1.You need to complete this task in strict accordance with the detailed Requirements/Guidelines.
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CITC04H3 Current Municipal and Planning Policy and Practice in Toronto
Assignment II Summer 2019
Report on Public Meeting (Participation in, and Review of, the Planning Process)
Format: 3-4 pages, double-sided, double-spaced.
A key component of Municipal & Planning processes is public participation. For our last written assignment, you will attend a public meeting dealing with a municipal planning matter (your attendance on the Field Trip to Scarborough Community Council on June 25 may count).
As discussed in class, the municipal planning process is one of the most important activities determining land use outcomes. These meetings are legally required in the planning process and regardless of how well or poorly it may be executed, public meetings are a short period of time in which major changes in the Toronto landscape can occur. These meetings also play a role in grass roots democracy, allowing local citizens to determine their surroundings through the decision-making structure of their municipal government.
Municipal planners are required throughout their careers to participate in this process. More importantly, as a future responsible member of your community who is educated about the planning process, you should be engaged in guiding your community to appropriate planning outcomes.
To get a first-hand understanding of this process you will attend a public meeting on a planning-related matter somewhere in Toronto (the meeting MUST be in Toronto on a planning matter in Toronto).
You can find meeting dates for Community Councils, Planning and Housing Committee
and Committee of Adjustment here:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/meetingCalendarView.do?function=meetingCalendarView
There are also community consultation meetings held for specific planning applications, which look like this:
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You can find information on individual planning applications here:
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-information- centre/
and here:
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-information-
centre/
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You can also look at the many planning studies currently under way to find out if any are
holding Community Consultation Meetings:
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/planning-studies-
initiatives/
THE PAPER: After attending the meeting, you should write a 3 to 4 page double spaced analysis of the meeting. The analysis should provide a brief description of the setting: who, what, where, when, etc. You should be very clear on the matter being considered. Your analysis should describe the conflicts that were dealt with at the meeting, explain both sides of those issues that are discussed, and describe if you felt other issues should have been considered and why (or, explain why they were not considered).
For your analysis to be complete, you should apply what we have learned in class to add depth and context. The analysis may include some of your personal opinion. This is your chance to SYNTHESIZE what you have learned over the semester.
WRITING: The writing should be reasonably formal and display an informed grasp of the details. Avoid the use of slang, but also be careful about using jargon and technical terms that you may not fully understand. Do not use abbreviations. The ability to communicate clearly, effectively and professionally is one of the most important skills to have as a planner.
IMPORTANT: An analysis of a meeting is NOT just a summary of the events that took place. You will do poorly if you just hand in a summary of events.
NOTE: You MUST attach a copy of the notice or agenda for the meeting.
If you do not attach a copy of the notice or agenda, a penalty will be applied to your
mark.
Have fun.
Kelly