Hi Neighbour!
Happy Halloween!
Tonight, our streets will be filled with children in costumes looking to load up on sugary sweets. I’m always grateful for the dentist in the community who gives out toothbrushes instead of chocolate bars. If you are driving in the evening, please drive slowly as the nights darken much earlier these days!
Happy Diwali!
Around one billion people worldwide will celebrate Diwali this week. Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It’s also a time to honour love, family, and new beginnings.
Wishing all who are celebrating Diwali in Willowdale and across Canada a joyous and vibrant festival! May the lights of this special occasion brighten your homes and hearts, no matter where you are. As you come together with family and friends, may love, laughter, and beautiful memories fill your celebrations.
8 People Injured in a Collision Between a TTC Bus and Pickup Truck in Willowdale
This morning, around 4:20am, a pickup truck collided with a TTC bus at Yonge St. and Finch Ave. Toronto Police Service said a total of 8 people were injured; 3 people were taken to a trauma centre with serious injuries and 3 others were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Toronto Police say that none of the injuries are life-threatening. Drivers should expect traffic delays in the area as TPS continues investigating the crash.
EngageFest!
Thank you to all the community members who joined us for EngageFest! It was a great event that provided some profound insights on community engagement.
One session led by Greater Good Design from Chicago talked about diffusing power in decision-making. They shared a definition of power I think we can all chew on:
Power = The ability to change another person’s reality.
They went on to share Five Principles and Practices for Designing Co-Ownership:
Distribute power around the room.
Share work in progress.
Invite open-ended participation.
Ask questions that people want to answer.
Make it tangible.
My team and I will consider how these principles can improve our future community consultations and town halls.
If you have some time…
The City recently shared: Sidewalks to Skylines: A 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy and Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto (2025-2035)
I welcome any feedback on these documents as they are being brought to Toronto City Council on November 13th. Please read these plans and consider how these might apply to Willowdale and what is missing.
2 Pumpkin Parades on Friday!
Last year we left our Jack-o-Lantern out after Halloween only to have it get chewed up by a squirrel or raccoon - leaving a violent mess behind. This year, I am excited to be able to participate in 2 Pumpkin Parades happening TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 1, in Willowdale!
What is a Pumpkin Parade? It’s an opportunity to line up a row of community pumpkins in a park, where they can be lit together in a row and enjoyed together. It’s also another opportunity for children and adults to wear their costumes, getting more out of your effort and investment. There will be some games at Lee Lifeson Park and Free Hot Chocolate at Edithvale Community Centre! At the end of the parade, adults who have some stress to relieve can have fun tossing the pumpkins into bins! It’s a perfect way to celebrate the season, admire creative jack-o'-lanterns, and enjoy an evening of fun with your neighbours.
The City provides organic disposal bins to help with post-event cleanup. Bins are collected and processed to create compost that can be used in City parks and gardens.
Details:
CLICK HERE to RSVP to the Pumpkin Parade at Lee Lifeson Park, co-hosted by my office and Sunnyside Up Camp! This event will include fun games hosted by Sunnyside Up Camp and free Cotton Candy. The event starts at 6pm-7:30pm.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Pumpkin Parade at Edithvale Park, co-hosted by my office and Edithvale Yonge Community Association! This event will include an adult Pumpkin Toss and free hot chocolate. The event begins at 5-8pm.
Leadership Symposium
We are excited to be holding our first-ever Willowdale Leadership Symposium on Saturday, November 16 from 9am-3pm at North York Civic Centre in the Council Chambers. This is an important opportunity for leaders across our community to gather, and discover opportunities to collaborate and share information that can help strengthen our community.
Who is invited?
Anyone in a leadership role in a community organization including:
Condo Board Members
Neighbourhood Association Board Members
Cultural Organizations leaders
Faith leaders
Not for profit/Agency leaders
Grassroots group leaders
Arts organization leaders
We look forward to including a Poverty Alleviation Roundtable as part of the event, which will allow us to hear from front-line serving leaders on their stories and experiences within our community which will be followed by interactive conversations on how we can work together to support the more vulnerable in our neighbourhood.
There will also be opportunities to network with other community leaders and build community organizing skills.
Some may be surprised to learn that 23% of households living along the Yonge corridor of the North York at the Centre Secondary Plan Review area are low-income compared to the 13% city-wide average. Poverty in our neighbourhood is often hidden and because of this, we likely miss out on opportunities to provide meaningful support.
Attendees will also have the chance to participate in the Facilities Master Plan Review Consultation.
Click Here to learn more about the Symposium.
The Willowdale Park Conundrum
Willowdale Park has been slated for a much-needed refresh since before I was elected (2 years ago). We now have 3 potential designs that will be going forward to the community through a survey and consultation at the upcoming Willowdale East Spaghetti Town Hall.
