Friends,
As I write this letter, I am participating in the second day of the October City Council meeting.
Yesterday on the Council floor, we debated and voted on one of the Mayor's key agenda items Transitioning the Vehicle-for-Hire Industry to Net Zero Emissions
In December 2021, City Council directed Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) to set a goal of net zero emissions by 2030 for vehicles-for-hire (VFH), and to align plans for vehicle electrification and emissions reduction to achieve this ambitious goal .
The Economic and Development Committee recommended that Council approve amendments requiring individuals renewing or applying for a vehicle-for-hire licence to use a Zero Emissions Vehicle. By January 1, 2031 all vehicles-for-hire must be Zero Emissions Vehicle.
Staff will be reporting back in late 2024 regarding the City's plan to support the capacity and infrastructure needs of the electrification of the Vehicle-for-Hire sector as well a comprehensive framework regarding transportation and emission impacts. While we await that report, Council has approved amendments to maintain the current number of net total vehicles-for-hire licenses, with the exception of zero-emission vehicles.
My comments during Council on this item.
Yesterday I also introduced a condolence motion for community activist, Diane Rajaram:
The Mayor and Members of Toronto City Council are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kissoondai (Diane) Rajaram on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.
Diane was an active member of the Parkdale community where she lived for over forty years.
Her community involvement started as a volunteer of the Safe Arrivals Program at Dr Rita Cox - Kina Minagok Public School and grew to include serving on the Board of Parkdale Community Legal Services. She was a member of, and for a time took on the title of President, Parkdale Tenants Association, and was actively involved with the Parkdale-High Park New Democratic Party.
Her passion was a constant source of inspiration for the community.
She participated in numerous campaigns to address issues around tenant rights, employee wages, refugee status and the rights of psychiatric survivors. Diane was often the first point of contact for neighbours in crisis.
Diane was employed for many years as a Personal Support Worker assisting seniors to remain independent in their homes.
Her proudest role was being mother to Nadia, who she raised to be a champion for social justice.
Sincerely,
Gord
- Planning Updates
- 7 Laxton Community Consultation Meeting on October 17
- 1728 Bloor St W Application Update
- Presentations for 1266 Queen St W and 1437 - 1455 Queen St W
- Consultations on Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods
- Municipal Licensing and Standards Updates
- Short-term Rental Implementation Consultations
- Learn more about changes to RentSafeTO
- Reminder: Heat in Apartment Buildings
- Construction Updates
- Streetcar Track Replacement - Dufferin and Springhurst
- 2442-2454 Bloor St W and 1-9 Riverview Gardens at TEYCC
- Community Events
- Junction Farmers Market ending on Oct 28
- High Park Walking tour - Oct 15
REMINDER: Community Consultation Meeting for 7 Laxton Ave
A re-zoning application has been submitted for 7 Laxton
This application proposes a six-storey residential building. The application contains 19 new residential dwelling units. For the submitted plans and reports, City Planning presentation, applicant's presentation, visit the Application information Centre at https://www.toronto.ca/7LaxtonAve
To allow you to learn more about the application, ask questions, and gather feedback, City Planning will be holding a Virtual Community Meeting on Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, from 6 - 8 PM.
Register to attend the virtual community meeting at: http://www.toronto.ca/cpconsultations
I will chair the meeting, which includes presentations from City Planning staff and the applicants, followed by a Q&A period to allow for discussion.
More information is also available in the documents below.
Update of 1728 Bloor St West Development Application
The applicant of 1728 Bloor Street West has recently appealed their Development Application to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
This application, current site of Tim Horton's at N/E corner of Bloor St West and Indian Grove, proposes a 19-storey mixed-use tower with ground floor retail and 99 dwelling units. Access to a three-storey underground parking system would be provided from Indian Grove.
A Community Consultation meeting to review the application was held in June 2023, followed by an in-person meeting with tenants of Vilnius Manor in July 2023.
Detailed Information submitted to the City by the applicant is available for your review under 'supporting Documents' on the City's Application Information Centre at:
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-information-centre/ .
The City Clerk's Office received the appeal notice on October 4, 2023 and has instructed staff to prepare the municipal record for the OLT. The applicant team will be instructed by the OLT to provide further notice to the community regarding participation opportunities and future case management meetings. Nothing has been scheduled to date.
City Planning staff will begin preparing a Request for Directions report which will go to Toronto and East York Community Council in the next few months.
My office will share the Request for Directions Report and any new information on this address as it becomes available.
Presentations from the community consultation meetings on October 10
A re-zoning application has been submitted for 1437 – 1455 Queen St West
The application proposes a 12-storey mixed-use building. The submitted drawings and materials can be accessed at www.toronto.ca/1437QueenStW.
Planning and Applicant's Presentations are available here:
A second re-zoning application has been submitted for 1266 Queen St West
This application proposes a 25-storey mixed-use building. The submitted drawings and materials can be accessed at www.toronto.ca/1266QueenStW.
Planning and Applicant's Presentations are available here
Community Consultation Events on Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods
On September 28, 2023 Planning & Housing Committee adopted PH6.4 - Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods: Major Streets Study - Proposals Report, directing City Planning staff to continue consultation with outreach to residents' associations, industry, City divisions, and other stakeholders.
The report proposes official plan and zoning by-law amendments to permit townhouses and small-scale apartment buildings city-wide, in Neighbourhoods, along Map 3 Major Streets. These have been posted to the City's website at toronto.ca/major streets.
City-wide Consultation Opportunities
Staff have organized city-wide consultations, both in-person and virtual formats. A survey will also be available on the City website this week, which will be promoted through the Division’s social media channels.
