Feedback from Residents: NO to Blanket Zoning Changes
Before Toronto City Council made its decision on Neighbourhood Retail & Services, COTRA conducted a city-wide survey to understand what residents thought about the proposed changes.
The survey explained the zoning changes and obtained feedback through multiple-choice and open-ended questions.
In just two weeks (September 2 – 15, 2025), over 3,400 residents from across Toronto responded, providing over 3,700 thoughtful comments.
The message to City Planning was clear: Toronto residents overwhelmingly reject blanket rezoning for commercial uses in their neighbourhoods.
(As Presented to City Planning on October 3, 2025)
Out of more than 3,700 survey comments analyzed by COTRA, an overwhelming 96% opposed the proposal to allow businesses in residential neighbourhoods.
Key Survey Results
| ❌ 90% opposed zoning changes to allow businesses in Neighbourhood Interiors. | ✓ 80% wanted the City to adopt policies to support current commercial and main street retail. |
| ❌ 77% opposed zoning changes to allow businesses on residential Major Streets. | ✓ 90% wanted 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% supported 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-out restaurants. – Increased noise, traffic, garbage & pests, safety issues (crime, illegal businesses), and late-night operations. – Lack of safeguards and insufficient City enforcement to protect residents – 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.” |