Planning - A Building Challenge

The planning and approval process forms the basic framework for building our city. This complex process involves the coordination of numerous development projects which impact the shape of our built environment. There are those who consider this process to be highly bureaucratic and politicized, often stifling the quality design which it is intended to encourage. While others argue that the measures in place protect the interests of the general citizenry. This talk will shed light on these issues and explore the relationship between the “process” of planning and the physical environment that results.

MODERATOR

Stephen Diamond

President, Diamond Corp

Stephen Diamond is President of Diamond Corp, a Toronto-based land development company actively engaged in the acquisition, approval and development of real estate. Diamondcorp manages the Whitecastle New Urban Fund, which has been established to acquire properties with the potential to increase in value through the intensification process.

Prior to the creation of Diamondcorp, Stephen served as partner and director at the law firm McCarthy Tétrault as head of the Municipal Law and Planning Group.

Stephen is Vice Chair of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, sits on the board of directors of Mount Sinai Hospital, and is Director of Whitecastle Investments Ltd. He is also actively involved in a number of community organizations including Partnerships to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE), a City of Toronto initiative with a mandate to increase economic opportunities for youth.

GUESTS

Paul Bedford

Principal, Paul Bedford & Associates

Paul Bedford is a Member and Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners with 40 years of experience in urban planning. As Toronto’s Chief City Planner for eight years, he championed numerous innovative planning strategies including the Kings, a new City wide Official Plan and Making Waves, a new plan for the Central Waterfront.

Since his retirement in 2004, he has been appointed Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University planning schools. He is also on the Board of Directors of Metrolinx, the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, serves on the National Capital Commission’s Planning Advisory Committee, the Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Property Committee to help guide the long term redevelopment of Canada’s largest Mental Health campus.

He is also a Senior Associate of the Canadian Urban Institute, a frequent public speaker and a passionate advocate of the planning profession and Toronto.

David Bronskill

Partner, Goodmans LLP

David Bronskill is a partner at Goodmans LLP. His practice focuses on municipal matters, such as planning and heritage, for public and private sector clients throughout Ontario. He has acted for a wide range of clients on development applications, including individual homeowners, resident groups, municipalities, other public agencies and developers. His work on Toronto intensification projects ranges from infill to tall buildings to secondary plan reviews in various contexts across the City.

Howard Cohen

Partner and President, Context Development Inc.

Context specializes in central Toronto residential condominiums, winning several design awards for projects as diverse as 20 Niagara, Home, Kensington Market Lofts, District Lofts, RadioCity and Spire. Context enjoys a wide reputation for the excellent quality of its buildings and is currently receiving a lot of attention for its development of Market Wharf and Library District. Prior to forming Context, Howard was President of the Design Exchange and was previously head of the Goldman Group, General Manager of Harbourfront Corp. and was Chief Planner Neighbourhoods for the City of Toronto in the 1970’s. Howard has an Architecture degree from the University of Winnipeg and is an honourary member of the Ontario Assoc. of Architects.

Peter Milczyn

Toronto City Councilor – Ward 5

Councillor Milczyn, B.Arch.,MRAIC established PZM Design, a development and architectural design consulting firm, after graduating from the University of Toronto in 1989.

Elected to Council in 1994, Peter has led the approval of the West District Design Initiative; stimulated the development and renaming of the Etobicoke Motel Strip to Humber Bay Shores; pushed Council to consider forming a Committee of Adjustment Appeal Panel; and led the International Design Competition for Nathan Philips Square.

During this term of office, Peter is a member of the Executive and Budget Committees, Vice-Chair of the TTC, and Chair of Planning and Growth Management Committee.