Municipal & Planning Law

Peter Simm’s cases in the field of Municipal & Planning Law are reported in 3 hardcover law reports. As well, 5 legal textbooks in this area cite his cases, as does a legal periodical.

However, Simm’s primary achievement in municipal law is a non-litigious matter which received international media attention, namely the creation of the official clothing-optional zone at Hanlan’s Point’s Beach on Toronto Island. He initiated and led the successful campaign to convince Toronto City Council (and its relevant committees) to designate the zone (1999), extend it (2000), and make it permanent (2002).

Simm’s detailed brief to Council proposing the zone was crucial, as it persuaded key City staff and councillors of the merits of his idea, and was adopted by the official staff report. In a front-page article in The Toronto Star  (Apr. 23, 1999), the City’s Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture & Tourism was quoted as praising Simm’s brief as “well researched and presented in a cogent and thoughtful manner”.

The zone’s creation received substantial media attention, including international media such as The Times  of London (UK). (Enlargeable images of 86 sample media reports are shown below.).

The clothing-optional beach is mentioned as a Toronto attraction in 27 mainstream tourist publications, including official City publications and most travel guidebooks. It is also mentioned as an attraction in 15 other books and numerous newspaper articles, and was the subject of a clue on the popular TV quiz show, Jeopardy! (Apr. 7, 2015). [For more on the zone’s creation, click here. ]