More Neighbours Toronto…

More Neighbours Toronto believes that Toronto is squandering an opportunity to make progress on the housing crisis with its approach to the Keele-St. Clair secondary plan. Both the City and the province have voiced support for transit-oriented development, with mixed income communities supported by inclusionary zoning. However, the land use policies in the delineated areas do not address the urgency of the housing crisis. The minister should modify the secondary plan to permit significantly more density throughout a larger area of the secondary plan.

While the City of Toronto's official plan amendment (OPA) does allow for tall buildings up to 45 storeys immediately next to the station building, the maximum heights in the rest of the secondary plan area are insufficient. Policy 8.6, for example, sets a height limit of 5-10 storeys along St Clair West, while at the same time mandating large setbacks. From our experience in public consultations along other avenues, this height limit is insufficient to render most housing projects feasible. We recommend the minister amend policy 8.6 to permit at least 15 storeys along St Clair West, and make similar changes to other policies that set low height limits. We recommend that the minister delete policy 8.5 as it may unnecessarily restrict tall buildings throughout the secondary plan area.