Zoning Order 005-2026 – City of Toronto

All comments received were taken into consideration prior to a decision being made. 

The proposal received comments from the public, several industry associations, local housing advocate organizations, local landowners and the City of Toronto. 

There were comments received in support of the MZO from Sanofi Pasteur, industry associations (Life Sciences Ontario, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, Innovative Medicines Canada, Toronto Board of Trade and Toronto Industry Network), the City of Toronto and members of the public.

Sanofi Pasteur raised noise and security concerns that would lead to land use compatibility issues that would negatively impact the ongoing and future operation of the biomanufacturing facility and supported the MZO to protect against these impacts.  The industry associations raised the need to protect for strategically important employment lands to sustain existing manufacturers and to provide support for future investment.  The City of Toronto provided a Council resolution that endorsed the MZO to protect the long-term operational viability of Sanofi.  Members of the public noted Sanofi pre-existed the proposed developments that surround it and that they operate a key role in making life science products for the public (e.g. vaccine production). 

There were also a number of comments received in opposition to the MZO from the affected landowner at 1875 Steeles Avenue West, a neighbouring development proposal at 1881 Steeles Avenue West, the University of Toronto, two local housing advocate organizations (Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario, Housing NowTO, More Neighbours Toronto) and a few members of the public.

The landowner of 1875 Steeles Avenue West noted the completion of studies accepted by city planning staff to show that noise or security compatibility issues were able to be appropriately mitigated with no impacts to Sanofi’s operations and opposed the MZO.  The neighbouring landowner noted they had a similar development proposal and echoed the concerns of the owner of the subject lands that any land use compatibility impacts on the Sanofi facility can be appropriately mitigated.

The University of Toronto noted that the Sanofi site had originally been part of the neighbouring UofT campus, and the university has successfully coexisted with Sanofi for over 50 years and any height restrictions applied to the university lands would have significant impacts.  Housing advocacy organizations noted their support for city staff’s position that more housing can be provided while adequately mitigating impacts on Sanofi. Members of the public expressed concern that the creation of much needed new housing would be held back by operational concerns of a private company.