Residents

1. Major Streets Approved by Council for Exclusion (Vote: 25 Yes, 1 No — part of the main amendment to Recommendation 1) 2. Major Streets Proposed for Exclusion by Councillor Holyday but Not Approved by Council (Motion defeated — 16 No, 10 Yes) 3. Additional Major Streets Proposed by Councillor Shan for Exclusion but Not … Read more

City Council made major changes to the proposed Neighbourhood Retail & Services zoning amendment. The final version is a hybrid model: it protects suburban neighbourhoods while broadly expanding permissions in downtown, midtown, and the waterfront. To see the full list of motions, approvals, and the voting record, visit:Neighbourhood Retail & Services (PH23.5) 1. Major Streets … Read more

Learn about the real-world risks created by the Neighbourhood Retail & Services bylaw — including noise, parking pressures, housing loss, and enforcement challenges. For the first time, the City’s zoning rules now allow businesses to operate inside residential homes without any public consultation, notice, or approval process. These risks were among the primary reasons why … Read more

The Neighbourhood Retail & Services (NRS) proposal was the largest overhaul of residential zoning Toronto has seen in seventy years. In advance of the November 12–14 Council vote, COTRA submitted recommendations based on what residents told us through our city-wide survey—more than 3,400 responses and 3,700 written comments. Read COTRA’s full submission to City Council (HERE) … Read more

City Council has approved a major zoning change that divides residential areas into two new categories: Both categories allow new types of businesses to open inside homes and apartment buildings—without public notice or community consultation. Learn how these zones work, what kinds of uses are allowed, and how to find out if your street is … Read more

The Neighbourhood Retail and Service (NRS) proposal represents the most significant change to Toronto’s residential zoning in seventy years. On behalf of the Coalition of Toronto Residents’ Associations (COTRA), this letter outlines concerns about the proposal’s shortfalls and, respectfully offers recommendations to Council when it votes on November 12th. Find the full text of the … Read more

The City’s new Neighbourhood Retail and Services proposal would let bars, restaurants, and retail stores open in residential homes without any approvals or community input. That means more noise, late-night patios, and parking pressures — and even the loss of housing, as landlords could evict tenants to convert homes into businesses. Use our pre-written email to … Read more

Introduction to TMMIS The City will accept emails that are sent through the City’s online TMMIS system. Type the keyword ‘tmmis’ into Google to find the landing page for TMMIS. Click on the landing page link. When you arrive at the TMMIS landing page, navigate to find the PHC Committee page for Meeting 25. Find … Read more

Our Identity: Coalition of Toronto Residents’ Associations (COTRA) COTRA is a city-wide coalition of concerned residents and residents’ associations, formed specifically in response to the City’s proposed Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) Neighbourhood Retail & Services (NRS) study. We are united by a common desire to ensure that zoning changes that permanently alter our … Read more

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 … Read more