In anticipation of Official Plan Amendment 727 and Zoning By-law Amendment 608-2024 coming into force and effect, Blair Scorgie is working with developers, technical consultants, and municipal and agency staff to help the City of Toronto realize its vision for the evolution of our Major Streets. Scorgie Planning is actively engaged in the early stages of several mid-rise purpose-built rental housing projects that will create much-needed housing supply, diversify the existing housing stock, promote public transit and active transportation, and capitalize on proximity to existing community services and facilities.
Scorgie Planning
Architecture and Planning
Toronto, ON 728 followers
Multi-disciplinary planning and design consultancy based in Toronto, Ontario.
About us
Scorgie Planning is a multi-disciplinary planning and urban design consultancy based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 2024, our company operates as a sole proprietorship and works in collaboration with a range of technical consultants on an as-needed basis. Our work is tailored to a range of private, public and not-for-profit sector clients. Core client groups include: - Landowners; - Developers and Real Estate Investment Trusts; - Regional Governments; - Municipal Governments; - Public Agencies; - Post-Secondary Academic Institutions; - Faith-Based Institutions; - Childcare Providers; - Environmental Organizations; - Community Organizations; and, - Philanthropic Organizations. We offer a diverse array of professional services with a focus on development planning, land use and policy planning, urban design, and consultation and engagement. Core services include: - Strategic Advice; - Visioning Exercises; - Due Diligence Reports; - Highest and Best Use Reports; - Consent for Severance Applications; - Minor Variance Applications; - Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments; - Site Plan Control Applications; - Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement; - Public Consultation and Engagement; - Written and Visual Evidence Preparation; - Expert Witness Testimony; - Secondary Plans; - Master Plans; - Urban Design Guidelines; and, - Peer Reviews.
- Website
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www.scorgieplanning.com
External link for Scorgie Planning
- Industry
- Architecture and Planning
- Company size
- 1 employee
- Headquarters
- Toronto, ON
- Type
- Self-Employed
- Founded
- 2024
- Specialties
- Development Planning, Policy and Land Use Planning, Urban Design, and Consultation and Engagement
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
Toronto, ON, CA
Employees at Scorgie Planning
Updates
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Scorgie Planning reposted this
Scorgie Planning is leading the preparation of the Mixed-Use Laneways Study on behalf of Neptis Foundation. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with LGA Architectural Partners (Architecture), Studio of Contemporary Architecture (Urban Design), Gladki Planning Associates (Geospatial Data and Mapping), LEA Group (Transportation and Civil), and urbanMetrics (Land Economics), among others. Over the past few months, our team has undertaken a comprehensive background review and analysis. Based on this information, we have prepared a set of five development scenarios that reflect an appropriate range and diversity of conditions to be studied. Each development scenario addresses a prototypical site, laneway, block, and land use interface condition. Collectively, the development scenarios represent a range and diversity of existing conditions, project types, mix of uses, and scales of development. We have established a roster of architectural consultants, who are now in the process of preparing design concepts associated with the five development scenarios. This includes Samantha Eby (this office), Anya Moryoussef (AMA), Jon Cummings (JC-A), Uros Novakovic (Office OU), and Jennifer Kudlats / Andrew Hill (StudioAC). I will oversee and direct the work of these consultants, providing strategic advice and calling upon the expertise of key team members, when needed. This includes Janna Levitt, Tura Cousins Wilson, Robert Walter-Joseph, Christopher Sidlar, and Peter Thoma among others. In tandem, LEA Group and urbanMetrics will undertake additional technical analysis focused on transportation, servicing and land economics considerations associated with the five development scenarios. Once this work is complete, our team will turn its attention toward preparing a set of recommendations to be packaged and broadly circulated for consideration.
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Blair Scorgie has built his career on the notion of tangibly addressing the housing and climate crises in the City of Toronto and across the Province of Ontario. Commissioned by Environmental Defence, prepared by LGA Architectural Partners and SvN Architects + Planners, and directed by Tim Gray, Philip Pothen and Blair Scorgie, the Mid-Rise Manual serves as a blueprint for delivering the 1.7 million homes that will be needed across Ontario by 2031, while ensuring that future development is financially attainable and environmentally sustainable. Website: https://lnkd.in/gGUgBX9J Report: https://lnkd.in/gd97gWZz
Scorgie Planning made its first appearance in Novae Res Urbis this week, in an article titled "Mandating Mid-Rise: New Report Suggests Housing Targets Unattainable Without Policy Reform on Mid-Rise Housing". Thank you to Matt Durnan for taking the time to speak with me about this important piece of work, which was commissioned by Environmental Defence and undertaken by LGA Architectural Partners and SvN Architects + Planners at the direction of Tim Gray, Philip Pothen and myself. Posted with permission of the publisher of NRU Publishing Inc. Original article first appeared in Novae Res Urbis GTHA, Vol. 27, No. 46, Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
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Scorgie Planning reposted this
What a positive experience working with Environmental Defence on their latest report that outlines critical steps to unlock mid-rise housing! As the housing crisis continues to affect Canadian communities, collaborating with SvN Architects + Planners and Scorgie Planning resulted in this comprehensive document that guides policymakers to make mid-rise construction viable. This report is especially timely with Toronto city council approving a plan to support the building of 20,000 new rental homes in the city by 2026.
