A common complaint, from developers looking to build tall towers to homeowners wanting to add a laneway suite, is that getting a development application approved takes too long.
The city is trying to change that with a new development review division.
As it passes its milestone first year, the Star sat down with Valesa Faria, its executive director, to break down what it’s all about.
She explained how it could help speed up the delivery of affordable housing, and why they’re getting more applications right now — even though developers are cancelling projects.
What is this new division?
“The development review division was set up by the city in 2024 to expedite the delivery of housing within complete communities,” Faria said.
It brings together about 400 existing staff from various city departments, including community planners, engineers, transportation and business experts, to “review applications, manage issues, and ultimately get projects approved quicker,” she added.
What does it do?
The division reviews “every single planning application that is submitted to the city,” including residential, commercial and industrial, Faria said.
That means applications for everything from long-term care homes to condos and new parks come across their desks.
They ensure that applications comply with things like zoning bylaws and the city’s Official Plan, with the goal of getting shovels in the ground quicker.
Has it sped up applications?
The division has reduced wait times on major application types by 80 per cent, according to Faria, adding it approved more than 46,000 homes in 2024.
To do this, they’ve revamped processes to make them more efficient, introducing new technology that “allows staff from multiple disciplines to review applications electronically.”
They also have a “priority development stream” to fast-track deeply affordable and supportive housing, as well as projects that can go to construction within 12 to 24 months, including industrial and student housing developments.
A recent example is the city-led Housing Now site at 2444 Eglinton Ave. E. that will provide more than 900 new homes near transit. It’s a mix of co-op, affordable rental and condos, as well as retail, and was approved after 69 days.
“We are reviewing more applications than we were last year. We’ve had about a 46 per cent increase in application volumes year over year. So that means we’ve been able to reduce our review times while dealing with more new applications,” Faria added.
How is the condo crash impacting things?
As the new condo market cools, and developers begin cancelling projects, Faria said they’ve noticed that many are now being converted into rental.
“It’s a mixed bag, but the focus is definitely on rental in the current market,” she said.
Wait, there are more applications now?
“Many developers are doing, I would say, the upfront work, trying to get projects ready so once the market improves, they can begin construction sooner,” Faria said.
“While I’m seeing a lot more applications on the development review side, my colleagues in Toronto buildings are seeing a reduced number of applications that are coming in for building permits, which means less building but more preparing for when the market turns.”
