| name | Massing and Built Form Summary |
| description | A description of the proposed building's physical form — its height, width, depth, stepbacks, articulation, and relationship to surrounding buildings and the street. |
7. Massing and Built Form Summary
What It Is
A description of the proposed building's physical form — its height, width, depth, stepbacks, articulation, and relationship to surrounding buildings and the street.
Why It Matters
- Official Plans contain built form policies that proposals must conform to
- Urban design guidelines (municipal) govern massing relationships
- Committee of Adjustment and OLT evaluate whether the built form is "desirable for the appropriate development of the land"
Governing Law
- Official Plan built form policies (e.g., Toronto OP Sections 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3)
- Urban Design Guidelines (municipal — e.g., Toronto Tall Building Guidelines, Mid-Rise Guidelines, Townhouse Guidelines, Infill Guidelines)
- Zoning by-law angular plane requirements (e.g., 45-degree angular plane from certain boundaries)
- Ontario Building Code — fire separation, spatial separation requirements
Data Required
From the proposal:
- Building height (in metres and storeys)
- Building footprint dimensions
- Floor plates by storey
- Stepbacks (e.g., above 3rd storey, setback 3m from street wall)
- Relationship to lot lines
- Separation distances from adjacent buildings
- Street wall height
- Ground floor height / active frontage
From context:
- Heights of adjacent buildings
- Prevailing street wall conditions
- Street width (right-of-way)
- Applicable urban design guidelines
How to Build It
Step 1: Describe the building form
Generate a structured description:
- Overall height and storeys
- Base/middle/top articulation (for mid-rise and tall buildings)
- Street wall relationship
- Stepback locations and dimensions
- Ground floor conditions (grade relationship, entrance locations)
