Dark times for Architecture and Design. Blanche Lemco van Ginkel passed away on Oct 20,2022. She was known for planning Expo 67, she also defended the preservation of Old Montreal and created beautiful modernist designs among many other personal and professional achievements. Only 10 days later, another big loss, Jack Diamond, from Diamond Schmitt Architect also passed away. The office helped shaped much of Toronto’s recent urban landscape.
But a darker cloud hovers above us this month
and it’s threatening to destroy our city’s livability, its participatory culture, and its previsions for a sustainable future
Design and aesthetics are easy to underestimate, many people don’t see the value at first sight, but the truth is, that their value is enormous, as together they support not only functionality but livability. Architecture is about design, but design is not only an aesthetic choice, design deals with a complex series of issues from functionality, safety and sustainability to the socio-cultural aspects that impact space. All which, taken into account, can produce places that empower us, protect us, and console us in our daily lives.
For that reason, there is no architecture without design; without design there is only construction.
When talking about cities, the extend to which design can affect our lives is even bigger, because when we ‘design’ development or revitalization projects, decide on rebuilding an area, adding parks, plazas, open spaces, or improve the sidewalks, parkettes, pedestrian crossings, streetscapes, etc. we are designing ‘togetherness’, we are designing the way in which we will inhabit the spaces that we share in the city, together. Affecting not only the present but the future. These decisions about the built environment have a long-lasting effect in our societies’ socioeconomic, ecological, cultural, and ethical aspects.
But Bill 23, does not believe in design, and it seem to undermine every possible aspect of it. Cities will have no say on design. The Bill is removing Site Plan Control Requirements for buildings under 10 units, restricting municipal authority to regulate urban/landscape design. They are restricting their voice and power to advocate for the quality of our built environment through good design (things like scale, appearance, materiality, green features, etc.) and location of utilitarian components such as parking, landscaping and garbage would not subject to comments by authorities with jurisdiction. Al this will also have a resounding effect for many Design Review Panels (DRP) across the province who are avid defenders of good design practices.
Bill 23, also does not believe in contributing with public spaces nor community services, although they have a profound effect on how we live and relate to each other. Public spaces and community spaces such as libraries and community centres, provide opportunities for casual encounters and for all to share, regardless of social, economic, political or cultural background, they bind communities together. They are a direct measure of cities’ livability creating a sense of belonging and a sense of place.
Instead, the bill proposes to reduce development charges, community benefit charges and parkland requirements – with the excuse of promoting affordable housing. Leaving municipalities with a fraction of the tight budgets they previously had to provide for these essential spaces that are vital to healthy neighbourhoods.
We will also have less sustainability protection for the future, less greenbelt, less farmland. Bill 23 proposes to reduce 7,400 acres (2994Ha) of Greenbelt farmland and natural areas. Areas that were created to help ensure natural and agricultural lands were protected, precisely from unsustainable sprawl and development. These areas are precious as they have the highest quality soils and favourable climatological conditions necessary to guarantee quality and diversity of local fauna and food in our cities now and in the future, affect the ecological integrity of the watersheds and natural systems.
Furthermore, Bill 23 also eliminates the power of municipalities to create Green Development Standards to ensure new development is climate resilient, and it limits the power of the Conservation Authorities relative to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Across the GTHA there are areas which are better suited for development. In fact, there are over 86,500 acres (35005 Ha.) already zoned and ready for development in communities close to existing public transportation and other essential services. So this measure is absurd and unnecessary as the housing targets that it aspires to achieve could be achieved without it.
Lastly, this Bill is reducing our democratic right to participate in the communal decisions that affect us all, and allow us to, collectively, create social, economic, and spatial improvements within our communities and neighborhoods. Among other things, Bill 23 prohibits regular citizens to appeal development applications at the Ontario Land Tribunal. Removing the democratic rights that citizens currently have to participate and limiting this right to developers. As an example, Bill 23 eliminates the requirement for a public meeting for a plan of subdivision – so citizens and neighbours no longer have the chance to be heard and share their views about the projects, even if the live in the area.
This is only a snapshot of what Bill23 intends to do and how it is affecting our ‘togetherness’ and our ‘democracy’ but “The legislative changes proposed under Bill 23 are profound. Altering much of how lands across Ontario are planned and developed, these are perhaps the most significant and consequential changes to our profession, and the built and natural environment, since a series of amendments were made to the existing version of the Planning Act in the 1990’s. Its short timeline and limited scope of public review compound the potential for significant adverse and unintended consequences.” (Excerpt from letter from Susan Wiggins, Executive Director and Members of Council Ontario Professional Planners Institute)
Do not stay indifferent, the deadline to submit comments is November 24, Time is of essence. Please spread the word and let’s get together as a community, of architects, planners, designers and citizens, to express our concerns. So write to your local professional association, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), or non-profit organization of choice and spread the word!
LEARN MORE
Last year we expanded our services, we also separated our art influenced design practice, SUMO project, from our Art making practice SUMO fc, an art collective. Same great services, mirror abilities, dual personalities
We’ll have more SUMO news to share soon, but for now we need to defend our rights and the rights of our future generations! Stay tunned…..
Thank you SUMO for a clear and accurate outline of the wide-reaching effects of Bill 23 on the province of Ontario.
You can express your concerns both as a professional and as a citizen and voter to the Standing Committee who is reading the Bill (https://www.ola.org/en/apply-committees) and to your MPP (find yours at https://www.ola.org/en/members/current). The urgency is real – the deadline for comments to the standing committee is Thursday, Nov 17th.
Thank you for the links! really helpful. We have to do our citizen duties too!