Item - 2024.TE13.43

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council exempt the implementation of permit parking on Lonsmount Drive, between Don Francks Lane and Tichester Road and Tweedsmuir Avenue, between Heath Street West and the driveway to 320 Tweedsmuir Avenue, from the requirements of subsection 925-4B of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 925, Permit Parking, until such time as Toronto and East York Community Council considers a request for implementation of permit parking at that location.

I am writing to you today to request your support in expanding the permit parking area 13K.

At the June 27th, 2022, meeting of Toronto and East York Community Council, TE34.195 directed city staff to install traffic control signals at the Intersection of Heath Street West and Tweedsmuir Avenue/Lower Village Gate. The installation of this traffic control signal was a necessary intervention at a misaligned intersection where right-of-way and safe crossing for pedestrians was a consistent issue. 

Whereas the previous stop sign intervention at this intersection only required a 15-metre no-parking prohibition, the traffic control signal that was installed in December 2023 now requires a 30-metre no-parking prohibition. The installation of this traffic control signal has taken out approximately 61-metres of curb spaces that was previously licensed for on-street permit parking per 950-400 E (3) of the Toronto Municipal Code.  The result has had a significant negative impact on residents who use Permit Parking Area 13K, an area that already has a constrained permit parking capacity. 

While the process to expand a permit parking area usually requires a petition, I firmly believe that this is not a feasible solution for the residents as there are several high-density residential buildings in the area.

In order to ensure that the traffic safety intervention at Heath St W and Tweedsmuir Ave/Lower Village Gate can continue to serve the area while also addressing the capacity issue, I am asking for your support to waive the polling requirements. 

Staff can swiftly initiate the process to amend the boundary of Permit Area 13K and increase the number of permitted spaces by licensing limited sections of Lonsmount Drive and Tweedsmuir Avenue without the need for a petition and poll process.