I am a resident of Craven Rd…

I am a resident of Craven Rd in Toronto and we would be deeply and seriously impacted by this proposed amendment.

The proposed changes to garden suite bylaws are deeply concerning for our community, particularly for streets like Craven Road. These changes may make construction easier and faster, but they do so by stripping away essential zoning protections that preserve the character and livability of our neighbourhood.

By overriding angular plane requirements, allowing excessive lot coverage, and reducing the distance between buildings, we’re facing the very real threat of oversized, looming structures that will overshadow our homes. On narrow streets like ours, this means large, bulky garden suites crowding right up against fences, crammed into already tight spaces.

The absence of setbacks and angular planes will suffocate our neighborhood, blocking sunlight, reducing privacy, and creating an overwhelming sense of enclosure and overdevelopment. With 45% of lot areas consumed by buildings, our cherished trees and green spaces will be under direct threat.

These drastic changes will irreversibly damage the look, feel, and quality of life in our neighborhood. It is critical that our voices are heard before these damaging policies are pushed through without consideration.