Willowdale Park, with its central location and splashpad, is meant to be a landmark park in Willowdale. What is being proposed is nice, but not visionary. Will it be a great upgrade? 100%. The proposed playscapes will be fantastic. Will it become a destination for the community? I’m not sure.
A few weeks ago, Councillor Josh Matlow cut the ribbon on Raccoon Park. It includes a custom piece of play equipment in the shape of a large Racoon head. It is interesting and memorable for its theme. It took him and his community 7 years to come to this moment.
If we want something remarkable, we would have to delay the project to a time when children consulted on it would likely outgrow their opportunity to play on the equipment.
After much consideration, we decided we would move forward with this project and current staff proposals with the following two considerations:
We add art to the park as a way to theme the park rather than through the play structures.
We consider the addition of a phased implementation of a zip line-type play structure to augment the element of fun. I have never been to a consultation where children do not squeal in delight at the prospect of a zip line.
The layers of bureaucracy and competition for resources (both financial and operational capacity) mean that there are many areas of friction or molasses that slow things down in ways that are painful. Willowdale Park is currently included in a capital development plan and timeline and I do not want to risk a multi-year delay.
Click Here to find out more about the park refresh and stay tuned for a survey that will be released.
JOIN US at the Willowdale East Spaghetti Town Hall for a consultation on the park refresh.
North York Community Council
An Empty Seat
Councillor Jaye Robinson passed away in May. Since then, any issues pertaining to her ward have been supported at North York Community Council by my fellow councillors and me. This is not ideal as none of us have deep relationships with the constituents of Don Valley West (Ward 15). This past week at North York Community Council, we passed a few items on their behalf, while deferring other items as we anticipate a new colleague to be voted in on November 5. Click Here to see the list of candidates and their website links. Click Here to learn about the candidates.
NY18.1 - 10 Elmwood Avenue - Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Amendment Applications - Decision Report - Approval - Moved
This property in a valuable part of our ward just off Yonge Street is going to be developed into a non-residential use. It is too small to be a high-rise, so the owner is looking to build a commercial space. It originally came to North York Community Council a few months ago. At that time, they only asked for restaurant use for their zoning. However, they wanted to maintain some flexibility, so the item was deferred and returned this week to include the following used:
Commercial Recreation
Commercial School
Financial Institution
Parking Area
Personal Service Shop
Restaurant
Retail Store
Service Shop
Studio
Veterinary Clinic
We look forward to seeing what is developed for this site.
NY18.6 - 150 - 160 Cactus Avenue - Rental Housing Demolition Application - Decision Report - Moved without Recommendation
This is an upcoming development on Cactus and Steeles. The development will include the demolition of townhouses that are currently rented affordably by 60 tenants, some of whom have lived there for over 20 years. The City has a Rental Replacement policy which ensures that any tenants that fit prescribed criteria are eligible to move back into a similar size unit for similar rent when the building is completed. Click Here to learn more about rental replacement.
Although it may sound beneficial to get to move into a brand new unit and pay similarly affordable rent, this process can be incredibly stressful for residents who wait in limbo as they await notice which will give them 6 months to find a temporary place to live. They cannot take action to find a place to stay UNTIL they are given notice, which is wholly dependent on the developer and market conditions.
There was a meeting held with tenants in September where they voiced many concerns. The developer has since taken steps to address these concerns. Please see below for concerns with the developer response in blue text.
Parking
One parking spot for each unit is too few. There are currently 69 parking spots being rented by tenants, some of whom are renting 2 spots. There will be 60 replacement parking spots made available to returning tenants. This means 9 parking spots will not be able to be replaced. If there are additional parking spots available in the larger condo being constructed, residents can rent additional spots at market rates (compared to affordable rates provided currently and for the rental replacement spots. I am asking for greater clarity how 2nd parking spots will be allocated since not everyone will be able to get one.
Site Design
Units design is not accessible (lots of stairs on upper 3rd/4th fl units). The developer has since made some of the ground floor units accessible to be provided to those who need it.
Insufficient storage space without a basement in new units. The developer has since added storage lockers to be provided to the tenants.
Sound-proof walls between units – currently, the site has it because of concrete walls, but will the new site have a sound-proofing system in place? The new building will be built to code.
Construction
Logistics of Moving/ Rent Gap Payment
Replacement residents are concerned about finding apartments in their current neighbourhood where they already use the school, church, doctor, etc. even with help from a leasing agent—housing crisis right now. The developer is committed to supporting residents to find temporary places to rent.
Rent gap replacement will not be enough if they were using the basement as their office; they will need to rent an additional bedroom for the office space but not entitled to larger unit. Although it is not reflected in rent gap payments, the replacement units will match square footage for any finished parts of people's current basements.
Residents would like to know their vacate date. The developer has stated the earliest date will be late 2025 with a 6-month move-out period extending into 2026.
