Item - 2026.TE29.10

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment included as Attachment 1 to the report  (October 3, 2025) from the Director, Zoning and Secretary-Treasurer, Committee of Adjustment, City Planning and the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, Development Review, amended by amending Site Specific Provision (1) to Article 900.2.10 Exception Number 736, so that it reads:

Site Specific Provisions:

(1)   On lands municipally known as the odd numbered addresses of 91-209 Parkmount Road and 160 Mountjoy Avenue, in addition to the requirements of Section 150.7, a garden suite must comply with Regulations (i) to (iv) below:

(i) Despite regulation 150.7.60.20(3)(B), the required minimum rear yard setback for an ancillary building containing a garden suite is 2.5 metres;

(ii) The area between the ancillary building containing a garden suite and the lot line abutting Craven Road, excluding a permitted driveway, and a pedestrian walkway which may have a maximum width of 1.5 metres, must be landscaping, of which a minimum of 75 percent of the required landscaping must be soft landscaping;

(iii) At least 10 percent of the rear main wall of an ancillary building containing a garden suite facing Craven Road, must contain openings such as doors or windows; and

(iv) Despite regulation 150.7.60.30(1)(B), if an ancillary building containing a garden suite has a height greater than 4.0 metres, the ancillary building containing a garden suite must be no less than 6.0 metres from a residential building on the same lot.

2. City Council determine that pursuant to Subsection 34(17) of the Planning Act, no further notice is required in respect of the changes in Part 1 above.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.

The Toronto and East York Community Council commenced a statutory public meeting on October 22, 2025 that continued on November 27, 2025, January 13, 2026 and February 19, 2026 and notice was given in accordance with the Planning Act.

On October 9 and 10, 2024, City Council directed City Planning staff through Item “TE16.75 - Council Direction on PH14.13 - Allowing Time for a Thorough Review”, to review garden suite zoning permissions for homes on Parkmount Road that back onto Craven Road between Danforth Avenue and Hanson Street, and to allow more time for the review that Council had previously requested. The Council decision directed staff to consider matters such as provincial planning changes, previous consultation, and modifications to the zoning by-law for better integration of garden suites in the area including appropriate setbacks from Craven Road for garden suites.

Garden suites have been permitted in Toronto’s Neighbourhoods since early 2022, when City Council adopted city-wide permissions. As a priority project of the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) initiative, garden suites contribute to Toronto’s housing goals and targets, including the 2023 Housing Action Plan, and the Province’s housing target of 285,000 new homes in Toronto by 2031. The garden suite permissions provide opportunities through gentle intensification for a variety of living arrangements, providing flexibility for existing homeowners looking to rent a unit to tenants, creating additional units for multigenerational living, or those looking to downsize and age in place. To date, the City has received over 900 building permit applications for garden suites. In July 2025, Council adopted additional amendments to further support the effective implementation of garden suites in Toronto based on the findings from the Garden Suites Monitoring Program and to align Zoning By-law 569-2013 with recent provincial regulatory changes.

This report presents the findings from the review, feedback from public consultation, and staff’s recommended approach to reflect the distinct context of Craven Road, including recommended amendments to the zoning by-law. The recommended zoning by-law amendment would continue to permit garden suites on Parkmount Road while providing minor modifications to performance standards that reflect and address several unique characteristics on Craven Road, notably the narrowness of the street, and the through-lot character of Parkmount Road versus the facing condition of the homes fronting onto Craven Road. Staff are aware of only one other street in the City that exhibits the same characteristics.

In October 2024, Council-directed a review of garden suite zoning permissions for homes on Parkmount Road that back onto Craven Road between Danforth Avenue and Hanson Street. A Final Report from staff titled Zoning By-law Amendment for Garden Suites on Parkmount Road Facing Craven Road - Final Report was considered at the October 22, 2025 meeting of Toronto and East York Council. It presented the findings from the review, feedback from public consultation, and staff’s recommended approach to reflect the distinct context of Craven Road, including recommended amendments to the zoning by-law. Community Council postponed consideration of the item to provide additional time for engagement with local residents.

Since October, staff have attended several small group meetings with residents organized by the Ward Councillor and completed additional research and analysis for the study area to support the original review and address feedback. The results of the additional research and analysis were presented to the community at a public meeting on February 10, 2026. This report summarizes the additional work completed by staff since the item was deferred in October 2025.