Toronto will hold stakeholder and public consultations on proposed Official Plan amendments that aim to regulate how residential developments including so-called iceberg homes impact surrounding areas and the environment.

The consultation proposal adopted by the Planning and Housing Committee at its May 8 meeting directs staff to report back to the committee with final recommendations in the fourth quarter.

Iceberg homes, single-family detached residential buildings with a larger below grade footprint than their above grade footprint, often with multi-storey basements, are regulated by the same regulations as other detached houses, says a background report tabled with the proposed amendments. Current zoning regulations do not control below ground setbacks for small-scale residential buildings, such as detached houses with large below ground footprints.