Item - 2024.TE17.32

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the temporary traffic and parking regulations on streets in the vicinity of Distillery District that are impacted during the Distillery Winter Village identified in Attachment 2 to the report (October 7, 2024) from the Director, Permits and Enforcement, Transportation Services; the temporary parking regulations will override all existing regulations for the duration of this event (November 13, 2024 to January 5, 2025).

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Executive Director, Customer Experience and the Manager, Dedicated Noise Enforcement, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to provide biweekly updates on public feedback received on the Winter Village throughout the duration of the event, including traffic and noise impacts, to the local Councillors.

3. City Council direct staff from Transportation Services and Dedicated Noise Enforcement to attend ongoing roundtable meetings organized by the Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Association in the leadup and throughout the duration of the Winter Village to hear resident feedback.

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, in collaboration with General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and other relevant divisions as necessary, in consultation with the local Councillors and local stakeholders, including the Distillery Historic District, the Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Association and the St Lawrence Neighbourhood Association, to review the Distillery Winter Village immediately following the event and report back to the April 3, 2025 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council; such review should include:
 

a. an assessment of the operations of the 2024 Distillery Winter Village, including insights around traffic impacts, accessibility, noise, parking and calls to 311;

b.  considerations around the extended duration of the Winter Village over the history of the event;

c. considerations around existing and future planned and projected local traffic impacts, including City works, private development and Metrolinx construction of Corktown Station;

d.  identifying options for supporting the Distillery District’s activation and local small businesses initiatives year-round; and

e.  a set of recommendations on operations of the Winter Village in future years, including around optimal duration of the event.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Parliament Street, Mill Street and Front Street East, City Council approval of this report is required.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council's authority to enact temporary traffic and parking amendments required to enhance traffic operations and pedestrian safety during the annual Distillery Winter Village, which takes place from November 13, 2024 to January 5, 2025, inclusive.  

A companion report, "Temporary Adjustments to Parking Regulations for 2024 Distillery Winter Village (Delegated)" outlines the required delegated temporary parking amendments for locations without TTC Service.