The HVVRA acknowledges and thanks the Richmond Gardens Ratepayers and Residents Association (RGGRA) for permission to modify and send this message to HVVRA members.
Dear HVV residents, further to our January 11th eblast:
A City-wide Virtual Open House was held Monday January 13th outlining the Avenues Policy Review and proposed amendments set to go to the Planning and Housing Committee on January 23rd and, if passed, go to City Council on February 5th. The slide-deck from the Virtual Open House, a map of the proposed new Avenues and the Notice of the Public Meeting are attached at the end of this email. We urge you to review them carefully.
The Avenues Study puts forward significant zoning and policy amendments including:
· Adding 283 km of new “Avenues” (Kipling and much of Royal York Road will be newly zoned as an Avenue).
· Automatic approval to build Mid-Rise buildings (11-14 storey) on all Avenues, with minimal parking requirements.
· Approval to build Tall Buildings (within 500-800m of transit stations) to allow buildings like those in City Centres of 20 – 40+ storeys along Eglinton Ave and north and south of the LRT stations).
· Permit Tall and Mid-Rise buildings within 10 metres (32 feet) from any existing residential property.
· Removing the requirement for Avenue Studies including infrastructure, traffic implications, schools, prior to approval.
The HVVRA maintains there has been minimal community engagement with impacted residents. How many residential owners adjacent to Avenues (current and proposed) know about and understand what is being proposed? Do you?
ACTION REQUESTED:
Review the slide-deck, then share your concerns/thoughts to phc@toronto.ca by noon on January 22nd.
It is important that City Council knows there is significant grass roots concern! We also ask that you:
1. Share this email with all your neighbours to ensure our community is informed and has a chance to respond.
3. Ask your neighbours to join the HVVRA so that we can keep them informed about the Avenues initiatives.
4. Register, if you wish to address the Committee at the Public Meeting (see attachment)
5. Follow the meeting online at www.youtube.com/TorontoCityCouncilLive on Thursday Jan. 23rd starting at 9.30am
The HVVRA is providing comments to the Planning and Housing Committee and copying Mayor Chow and Ward 1 and 2 Councillors asking to defer any approvals.
- We want transparency and ask that every residential owner on a current or newly proposed Avenue or within 500-800m of a transit station be notified by mail with an individual notice of the proposed re-zoning and be invited to Town Hall meetings to engage with the Planning and Housing Committee.
- Moreover, we are requesting more specificity on the heights of the Mid-Rise and Tall Buildings, and a detailed approach for shallow lots – all of which should be determined post-engagement with impacted residents.
- The HVVRA is on-record that if the Committee chooses not to defer, we oppose the proposed changes and ask that they be refused entirely.
Your feedback is critical to ensuring the enabled re-zoning is appropriate, supports good planning principles and ensures we build a great city for current and future residents. Please share thoughts/concerns with:
mayor_chow@toronto.ca
councillor_holyday@toronto.ca
councillor_morley@toronto.ca
exc@toronto.ca
Click here for map detailing proposed changes to the Official Plan.
Click here for slide deck from the Virtual Open House on Jan. 13, 2024.
Click here for notice of Public Meeting on Jan. 23, 2024.
Sincerely,
The HVVRA Board of Directors
Jan. 19, 2024