One week from today, the Toronto and East York Community Council will vote on our initiative. FINALLY!
After 3 years of work, we are potentially days away from being able to build laneway houses as-of-right in the City of Toronto.
The Lanescape team started this advocacy effort in 2015. We have been very lucky to work with truly dedicated and ambitious partners. Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon and Councillor Ana Bailao believed in this vision from the beginning, and have exemplified what it means to be a civic leader. Evergreen provided insight and facilitated public outreach that was genuinely groundbreaking, and have given voices to Torontonians who want to see positive change in their neighbourhoods.
But the most important partners in this endeavour have been the citizens of Toronto. Thousands of Torontonians reached out to us to provide input and attend meetings. This vision was crafted by the people who will live in and beside laneway houses. They care about our city, and they have gone out of their way to see it grow proactively and positively.
- 2,600 online survey respondents
- 400 consultation meeting attendants
- 200 letters of support to Councillors (and growing)
- 18 positive Council deputations (and growing)
- 33 positive articles and news stories (and growing)
But our work is not done.
FINAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
On Wedneday May 2nd, the Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC) will consider the Planning Department’s Final Report, “Changing Lanes”. The report proposes to amend the City’s Official Plan and Zoning By-laws to finally allow laneway suites as-of-right in Toronto and East York wards.
The TEYCC’s decision has to be ratified by City Council on May 22nd, marking the conclusion of the implementation process, and allowing the citizens of Toronto to submit building applications for laneway houses.
WHAT IS IN THE REPORT?
We are very pleased with how faithfully the City of Toronto followed Lanescape’s Report. The final performance standards maintain the character of good urbanism and accessible and affordable approvals process we heard so many Torontonians expound.
Here is a graphic illustrating the built-form conditions included in the City’s Final Report.
More detail is available in the Final Report, and will be detailed further in a set of illustrated guidelines soon to be published by the City of Toronto.
We fully support the City’s Final Report and encourage you to do the same.
HOW CAN I SHOW MY SUPPORT?
1. Email your local councillor and the TEYCC in support of the proposed changes.
Find your Councillor at https://goo.gl/Gv35s8
Be sure to CC: teycc@toronto.ca
2. Attend the TEYCC meeting on Wednesday May 2nd, 10:00am at City Hall. If you would like to speak in favour of the initiative, you can request to depute at the meeting by following the link below.
Click here to see the agenda item for the meeting on May 2nd.
NEXT STEPS
For updates regarding the TEYCC decision on May 2nd, and the subsequent City Council decision on May 22nd, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or join our mailing list at https://lanescape.ca/getinvolved/
Please email your Councillor so our voices can be heard!