Rent increase protection after move-in to new units. Rent increases will be protected after returning to new units.
Some tenants may have personal credit history obstacles to securing new tenancy—what then? The developer will be providing reference letters to residents as they look for temporary housing.
Two residents made deputations, one of whom included a slide deck. It became clear to me the residents still have a great deal of uncertainty and need more clarity about this transition. I chose to move this item WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. Instead, we will hold an additional community meeting and see what else can be clarified in the motion when it comes to City Council later this month. This means my team and I will have to turn around a very quick community meeting. I believe this is an important effort to strengthen clarity and communications for residents going through such a big transition.
NY18.14 - 4696 Yonge Street - Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment Applications - Decision Report - Refusal
Many residents will be relieved to hear this application was refused. There were a large number of residents who attended the virtual consultation who expressed their opposition to the proposal. However, the applicant can choose to amend their application to meet the city’s requirements - or they can go to the Ontario Land Tribunal to appeal this decision. This refusal does not guarantee in any way that a high rise won’t appear on this site at a later date.
Here is a summary of why staff recommended refusing this application:
This application proposes to permit the construction of a 40-storey (131.8 metre including mechanical penthouse) mixed-use building containing 719 square metres of non-residential Gross Floor Area (GFA), 35,311 square metres of residential GFA, and 536 residential dwelling units. 178 vehicular parking spaces are proposed in a 3-level underground parking garage at 4696 Yonge Street.
The proposed development is not consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2020) and the Provincial Planning Statement (2024) and does not conform with A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2020). The proposed development also does not conform to the City's Official Plan, including the North York Centre Secondary Plan.
This report reviews and recommends the refusal of the application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law. The application fails to provide an appropriate mix of land uses in consideration of the North York Centre Secondary Plan to create a complete community, fails to provide for the appropriate public realm along Yonge Street and does not provide an appropriate transition to adjacent lower intensity land uses.
Click Here to read the full report.
NY18.27 - 110 Caines Avenue - Application to Remove a City Tree
A resident went to the Committee of Adjustment with an application to build a new house on their property. The application assured the committee that a certain tree on the property would be preserved. Now the house has been built and the tree sits in the middle of the second garage driveway. This means the double garage house only has a curb cut for half of the driveway. Click Here to see pictures.
This is a 10-year-old tree, the kind of tree the city prioritizes preserving because of its role in growing our precious tree canopy. This was a split-vote decision. While two councillors supported the resident’s right to remove the tree, 3 of us voted against it. Some of us were concerned this could set a precedent for tree removal amendments, after construction, where Committee of Adjustment decisions were originally based on commitments to preserve the same trees.
NY18.32 - Anndale Drive - Parking Amendment
This motion restores parking prohibition from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the north side of Anndale Drive, between Bonnington Place and the east end of Anndale Drive. The parking prohibition signs were accidentally removed and we started receiving complaints on the negative impacts of parking.
Anndale Drive has high vehicular traffic as well as pedestrian traffic. Safety concerns due to the lack of sidewalks on Anndale Drive is compounded by the presence of parked cars (subject to the citywide 3-hour maximum parking) which narrows the street, making it more dangerous for pedestrians to navigate. During school hours, many students walk along this street from Avondale Public School. Residents have also experienced parked cars encroaching on driveways and blocking access for garbage collection.
A community survey found that a majority of the affected residents would like to restore the parking prohibition.
5220 Yonge Street
The REOI is now out for community space just north of FoodHallTO. We welcome all community organizations in our neighbourhood to apply. Space is a precious commodity. We hope something fantastic can emerge from this space.
Association of Municipalities of Ontario on the Province’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement
The Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) exists to make municipal governments stronger and more effective. Together, 444 Ontario municipalities work together to achieve common goals and meet shared challenges. Through policy development, cost-saving programs, and educational opportunities, AMO offers municipal leaders effective tools and programs to maximize taxpayer dollars.
Earlier this month, the Government of Ontario released its 2024 Fall Economic Statement. The Statement:
increased the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund by $100 million over two years,
supported consolidation of municipal electricity utilities,
continued the property tax reassessment deferral, and
proposed to give the province authority to remove existing bike lanes.
Notably, the province “included stronger revenue and economic growth projections than were included in the 2024 Budget”.
The following excerpt summarizes AMO’s key requests of the Government of Ontario:
Sustainably invest in public infrastructure to support growth, improve transportation, and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Reduce the province’s $4 billion reliance on municipal revenues to fund provincial programs, like health and social services, so municipal tax dollars can go toward supporting thriving communities.
Take action on the root causes of homelessness through investments in mental health and addictions programming and improved income security that allows people to keep a roof over their heads.
Hope everyone enjoys this Halloween evening!
Warmest Regards,
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