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In an effort to foster community involvement in the complex urban planning process, Toronto's Planning Department has sent out thousands of invitations to volunteer for the City’s inaugural Planning Review Panel. The plan will randomly pick 28 Toronto residents to participate in the planning process, learn about city planning, and offer input on several issues.
12,000 letters were sent out to households across the city, and participants for the Planning Review Panel will be selected among volunteers who respond to the letters with a 'Civic Lottery'. The diverse group will include equal representation of men and women from various ages, cultural and economic backgrounds. The deadline for letter recipients to enter the Civic Lottery is October 6, while the inaugural Toronto Planning Review Panel will commence later in the fall.
“We are working to make Toronto the most engaged city in North America,” said Jennifer Keesmaat, Chief Planner and City Planning Executive Director. “Our city’s motto is ‘Diversity Our Strength’ yet we know traditional planning processes don’t always hear equally from Toronto’s many communities. The Planning Review Panel is an exciting way to bring new voices to the table, as a complement to the hundreds of consultations we host each year.”
During the next two years, the panel will meet 16 times, with volunteers sharing their unique perspectives on various topics with planning staff, including transportation, zoning, neighbourhood density and character, and historic buildings, as well as the locations of libraries, community centres, parks and other neighbourhood amenities.
“We all want the best for Toronto and are constantly striving to improve. The City's Planning Division is seeking greater input from a broader cross section of people to provide their perspective on city planning,” said Councillor David Shiner (Ward 24 Willowdale), Chair of the Planning and Growth Management Committee. “Whether you reside in a home, an apartment, townhouse, condominium, or any other type of housing, the Planning Review Panel is an opportunity for residents to directly provide input on planning choices that will shape the future of our city.”
You can learn more about the Planning Review Panel by following this link, or get involved in the discussion by leaving a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
