Your neighborhood may soon have more options to grab a coffee or pick up a pint of milk if Toronto City Council approves changes to zoning bylaws that allow more small-scale businesses in residential neighborhoods.
The proposed zoning amendments are set to be discussed at this week's City Council meeting.
The changes are intended to improve walkability, convenience and neighborhood vibrancy.
But some residents' groups are concerned about potential impacts on noise and traffic – and warn the changes could hurt residential areas.
Proposed changes
City staff are proposing several changes, including allowing a wider range of businesses — such as galleries, offices, restaurants and retail — on major streets in residential areas. They recommend further loosening the rules around in-home businesses, including allowing up to two employees.
The change that prompted most of the backlash from residents is a proposal to allow new businesses on inner neighborhood streets. Retail spaces will be allowed on any neighborhood corner, as well as on lots adjacent to non-residential properties such as schools or parks.
Retail spaces will be allowed to serve food, and may have patios of up to 10 square meters.
The new regulations could help replace neighborhood corner shops and cafes that have been “missing” for decades, according to Candace Safonovs, a city planner who co-led the project. Safonovs says the number of neighborhood retail and service sites has declined by 34 percent from 1989 to 2019.
Zoning changes in the 1950s meant that businesses were no longer allowed in residential neighborhoods. Existing businesses were grandfathered in, some still operating today. Others can be opened by applying for a minor variance or zone change, which the Safonovs say can be time-consuming and expensive.
“Part of this project is lowering some of those barriers to opening a business,” she said.
This idea has some groups excited to see changes in their neighborhoods.
“Personally I think it's really exciting to have more like corner stores that you can easily pop down to get what you need. Or a cafe, that can be a kind of community space,” said co-chair Erin Taylor. 100 Vaughan Road Tenants Association Co.
Noise, traffic concerns
But not everyone is on board.
Nicole Tataj, a member of the Beaconsfield Village Residents Association, is concerned about the excessive noise from the patio, increased traffic and the establishments that may open.
“We do not believe that the majority of residents support the conversion of housing into fences with patios on residential streets,” Tataj said.
“And we don't think residents want to see housing turned into cannabis stores.”
City staff say it is not within their power to dictate through zoning what types of retail spaces can or cannot operate.
“There are definitely horror stories all over town. And it only takes one kind of bad operator to create some kind of concern,” said Michael Noble, another co-leader of the project. Noble added, however, that he expects most businesses won't pose a problem.
Noble acknowledges the city could do a better job consulting with community groups. After concerns were raised at a planning and housing committee meeting earlier this month, staff met with 25 residents' associations to hear their views.
The City Council will consider those concerns and staff responses at a meeting this week.
