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T
CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT D.N.SMITH,M.C.I.P.,Director
HAMPTON,ONTARIO LOB 1JO TEL.(416)263-2231
REPORT TO THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY 11,
1981.
REPORT NO. : P-90-81
SUBJECT: Possible Amendments to the Restricted Area By-laws
of' the Town of Newcastle to recognize Group Homes;
Correspondence from the Durham Regional Board of
Health in respect of the location and distribution
of Group Homes and the financial and social implica-
tions of Group Homes
Our Files: 11.1.5 & 80-1/D
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that:
1. This Report be received; and
2. The Planning and Development Committee of Council
convene a meeting with the Newcastle Social Planning
Council to discuss possible amendments to the Restricted
Area By-laws of the Town of Newcastle to recognize existing
Group Homes and provide a procedure by which new group
home proposals may be evaluated; and
3. The Deputy Clerk be requested to arrange for the joint -
meetin(with the Social Planning Council t
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BACKGROUND:
There has been considerable debate about the location of
group homes in residential areas in municipalities in Ontario.
Some time ago, the Province issued guidelines for the planning of
group homes in municipalities in the Province. Municipalities have
been requested to recognize group homes in residential areas through
making them a permitted use in municipality's Restricted Area Zoning
By-laws. Group homes are intended to provide a home-like, family-
style environment for persons requiring special care or supervision
A group home is defined by the Government as, "a single housekeeping
unit in a residential dwelling in which three to ten residents live
as a family under responsible supervision consistent with the require-
ments of its residents. The home is licensed or approved under Provin-
cial Statute in compliance with municipalities' By-laws."
In order to implement the Planning Guidelines referred to above
and the existing Official Plan policy of the Region of Durham, it would
be appropriate for the Town to amend its various Restricted Area By-laws
to recognize group homes within residential zones and potentially es-
tablish an appropriate standard for regulating the minimum distance
separation between such uses.
In the early part of 1980, the Town of Newcastle was requested
to comment on Official Plan Amendment 80-1(D) , which now approved, pro-
vides for the establishment of separation criteria between group homes.
The amendment, Number 47, to the Regional Official Plan is attached for
information. In response to the Region's request for comments on the
amendment, staff forwarded Report P-36-80 to the Planning and Development
Committee (copy attached) for a recommendation to Council. The Planning
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and Development Committee accepted staff's recommendations and
forwarded them to Council for consideration. Town Council referred
the recommendation back to staff at the meeting of March 10, 1980:
"to review and advise Council via the Planning and
Development Committee of the financial and social
impact which could result to this municipality."
Since that time, staff have also been requested to report
to the Planning and Development Committee on correspondence received
from the Durham Regional Board of Health in respect of group homes
(copy attached) .
Due to other constraints on staff time, staff have not been
in a position to report on this matter until this time.
COMMENT:
Further to staff report P-36-80, staff believe that the Town
should amend its Zoning By-laws to recognize existing group homes in
the municipality as permitted uses within residential areas and to
provide for locational criteria for the establishment of new group
homes in the municipality. Staff have considered the financial and
social impact of group homes and feel at this time that by recognizing
existing group homes only, a process whereby new applications can be
individually scrutinized, would be most appropriate for the Town. Staff
have not attempted to perform a detailed financial analysis of the impact
group homes has as this matter is felt to be essentially beyond the scope
of the local Planning Department and its responsibilities in implementing
the Regional Official Plan policy. The financial impact of group homes
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would best be addressed through Regional Social Services or the
Ontario Secretariate for Social Development agencies responsible
for health care policy.
In respect of the social impacts of group homes, staff re-
cognize that as a number of different social groups may reside in a
group home, each different group having different needs, that there
may be perceived social impacts as well as real impacts felt by the
residents of both the existing residential neighbourhood and the
group home. In this regard, staff feel that it is important to provide
a system whereby the potential impact perceived or real�may be evaluated
by Town Council. Staff believe that existing residents of residential
areas should have the opportunity of reviewing group home proposals in
their area and should have the opportunity of understanding those facilities
particularly as they relate to their immediate neighbourhood.
Staff have not, at this time, prepared specific amendments to
the Town Zoning By-laws, rather staff recommend that prior to undertaking
such work that further information and discussion take place with the
Newcastle Social Planning Council, who are familiar with group homes and
are knowledgeable in the matters discussed above. Staff note that additional
information in respect of group homes is available through the Planning
and Development Department and that if members of Committee require specific
information that staff can make that available.
RespectTully submitted,
DNS:lb D. N. Smith, M.C.I.P.
May 4, 1981 Director of Planning