Four (4) in-person consultation events are being held:
October 12, 2023 | 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm | Scarborough Civic Centre,150 Borough Drive
October 16, 2023 | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | City Hall Rotunda, 100 Queen Street W.
October 17, 2023 | 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm | Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall
October 18, 2023 | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | North York Centre Atrium, 5150 Yonge Street
Webinars
The Major Streets team will also be hosting two virtual consultation events.
Wednesday, October 25, from 2:30-4:30 pm
Wednesday October 25, from 6:00-8:00 pm
More information and a link to the survey will be available on toronto.ca/major streets.
Public Consultations: Short-Term Rental Implementation Update
Short-term rental regulations are one of the many initiatives to increase and preserve rental housing supply across Toronto. The bylaw aims to limit short-term rental activity in Toronto to principal residences and to protect critical rental stock by maintaining access for tenants to long-term accommodation. We are now evaluating the implementation of the short-term rental bylaw to examine its progress and identify areas for improvement.
Residents are invited to share their feedback at two public consultations:
- Virtual meeting: Tuesday, October 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- In-person meeting: Tuesday, October 24, Metro Hall, 55 John St., Room 308/309, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
More details and registration information are available at: toronto.ca/ShortTermRentalUpdate.
Learn more about changes to RentSafeTO
Earlier this year, the RentSafeTO team implemented changes to the building evaluation tool. This redesigned tool prioritizes issues that have a greater impact on the health and safety of tenants, as well as ensures ongoing violations and issues of non-compliance factor into a building’s evaluation score. Starting in 2023, apartment buildings with three or more storeys or 10 or more units will be evaluated every two years.
- Learn more about the changes to the evaluation tool.
- Find information on how a building score is calculated.
- View the updated interactive map for the 2023 building evaluation scores
Reminder: Heat in Apartment Buildings
Under the City’s Heating Bylaw, building owners or operators are required to provide heat to a minimum air temperature of 21 degrees Celsius from September 15 to June 1. However, we remind property owners and operators to use their best judgement and turn the heat off on warm days. Tenants concerned about indoor air temperature are encouraged to speak to their property owner or property manager. If problems persist, tenants can contact 311 to have the RentSafeTO team investigate.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call 416-396-7228, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. More information is available at toronto.ca/HeatBylaw.
Dufferin Street & Springhurst Avenue TTC Streetcar Track and Watermain Replacement
The Watermain replacement work is nearing completion and the track replacement work is anticipated to begin the week of October 16, 2023. The intersection of Dufferin St and Springhurst Ave will be fully closed to vehicle traffic until late December 2023. Thank you for your patience.
Construction Staging Area Time Extension at 2442-2454 Bloor Street West and 1-9 Riverview Gardens
A Staff report requesting a Construction Staging Area Time Extension at 2442-2454 Bloor Street West and 1-9 Riverview Gardens will be heard at Toronto East York Community Council (TEYCC) on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
A 12-storey residential condominium building at 2442-2454 Bloor Street West and 1-9 Riverview Gardens, on the north-east corner of Bloor Street West at Riverview Gardens received approval at TEYCC in December, 2020, for construction staging areas (Phase 1 and 2) from January 4, 2021 to December 31, 2022.
The first laneway north of Bloor Street West, east of Riverview Gardens, between Riverview Gardens and the east limit of the laneway was closed to accommodate a construction staging area. Pedestrian operations on the north side of Bloor Street West and east side of Riverview Gardens were maintained in a 2.1-metre-wide covered and protected walkway within the existing sidewalk during Phase 1 (demolition). During Phase 2, excavation and shoring, the covered walkways was removed and pedestrians were accommodated, within the existing sidewalks.
The developer is now ready to proceed with Phase 3 of the project and will require a larger space to proceed with the construction.
Details of the required accommodation is available in the Staff Report and can be viewed at https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.TE8.23
This item will be heard on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at Toronto East York Community Council. The meeting will be conducted with members participating remotely and /or in person at Toronto City Hall.
You may submit written comments or register to speak to the Community Council on any item on the agenda either in person or by video conference.
Written comments may be submitted by writing to [email protected].
To speak to the Community Council, please register by e-mail to [email protected] or by phone at 416-392-7033. Members of the public who register to speak will be provided with instructions on how to participate in the meeting.
Junction Farmer's Market last day on October 28
The Junction Farmers Market provides local, sustainably produced fresh foods in ways that build community, support local food growers and producers, and promote access to healthy food for all. They had a great season at Baird Park and will be ending on Saturday, October 28, 2023.
Check them out before they close for the season.
High Park Walking Tours: The Birds of Autumn Fall Migration on October 15
This will be an introduction to the habitats in High Park with a focus on birds.
Steve Garrett will point out the different habitats in the park and talk about what's happening with the birdlife all around us: sparrows and thrushes on the ground, waterfowl and waders in the ponds, raptors overhead, and a variety of songbirds in the trees.
Bring binoculars and cameras if you have them, but they won't be needed - the focus will be on learning what birds to expect and where to find them rather than spotting birds. The pace will be an easy walk with frequent stops, we'll mostly be sticking to paved paths.
Steve Garrett is a recreational birder who has been birding in High Park for over 10 years. He knows most of the birds that are common in the park and will take a guess at identifying the ones that are not common!
He has a pretty good idea of what birds to expect and where you are likely to find them, and can speak to some of the challenges that birds are experiencing and what High Park offers as a refuge for migrating birds and a natural environment that supports breeding birds.
He's happy to give some pointers on how to get started with birding if that's of interest.
Meet at the grassy centre triangle, just inside the main entrance to High Park on Bloor Street at 10:30 a.m.
