Feedback from Residents: NO to Blanket Zoning Changes
To drive transparency, build awareness, and ensure residents’ voices are heard, The Coalition of Toronto Residents’ Associations (COTRA) conducted the first city-wide survey on the proposed changes top Residential Zoning.
The survey explained the zoning changes and obtained feedback through multiple-choice and open-ended questions.
In just two weeks (September 2 – 15), over 3,400 residents from across Toronto responded, providing over 3,700 thoughtful comments.
The message to City Planning is clear: Toronto residents overwhelmingly reject blanket rezoning for commercial uses in their neighbourhoods.
(As Presented to City Planning on October 3)
The comments analyzed were drawn from the open-ended responses in the resident survey conducted on the City’s proposed Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods – Retail and Services Study (EHON).
Key Survey Results
| ❌ 90% oppose zoning changes to allow businesses in Neighbourhood Interiors. | ✓ 80% want the City to adopt policies to support current commercial and main street retail. |
| ❌ 77% oppose zoning changes to allow businesses on residential Major Streets. | ✓ 90% want to maintain Committee of Adjustments (CoA) process for applications to convert a residential property to commercial usage. |
| ❌ 96% of the 3,700 + open ended comments expressed opposition to all or some aspect of the proposal. | ✓ 57% support community consultation to identify sections of Major Streets to rezone, where there is a neighbourhood need. |
| Top concerns | Licensed bars, patios, cannabis/vape shops, restaurants / take-outs. Increased noise, traffic, garbage & pests, safety issues (crime, illegal businesses), and late-night operations.Lack of safeguards and insufficient City enforcement to protect Loss of housing and legal tenant evictions. |
Community Voices: Quotes from Survey
| Quality of Life: “Why are we not protecting our neighbourhoods? These are the last peaceful areas in the city where people can have a quiet refuge. Removing our right to provide input is unacceptable.“ | Housing Loss: “The proposal overlooks the fact that tenants on the main and second floor can be evicted legally… Why are you killing off much needed housing?” | Threat to Existing Commercial: “There are numerous vacant business frontages on major city streets… The city should focus on attracting small business to these empty store frontages instead.” |