North York Community Council Meeting 33: Tribute, Development, and Infrastructure Updates

North York Community Council meeting 33 opened with a tribute to former councillor Howard Moscow following his death. Councillors described his role in North York's development and announced funeral arrangements for Thursday at 2 p.m. at Benjamin's Memorial Chapel. The meeting also dealt with traffic calming, development applications, fence exemptions, private tree removal requests, Ontario Line construction impacts, and a fence encroachment appeal that council refused.

Topics Discussed

1. Tribute to former councillor Howard Moscow

Council opened with a memorial for former North York councillor Howard Moscow. Councillor Cole said, "Howard gave it its soul and heart. He really did and I just cannot say enough about Howard." Councillor Carol added that "Howard came into this room and into city council with his agenda in binders that stacked this high" and called him "the conscience of North York Council and then Toronto Council." Funeral arrangements announced were Thursday at 2 p.m. at Benjamin's Memorial Chapel.

2. Don Mills regeneration and development matters

Council considered the Don Mills Regeneration area study and related development files. Item 33.3, Don Mills Regeneration, was held for speakers. Alan Mckeler of the Don Mills Residents, Inc. said, "The challenge for council is to maintain the principles that are part of this report." Another speaker said, "if it goes beyond 12 stories, my family will have to enforce a fee that will need to be paid and that can be negotiated, but we're not selling the rights. We'll lease them, but we will not sell them." Council also approved staff recommendations on several planning files, including 27581 Billy Bishop Way, 4235 Wixed Avenue, 844 Don Mills Road and 1150 Eglinton Avenue East, and 2600 Don Mills Road. Item 33.5, covering 22, 26, 27, 2673 and 2675 Bayview Avenue, was also held for speakers.

3. Fence exemptions and pool enclosure applications

Council heard multiple requests for exemptions under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 447.

At 28 Turnill Crescent, the applicant said the owners had "always bent over backwards to ensure compliance with all the regulations" and had consulted city staff before and during construction.

At 38 Farm View Crescent and 63 Bernick Road, applicants sought Juliet-style gates instead of full fence runs for pool access points. In one of those discussions, Councillor Carol said, "I'm always frustrated by the way we write the reports on this. It's not clear to me what plans might be made, what we might require," while also asking whether the proposal would be met with "a Juliet gate." On another exemption item, Councillor Carol told an applicant, "one of the issues here is that the gate you are planning on installing is at the minimum height," and noted the applicant was willing to install the maximum height instead.

A separate exemption matter at 2 Page Avenue was deferred to the July meeting. Another pool enclosure matter was taken into committee after discussion of a bench near a back door; David Worth said, "there is a bench located near the back door on the deck," and added that the home had "recently had a break and enter through that back door."

4. Tree removal requests

Council dealt with several private tree removal applications.

At 71 Paper Birch Drive, Brian Shin said an insurance adjuster had repeatedly warned about a tree "leaning dangerously close to the house" after a major insurance claim that required the home to be gutted. Council approved the removal request.

At 172 McNickel Avenue, council did not authorize removal on a 3-3 vote, with staff recommending refusal.

Other tree applications included 125 Lawrence/Florence Avenue and 215 Vonda Avenue. On one item, resident Nicole Curado urged council to consider alternatives, saying, "I would suggest if possible relocate the tree. It looks like the tree I wonder if that's a possibility for the city. And if not, um, find a way to relocate the driveway or find a way to to build the driveway around the tree because I'm sure that you could you could somehow build build around the tree." On another, Dimmitri Kosuk said, "Recent camera inspections confirmed substantial root intrusion into the underground clay drainage and weeping tile systems," which he said contributed to flooding concerns.

Some tree items were held for speakers or deferred for site visits.

5. Ontario Line impacts and Forest Heights encroachment appeal

Council received a second-quarter 2026 update on Ontario Line construction in the North York district. Discussion included truck identification decals, GPS trackers, pest control methods, tree replacement, and traffic effects from the Beth Nealson Drive closure. Councillor Chernos Lin said the project has "really substantial implications for so many different aspects of day-to-day life over years and years and years," and called the disruption "really monumental." Nicole Curado, speaking about pest control, said, "Most rodent management is cruel methods such as kill traps, glue traps ... and also rodenticides," adding that rodenticides threaten other animals as well. Councillor Chernos also said, "This should not be the city of Toronto that is required to pay for this. This is really an outcome of the Ontario line construction."

A motion was introduced calling for the General Manager of Transportation Services, in consultation with the Executive Director of Transit Expansion, to work with Metrolinx on a rush-hour traffic management plan, including traffic agents and other mitigation measures.

Council also heard an appeal related to a fence encroachment into city land near Forest Heights Boulevard. Councillor Bailão said, "I just don't believe we should be in the business as a city of Toronto of giving away public land to private homeowners." Council refused the appeal and required that "city currently encroached upon are restored to their previous condition."

Motions

• Tribute to former councillor Howard Moscow — tribute and memorial remarks received
• Item 33.1 Francine Drive Traffic Calming — staff recommendations carried and approved
• Item 33.2 27581 Billy Bishop Way, Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Appeal Report — approved
• Item 33.3 Don Mills Regeneration — held for speakers
• Item 33.4 4235 Wixed Avenue, Temporary Use Zoning By-law Amendment — approved
• Item 33.5 22, 26, 27, 2673 and 2675 Bayview Avenue — held for speakers
• Item 33.6 844 Don Mills Road and 1150 Eglinton Avenue East, Part Lot Control Exemption — approved
• Item 33.7 2600 Don Mills Road, Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment Appeal Report — approved
• Fence exemption at 28 Turnill Crescent — approved
• Fence exemption at 57 Sun Dial Crescent — approved
• Fence exemption at 38 Farm View Crescent — approved
• Fence exemption at 63 Bernick Road — approved unanimously
• Fence exemption at 2 Page Avenue — deferred to July meeting
• 71 Paper Birch Drive private tree removal — approved, with replacement requirements
• 172 McNickel Avenue private tree removal — not authorized; staff recommendation to refuse carried on a 3-3 vote
• 117 Glen Park Avenue — moved to the July 7 meeting
• Item 27, Yonge North Subway Extension long-term temporary road closures — deferred to July 7
• George Henry Boulevard and related speed hump item — deferred pending community meeting
• Motion directing Transportation Services and Transit Expansion staff to work with Metrolinx on a rush-hour traffic management plan related to Beth Nealson Drive closure — moved during the Ontario Line discussion
• Forest Heights Boulevard encroachment appeal — refused; council directed that encroached city lands be restored to their previous condition
• Bills 563-568 — passed as bylaws, subject to section 226.9 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006
• Confirmatory bills for North York Community Council meeting 33 — passed

Attendees

• James Pasternak, Chair
• Deputy Mayor Michael Cole
• Councillor Burnside
• Councillor Chang
• Councillor Chernos Lin
• Councillor Carol
• Chair Noslin
• Councillor Wong