Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

To be held by the Planning and Housing Committee

(Under the Planning Act)

City-Initiated Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment pertaining to Growing Space for Trees

Location Of Application:  City-wide
Applicant:                           City of Toronto
 
Date:                                   December 3, 2025
Time:                                   9:30 a.m., or as soon as possible thereafter
Place:                                  Council Chambers, Toronto City Hall and By Video Conference
 

PROPOSAL

Toronto's trees are essential in addressing biodiversity loss, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and contributing to the development of attractive, livable and healthy neighbourhoods. New infill housing is needed to help address Toronto's housing crisis. This report presents proactive solutions to ensure the city's existing tree canopy is supported and that there is growing space for trees as new housing is built.

The purpose of the Official Plan and City-wide Zoning By-law amendments are to protect and enhance the city's tree canopy while supporting infill housing development and to address the impacts on the tree canopy and water management associated with iceberg homes (houses which exhibit a larger below ground footprint than their above ground footprint or with multi-storey basements).

Recommended Amendments to the Official Plan address objectives to protect and enhance the tree canopy and growing space for trees as part of both new and infill development in Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhoods.

Recommended amendments to the City-wide Zoning By-law address landscaping and setback regulations, including requirements that apply minimum building setbacks both above and below ground for all low-rise residential buildings (e.g. detached houses, semi-detached houses, townhouses, and multiplexes), except for apartment buildings, in the Residential Zone category.

Detailed information regarding the proposal, including a copy of the proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments, may be obtained by contacting Liora Zion Burton, Planner, City Planning at 416-392-7864, or by e‑mail at Liora.zionburton@toronto.ca. 

Further information is also available at: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/planning-studies-initiatives/growing-space-for-trees/?t=1750171340. 

PURPOSE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The Planning and Housing Committee will receive input and review the proposal and any other material placed before it, in order to make recommendations on the proposed city-initiated Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments.  These recommendations will then be forwarded to Toronto City Council for its consideration.

You can follow the meeting at www.youtube.com/TorontoCityCouncilLive. 

MAKE YOUR VIEWS KNOWN

You may send written comments by e-mail to phc@toronto.ca or by mail to the address below. You can submit written comments up until City Council gives final consideration to the proposal.

You are also invited to address the Planning and Housing Committee, in person, by video conference or by telephone, to make your views known regarding the proposal.

If you wish to address the Planning and Housing Committee directly, please register by e-mail to phc@toronto.ca or by phone at 416-397-4579, no later than 12:00 p.m. on December 2, 2025. If you register, we will contact you with instructions on how to participate in the meeting.

The Planning and Housing Committee may request you to file an outline of your presentation with the Clerk.

For more information about matter, including information about appeal rights, please contact: City Clerk, Attention: Nancy Martins, Administrator, Planning and Housing Committee, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2, Phone: 416-397-4579, Fax: 416-392-2980, email: phc@toronto.ca. 

Special Assistance: City Staff can arrange for special assistance with some advance notice. If you need special assistance, please call 416-397-4579, TTY 416-338-0889 or e-mail phc@toronto.ca. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

Given that the amendments listed in this Notice regulate the use of lands at several locations within the geographic boundaries of the City of Toronto, a key map has not been provided with this notice.

If you wish to be notified of the decision of the City of Toronto on the proposed Official Plan Amendment and passing or refusal of the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment, you must make a written request to the City Clerk, Attention:  Nancy Martins, Administrator, Planning and Housing Committee, at the address, fax number or e-mail set out in this notice.

Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments Appeal: If a specified person or public body as defined under the Planning Act or the registered owner of any land to which the plan or by-law would apply would otherwise have an ability to appeal the decision of the Council of the City of Toronto to the Ontario Land Tribunal, but the specified person or public body as defined under the Planning Act or the registered owner of any land to which the plan or by-law would apply does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the City of Toronto before the proposed Official Plan Amendment is adopted or Zoning By-law Amendment is passed, the specified person or public body as defined under the Planning Act or the registered owner of any land to which the plan would apply is not entitled to appeal the decision to adopt the proposed Official Plan Amendment or the by-law.

People writing or making presentations at the public meeting:  The City of Toronto Act, 2006, the Planning Act, and the City of Toronto Municipal Code authorize the City of Toronto to collect any personal information in your communication or presentation to City Council or its committees.

The City collects this information to enable it to make informed decisions on the relevant issue(s).  If you are submitting letters, faxes, e-mails, presentations or other communications to the City, you should be aware that your name and the fact that you communicated with the City will become part of the public record and will appear on the City's website.  The City will also make your communication and any personal information in it - such as your postal address, telephone number or e-mail address - available to the public, unless you expressly request the City to remove it.

Many Committee, Board and Advisory Body meetings are broadcast live over the internet for the public to view.  If you speak at the meeting you will appear in the video broadcast.  Video broadcasts are archived and continue to be publicly available.  Direct any questions about this collection to the City Clerk's Office at 416-397-4579.

An online version of this Notice is available at https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/public-noticesbylaws/. 

Compliance with Provincial laws respecting Notice may result in you receiving duplicate notices.