Roofs on new buildings with an area of 5,000 square metres or greater to be 30% to 60% covered by vegetation. The bigger the building, the more planted space it would have to have – otherwise fines of up to $100,000 could be levied.
As drafted, the bylaw would cover mid- to high-rise condos, retail space and office towers, but exempt low-rise, large-scale industrial, non-profit housing and public buildings like schools.
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, who helped bring the city’s first power-generating wind mill to the Exhibition grounds, said he was “disappointed” the first draft of the bylaw was so “tepid.”
Mr. Pantalone asked city staff to come back in a month with a proposal that would include schools, low-rise buildings on “Main Street” and even private residences.
“Either we are the leading city in the world or we’re the ones who looked in the mirror and got scared,” he said.
Stephen Upton, vice-president development planning at building giant Tridel, pointed out that once installed, the rooftop shrubbery has to be left untouched for two years to allow it to take root.
More information is also required about how long the longevity of green roofs and how much should be budgeted in a condo corporation’s building fund for future replacement.
“I think there’s still quite a bit left to be understood, digested and refined,” Mr. Upton said. “Toronto green standards, those are things that shouldn’t be mandated but should be encouraged, like LEED is in the industry.”
But while the developers were balking at the bylaw, environmental groups were urging Toronto to move further and faster. The issue will return to the planning and growth committee for further debate in May.
network.nationalpost.com
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Toronto real estate. TORONTO GOES GREEN
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