Friends,
I am happy to share that last week, several measures aimed at building the city we need for our future, while protecting our housing stock now, were considered at Planning and Housing Committee.
These include updates to the RentSafeTO program, the short-term rental by-law implementation, and Chapter One of the Official Plan.
RentSafeTO Program Update
RentSafeTO: Apartment Buildings Standards program, introduced in 2017, is a bylaw enforcement program that ensures apartment building owners and operators comply with building maintenance standards. The program was the first of its kind in Canada and applies to purpose-built rental buildings with 3 or more storeys and 10 or more units. The objectives of the program are to strengthen enforcement of City bylaws, enhance tenant engagement and access to information, and promote proactive maintenance in apartment buildings to prevent the deterioration of critical housing stock.
This report adopted with amendments by Planning and Housing Committee includes an update on work completed to enhance the program, including the redesign of the building evaluation tool to expand evaluation categories, introduce a reactive scoring scheme to reflect active violations and outstanding property standards orders, and establish a new threshold for building audits.
Short-Term Rental By-law Implementation Update
The City of Toronto regulates short-term rental activity by requiring short-term rental operators to be registered and short-term rental companies to be licensed with the City and abide by operational standards and regulatory requirements.
The Implementation Update Report provides a review on the implementation regulations and assess their impact on Toronto's short-term rental market. It also recommends a suite of bylaw amendments that aim to uphold the program's principles, further prevent commercialized short-term rental activity, and address enforcement and bylaw interpretation challenges.
Our Plan Toronto: Official Plan Chapter One
The Official Plan is Toronto’s roadmap for growth. Chapter One of the Official Plan sets out aspirational and vision-based statements that inform how the city will grow for the next 30 years.
These statements reflect the shared values of Torontonians, expressed in a way to guide development, and are the foundation for the other chapters in the Plan.
The current Chapter One was adopted by Council in 2002 as part of the City’s first post-amalgamation Official Plan and similar to other Chapters of the Official Plan requires updating to reflect the changing vision for the city.
Planning and Housing Committee adopted with amendments a staff report that recommends replacing the current Chapter One with a new Chapter One that focuses on advancing reconciliation, a Vision to 2051, and Principles for a successful and inclusive city. The recommended Chapter One will serve as a statement of values that will inform future amendments to the Plan.
Learn more about the new first Chapter for Toronto’s Official Plan here: Toronto's Vision to 2051 - YouTube
These three items will move forward for City Council consideration next week. You can review the full April 2024 Planning and Housing Committee meeting at Planning and Housing Committee - Meeting 11 - TMMIS (toronto.ca).
As always, I am thankful for your engagement and advocacy in informing these measures and creating a more inclusive city for all.
Sincerely,
Gord
- Vacant Home Tax Update
- Update on High Park Station - Easier Access Project
- Bloor St. W Complete St Extension Update
- Zoning requirement updates for mid-rise buildings on Avenues without Avenue studies Webinar #2
- Parkdale Community Planning Study Launch Event April 27
- Ward 4 Environment and Compost Days
- Swansea Town Hall Event: How to save money and energy with home retrofits
- Wheel-Trans Survey
- Help make Toronto more accessible: Take the survey
- Lights Out Toronto: Protecting migratory birds
Vacant Home Tax Update
Further to my letter last week regarding the Vacant Home Tax, I wanted to share the following update:
Mayor Chow and Budget Committee Chair Councillor Carroll have advised that they will bring a Motion to April Council recommending suspension of the fees for late declarations and the Notice of Complaint appeal process to provide peace of mind and relief to residents who received bills in error. The motion will also request an updated communications plan for the 2024 tax year. I will be supporting this motion.
A reminder that if you received a Notice of Assessment for the Vacant Home Tax, and if your property was occupied for more than six (6) months in 2023, do not pay the Vacant Home Tax charge. Instead, please file a Notice of Complaint. Upon receiving and confirming your occupancy, the City will reverse the Vacant Home Tax charge along with any interest that may have been incurred after the May 15, 2024 initial payment due date.
You can file the Notice of Complaint online or via mail.
Online:
- Go to: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/property-taxes-utilities/vacant-home-tax/
- Click on the blue tab at the top of the page, called: ‘Submit Complaint/ Appeal/ Respond to Audit’
Mail:
- Complete and print the Notice of Complaint/Appeal form.
- Mail to:
City of Toronto, Revenue Services
Vacant Home Tax Complaints/Appeals
5100 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON M2N 5V7
More information on the Vacant Home Tax can be found here: Vacant Home Tax – City of Toronto
Update on High Park Station - Easier Access Project
The northbound lane on Quebec Avenue is scheduled to be reopened in mid-April 2024.
