Friends,
I hope you had a wonderful Labour Day weekend. As students return to class this week, I’m wishing all students and their families a great start to the school year.
The back-to-school season comes with a significant increase in road users across the city. With increased traffic volumes particularly during morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups, the City’s Vision Zero back to school road safety campaign is reminding all road users to stay alert, exercise caution and follow the rules of the road. I encourage you review safety reminders and more information on Vision Zero Road Safety initiatives on the City’s Back to School Road Safety webpage.
I want to remind residents that the City opens registration for fall recreation programs on Tuesday, September 10 for Etobicoke York and Toronto East York and on Wednesday, September 11 for North York and Scarborough. Residents of all ages and abilities can join a wide range of activities, from swimming and fitness classes to art workshops and cooking! Learn more about fall programs and registration information on the City’s Fall Recreation webpage.
I also want to highlight that there are several community engagement opportunities taking place this month, including for the City’s new Renovictions Bylaw and for the High Park Movement Strategy. More information on these and other community engagement opportunities are included below. I encourage you to review these opportunities and get involved. Guided by your voice, experiences, and vision, we can build a Toronto that prioritizes the well-being and dignity of all its residents.
Sincerely,
In This Week's Newsletter
- Have Your Say on Toronto's Renovictions Bylaw
- Online Public Info Session on TRCA High Park Road Ecology Study
- Every body is welcome with FitnessTO
- Toronto residents can make a splash into September at outdoor pools
- Free EV Charging Friday Sept 13
- West Queen West Heritage Conservation District Community Consultation
- Zoning By-law Parking Requirements Review
- TTC Service Adjustments for TIFF
- 2461-2475 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications
- 2112 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications
Have your say on Toronto’s Renovictions Bylaw
There is a growing trend of renovictions in Toronto, where a landlord illegitimately evicts a tenant by alleging that tenants need to leave the unit for the landlord to undertake renovations or repairs. The City of Toronto is developing a new bylaw to prevent bad faith evictions and help maintain affordable homes for Toronto’s residents.
The City wants to hear from tenants, landlords, the organizations that support them and the public before finalizing the renovictions bylaw. This will help us protect tenants and make sure landlords understand how to follow the new rules. The City will report back with a proposed bylaw by October 30.
In addition to hosting six in-person open houses, there will be a virtual session on Monday, September 9 from 7 to 8:30pm. You can also share your insights and experiences by completing an online survey by September 30th.
Access the survey and find details about the drop-in sessions on the City’s Renovictions Bylaw Development webpage
Online Public Information Session on TRCA High Park Road Ecology Study
- September 10, 2024
- 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Register for the September 10 online information session here
City of Toronto and TRCA staff will be in attendance to share an update on the road ecology study including scope, objectives, methodology and initial findings.
Implementation of a recreational cycling pilot recommended through the HPMS has been paused to allow further due diligence on potential impacts to wildlife. The City is partnering with TRCA to undertake a road ecology study within High Park to better understand existing conditions, potential risk factors to wildlife, and possible mitigation measures. The scope of this study has been informed by conversations with Turtle Protectors, the Indigenous community, and other stakeholder groups.
Every body is welcome with FitnessTO
Sign up for a FitnessTO membership this fall at a local City community centre! A FitnessTO all-access pass unlocks weight and cardio rooms, indoor pools and drop-in fitness classes at more than 40 locations across Toronto. Youth ages 13 to 18 and seniors 60 and up get 50 per cent off. Find more information on the City’s Fitness webpage.
Toronto residents can make a splash into September at outdoor pools
Due to warmer than usual temperatures, the City will be keeping 10 pools and more than 140 splash and spray pads open into September to provide more options for residents and families to cool down. Pools with extended operations will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 7 p.m. on weekends until Sunday, September 22. The selected pools located across the city are:
- Alex Duff Outdoor Pool, 779 Crawford St.
- Donald D Summerville Outdoor Pool, 1867 Lake Shore Blvd. E.
- Alexandra Park, 275 Bathurst St.
- Riverdale Outdoor Pool, 550 Broadview Ave.
- Heron Park Community Centre, 292 Manse Rd.
- McGregor Community Centre, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
- Goulding Park Community Centre, 45 Goulding Ave.
- Broadlands Community Centre, 19 Castlegrove Blvd.