The Solution to Ontario's Housing Crisis: An injection of mid-rise housing We’re excited to announce the release of our latest report, "The Mid-Rise Manual: Five Steps to Unlock Mid-Rise Housing and End Ontario's Housing Shortage." Written by senior associates at LGA Architectural Partners and SvN Architects + Planners, this comprehensive report offers an expert-driven approach to addressing our province's pressing housing needs while prioritizing environmental protection and sustainable urban development. The report outlines five critical steps for policymakers, urban planners, and industry professionals to unlock the potential of mid-rise housing: 1. Legalizing labour-efficient designs and methods 2. Simplifying and speeding up approval processes 3. Reducing the cost burden of government fees, taxes, and charges 4. Transitioning small-scale developers to mid-rise projects 5. Implementing supportive zoning and policy changes We have a unique opportunity to reshape Ontario's urban landscape. By advocating for and implementing these recommendations, all levels of government in Ontario can work to create more sustainable, livable cities while addressing our critical housing needs. Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gGUgBX9J
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Scorgie Planning is pleased to build upon Blair Scorgie's long-standing working relationship with WSP in Canada and the Town of Halton Hills, as well as previously completed work on the Guelph Street corridor, in undertaking this Secondary Plan.
I am pleased to announce that WSP in Canada, in collaboration with Scorgie Planning, has been retained by the Town of Halton Hills to undertake the Guelph Street Corridor Secondary Plan. Through this process, I will lead the preparation of urban design policies and implementing urban design guidelines, while co-leading the public and stakeholder engagement process, and providing strategic and technical advice to the consultant and client teams.
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In partnership with Environmental Defence, Managing Principal Blair Scorgie prepared the terms of reference documents, oversaw the request for proposal process, and helped direct the preparation of the Mid-Rise Manual in collaboration with LGA Architectural Partners and SvN Architects + Planners.
The Solution to Ontario's Housing Crisis: An injection of mid-rise housing We’re excited to announce the release of our latest report, "The Mid-Rise Manual: Five Steps to Unlock Mid-Rise Housing and End Ontario's Housing Shortage." Written by senior associates at LGA Architectural Partners and SvN Architects + Planners, this comprehensive report offers an expert-driven approach to addressing our province's pressing housing needs while prioritizing environmental protection and sustainable urban development. The report outlines five critical steps for policymakers, urban planners, and industry professionals to unlock the potential of mid-rise housing: 1. Legalizing labour-efficient designs and methods 2. Simplifying and speeding up approval processes 3. Reducing the cost burden of government fees, taxes, and charges 4. Transitioning small-scale developers to mid-rise projects 5. Implementing supportive zoning and policy changes We have a unique opportunity to reshape Ontario's urban landscape. By advocating for and implementing these recommendations, all levels of government in Ontario can work to create more sustainable, livable cities while addressing our critical housing needs. Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gGUgBX9J
Mid-Rise Manual
https://environmentaldefence.ca
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Blair Scorgie worked closely with Noam Hazan and his team, providing technical and strategic advisory services as well as stakeholder consultation and engagement services, in support of a Minor Variance Application and Committee of Adjustment Hearing for this beautiful fourplex and garden suite in Toronto.
Another win today at the Committee of Adjustment! With 42 letters of opposition from the local public, we still succeeded in getting unanimous approval for the development of a fourplex and a garden suite! With originally 13 variances, we took into account concerns from the neighbours and modified the design down to only 2 variances. Despite that, over 20 people turned up at city hall to oppose the scheme. Today was a great win for increasing density and rental options for the people of Toronto! Couldn’t have done it without the creativity of our clients and Blair Scorgie and Michelle N..
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Scorgie Planning is actively working with local residents to protect their right to housing.
“What risk is there of further destabilizing garden suite regulations across the city?” Blair Scorgie, a resident of Leslieville and Toronto urban planner, asked at one point. “Is that in our best interests in the context of a housing crisis?” https://lnkd.in/gnUhz3G9
Garden suites are dividing neighbours on this tiny Toronto street
thestar.com
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I spoke with AM640 this morning regarding a proposed Zoning By-law amendment to remove garden suite permissions on Parkmount Road between Danforth Avenue and Hanson Street in Toronto. I believe that the project, which is being undertaken at the direction of City Council, contravenes Sections 24(1) and 35.1(1) of the Planning Act. Importantly, the Official Plan is consistent with Section 16(3) of the Planning Act (see below). Here is a link to the interview: https://lnkd.in/g9DUGtmZ
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Scorgie Planning reposted this
I recently spoke with Mahdis Habibinia at the Toronto Star to share my perspective on The City of Toronto's "Vision Zero" strategy. I focused on some of the key issues, challenges and opportunities that need to be considered from a planning and design perspective in order to realize its core objective. #TOpoli https://lnkd.in/grzMdUA4
Toronto has spent millions on bike lanes. So why are so many cyclists getting killed?
thestar.com