As part of the reopening process, there will be overnight work on April 15 between 12 am and 6 am. The work will take place on Quebec Ave in front of High Park Station to remove the concrete Traffic Control Barriers. Site staff will be present in the general area and efforts will be made to ensure noise levels are kept to a minimum. Please see the notice below for more information.
Bloor St W Complete St Extension Update
This is an update on Phase 1 of the installation of the Bloor Street West Complete Street Extension from Runnymede Road to Aberfoyle Crescent. The initial installation of Phase 1 was substantially completed in December 2023, with the exceptions of some curb extensions, bus stop markings, and Zicla platforms. Upgrades are being planned for Spring 2024 and beyond.
Below is a summary of work completed in 2024 for Phase 1:
- A new asphalt raised platform has been installed at the westbound Jane TTC bus stop on the south of Bloor St W, west of Jane Street. Signage and pavement markings will be added in the coming weeks.
- Zicla platforms and additional curbs and bollards near Zicla platforms were added in January and February.
Work to be completed in Phase 1 in Spring 2024 includes:
- Painting curb-extensions in Bloor West Village and Kingsway Business Improvement Areas (BIAs);
- Adding bus stop markings and green paint at conflict zones throughout the corridor; beginning with the high-priority location for the eastbound right-turn lane and the bus stop at South Kingsway;
- Adjusting curbs and bollards in The Kingsway BIA to provide more space for people parking; and,
- Adding “Loading” lettering in Loading Zones.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to emails updates like this, please email: [email protected]. Any questions can be sent to [email protected].
For project details, please visit: Toronto.ca/BloorWest
Zoning requirement updates for mid-rise buildings on Avenues without Avenue studies Webinar #2
As part of its Housing Action Plan, the City of Toronto is reviewing and updating the default height permissions and performance standards that regulate development of mid-rise buildings on Avenues in areas where the City and community have not completed an Avenue Study.
The proposed revisions will introduce new Development Standard Sets for the Commercial Residential (CR) Zone that update how mid-rise buildings transition towards neighbouring buildings and open spaces, replacing the current rear angular plane requirements with building setbacks. Updates to height and density permissions for these areas will be aligned with Official Plan and Urban Design Guidelines criteria for mid-rise buildings.
The second virtual webinar community consultation will be taking place on Wednesday April 17th from 6:30 to 8pm. A registration link has been included on the Housing Action Plan: Avenues, Mid-rise and Mixed Use Areas Study webpage and the City Planning Consultations webpage. The content presented will duplicate that of the initial webinar on Wednesday March 27th, 2024.
More information about the study can be found at www.toronto.ca/HAPavenues.
Parkdale Community Planning Study Launch Event April 27
Parkdale People’s Economy has been working on the 2024 Parkdale Community Planning Study for the past four years, centering the tireless efforts of community members and partner organizations to tackle themes of housing justice, solidarity economy, community health and safety, social infrastructure, food systems, and climate action.
Join them as they launch this plan that highlights the neighbourhood’s needs, remarkable community-founded assets, and directions on how to move forward, while emphasizing the power of collective action.
Ward 4 Environment and Compost Days!
Swansea Town Hall Event: How to save money and energy with home retrofits
Wheel-Trans Survey
From now until April 30th, we're looking for community feedback on improving our Wheel-Trans Service & Family of Services.
We invite all persons with disabilities who use the TTC, including Wheel-Trans, support persons, and members of community-based organizations that support or advocate for people with disabilities to participate. Your feedback plays a crucial role in shaping decisions concerning accessibility at the TTC.
For more information on hybrid meetings and to take the survey please visit Wheel-Trans Community Feedback (ttc.ca)
Help make Toronto more accessible: Take the survey
The City of Toronto is committed to building an inclusive society and providing an accessible environment in which all individuals have access to the City’s services and programs in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities.
Torontonians with disabilities, their support persons and community organizations can help inform the City of Toronto’s 2025-2029 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan (MYAP) and improve City programs, spaces, services and more by sharing their experiences and feedback in a short survey. Complete the accessible survey online by April 26: City of Toronto Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Consultation.
More information about accessibility at the City is available on the Accessibility at the City of Toronto webpage.
Lights Out Toronto: Protecting migratory birds
During spring and fall, night-migrating birds are drawn into urban areas by city lights and often fatally collide with buildings. Lights Out Toronto is an ongoing public awareness campaign to reduce migratory bird deaths, raising awareness and encouraging measures to decrease nighttime urban lighting. Learn more about actions you can take to create a safer environment for migratory birds on the City’s Lights Out Toronto: Protecting Migratory Birds webpage.
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