every part of this great city

Note: Community centres are valued and have been given many more zones where they can locate than Places of

Worship.

Every Challenge Has a SOLUTION !

What We Must Do To Stop this Oppressive By-Law1) Call all City Council - we must have the majority of council agree to work with Places of Worship - be polite but clear and strong about this election issue2) Email all City Council3) Tell other people of faith to join the Toronto Faith Coalition•Contact: kbegley@hwc.orgImportant:We Need THOUSANDS to Attend an upcoming rally with city officials and the zoning Statuatory Meeting

1) We must have "as of right zones"- or we won't be able to purchase facility

2) We need to be in all zones except heavy industrial- We need council to develop a fair deal with it’s people of faith like Brampton worked out for it’s faith community

3) We need to adjust the parking standard- it is unfair and hasn't considered density areas and others

4) We need to negotiate how occupancy size will be determined- the new standard will force places to sell property

5) Places of Worship "add value" to this city- its not just about taxes and industry

**Here is where you  ADD "Practical"" ways Your Place of Worship adds value to the city and neighbourhood. Example: kids & youth programs, outreach program,  counselling, feeding, financial assistance, single parents, moral fabric, etc

6) We need City Council to negotiate with Toronto Faith Coalition - to have a deal for all people of faith

What Do We Need to Tell our City Councillors?

Places of Worship need

“AS OF RIGHT” zoning

Please Act Now!

Places of Worship Places of Worship ZONE PermissionsZONE Permissions

Place of Place of WorshipWorship

Retail Retail StoreStore

Place of Place of AssemblyAssembly

CommuniCommunity Centrety Centre

Residential (R) NO YES NO YES YES

Residential Detached (RD) NO NO NO YES YES

Residential Semi-Detached (RS)

NO NO NO YES YES

Residential Townhouse (RT)

NO NO NO YES YES

Residential Multiple Dwelling (RM)

NO NO NO YES YES

Residential Apartment (RA)

NO YES NO YES YES

Red Box means Presently Permitted

Places of Worship Places of Worship ZONE PermissionsZONE Permissions

Place of Place of WorshipWorship

Retail Retail StoreStore

Place of Place of AssemblyAssembly

CommuniCommunity Centrety Centre Ask ForAsk For

Commercial Local (CL) YES YES NO YES

Commercial Residential (CR)

YES YES YES YES

Commercial Residential Employment (CRE)

NO YES NO YES YES

Employment Light Industrial (EL)

NO YES NO NO YES

Employment Industrial (E) NO YES NO NO YES

Employment Heavy Industrial (EH)

NO NO NO NO NO

Employment Industrial Office (EO)

NO NO NO YES YES

Red Box means Presently Permitted

Places of Worship Places of Worship ZONE PermissionsZONE Permissions

Place of Place of WorshipWorship

Retail Retail StoreStore

Place of Place of AssemblyAssembly

CommuniCommunity Centrety Centre Ask ForAsk For

Institutional (I) YES YES YES YES

Institutional Hospital (IH) NO YES NO NO YES

Institutional Education (IE)

YES YES YES YES

Institutional School (IS) NO NO NO NO YES

Institutional Place of Worship (IPW)

YES NO YES YES

Red Box means Presently Permitted