- Pine Point Arena, 15 Grierson Rd.
- West Mall Outdoor Pool, 370 The West Mall.
All other City-owned and operated pools, including wading pools, closed Sunday, September 1. The City’s more than 140 splash and spray pads will continue to operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Sunday, September 15. Woodbine Beach, Kew-Balmy Beach, Cherry Beach and Sunnyside Beach will have extended supervised swim zones from Tuesday, September 3 to Sunday, September 8, with lifeguards on duty between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Find more information on the City’s Swimming & Water Play webpage.
Free EV Charging Friday, Sept 13
The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) is proud to play a leadership role in delivering public EV charging services to our customers and helping to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. The TPA will be hosting their first ever #FreeEVCharging Day on Friday, September 13 across the City of Toronto.
As part of this initiative, all Level 2 and Level 3 EV charging stations across the city (407 in total) will offer free EV charging for the entire day, starting at 12:00 AM on September 13, and until 11:59 PM. Parking rates will remain applicable.
Customers can visit greenp.com/FREE to find the best location for them.
West Queen West Heritage Conservation District Community Consultation
The City will host the fourth Community Consultation Meeting on the proposed West Queen West HCD Plan on September 10, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen Street West).
For more information, visit Meetings & Events: West Queen West HCD Plan or contact Heritage Planning staff.
Note: This event takes place east of Ward 4. The Parkdale piece of this plan is already complete. Learn more here.
Zoning By-law Parking Requirements Review – Public Meetings
New developments in Toronto are required to provide automobile and bicycle parking based on standards in zoning by-laws. The City of Toronto is currently reviewing the accessible parking and bicycle parking standards in the city-wide Zoning By-law (569-2013), as a continuation of the work reported to Planning and Housing Committee on December 15, 2021 (https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2021.PH29.3).
This review responds to an increasing demand for bicycle parking, growing interest in the impact of parking supply on housing affordability and travel behaviour, and the importance of providing appropriate accessible parking spaces.
In November 2023, the City hosted a series of public meetings and launched a survey to collect feedback on initial directions. Based on the feedback collected from the meetings and surveys, a draft proposal was developed for amending the zoning by-law standards of accessible parking and bicycle parking.
Next month the City will be holding a series of online meetings to present the draft proposal of updated accessible parking and bicycle parking requirements as well as to report the preliminary findings on the impacts of new auto parking-related standards. The consultations with interested parties and the public will inform the final recommendations. Both scheduled meetings on each of the two topics will cover the same content. Please register for an upcoming public meeting:
Accessible Parking:
Tuesday, Sept 17 - 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.:
https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r4b8cc1e5b5ebeea64a65a271afe589b6
Wednesday, Sept 18 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.:
https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r04e2a8580edf29828076b6429d72aae8
Bicycle Parking:
Tuesday, Sept 17 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.:
https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r4f0ed2daa183737a6fe154e4ceed8ca0
Wednesday, Sept 18- 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.:
https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r26b75f1250e525375344474f41e62af5
Consultation materials will be added to the website prior to the meetings.
Visit www.toronto.ca/parkingreview to learn more or sign up for updates.
TTC Service Adjustments for TIFF Begin Thursday, Sept 5
The annual TIFF film festival is starting today. Please see the diversion map and details here.
2461-2475 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications
On July 30th 2024, an application was submitted for 2461-2475 Dundas St W which proposes a 29-storey mixed use building. The application proposes 360 square metres of ground floor retail and 288 dwelling units (including 9 rental replacement units), with 260 bike parking spaces and 38 vehicle parking spaces.
This application is still being considered by City Planning staff.
A Community Consultation Meeting is currently being scheduled for September. Details for this meeting will be shared with the community when available.
More information on the application can be found on the City’s Application Information Centre website here: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-details/?id=5482273&pid=148578.
2112 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications
On August 20th 2024, a complete application was submitted for 2112 Dundas St W which proposes a 10-storey mixed use building. The application proposes 3 ground floor commercial units and 52 residential units intended for rental tenure, with 47 bike parking spaces and 3 visitor vehicle parking spaces.
This application is still being considered by City Planning staff.
A Community Consultation Meeting is currently being scheduled for September. Details for this meeting will be shared with the community when available.
More information on the application can be found on the City’s Application Information Centre website here: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-details/?id=5481364&pid=161633.
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