Council Public Meeting - Tuesday, January 27, 2026 - 6:00 p.m. - City of Richmond Hill

City Council Meeting Summary (January 27)

A public hearing-style meeting focused on zoning bylaw amendments and site redevelopments along Yonge Street, with staff asked to review and incorporate public and council input. Several motions to refer comments back to staff were considered, and bylaw amendments and site plans were discussed with a focus on traffic, safety, and landscaping. Public input was invited, and follow-up actions will be determined after staff review.

Five Most Important Topics

1) Zoning Bylaw Amendments for 9550 Yonge Street (RMU-CO1/Bylaw 9325) - The applicant seeks to permit new uses (including a restaurant with drive-thru) and establish site-specific standards to support expansion/modification of the existing gas station. Quote: “The proposal is to permit a residential use with a drive-thru facility and to establish site-specific development standards to support the expansion and modifications to the existing gas station.” - This session framed the proposal for information and staff referral, noting “The purpose of this report is to provide council and the public an overview of the development proposal and has been structured for information purposes only with the recommendation that all comments be received and referred back to staff for consideration.”

2) Site Layout, Access, and Traffic Impacts - The plan involves demolishing the current gas station and reducing pump locations from 18 to 8, plus a new building for the restaurant and drive-thru. The southern access will be closed while the northern access remains. Quote: “The southern limit of the existing building kiosk pay station is the same location as the new building. So the southern wall would be in exactly the same position.” - Planning notes argue traffic impacts will not worsen overall; a key point stated was: “With the reduction in the number of pump locations ... there actually is a net decrease in the amount of traffic being generated on the site.”

3) Public/Agency Consultation and Process - The application has been circulated to internal departments and external agencies for review to gather feedback before moving forward. Quote: “Planning staff have circulated the application to internal departments and external agencies for review and comments.” - Public input opportunities were highlighted, with the note that feedback will be referred back to staff for consideration in the next steps of the process.

4) Landscaping, Environment, and Lighting - The proposal emphasizes environmental improvements, including retaining mature trees and planting additional ones. Quote: “The landscape plan shows the existing trees which are remaining and additional trees which will be planted.” - Lighting and light pollution concerns were addressed later in the broader discussion, with assurances about containment to the site.

5) Public Input Opportunities and Next Steps - Public input was encouraged through oral or written submissions, with the reminder that not participating could affect appeal rights. Quotes: “Members of the public were invited to provide oral or written submissions regarding the proposed zoning bylaw amendment”; and “failure to participate in this stage could limit the ability to appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal.” - Staff will continue to review comments and provide revised reports/recommendations in future meetings.

File Numbers / Bylaws Discussed

• Zoning Bylaw Amendment for 9550 Yonge Street (Bylaw 9325 referenced in the meeting materials).
• Zoning Bylaw Amendment discussions for Suncorp Petro Canada Site (title referenced in the section: “Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application for Suncorp Petro Canada Site”).
• Bylaw 2523 discussed in a separate section related to gas station expansion.

Opportunities for Public Input

• Public input opportunities include oral and written submissions during the zoning bylaw amendment process. Written communications and questions from residents (e.g., Mr. Jiao in one section) were acknowledged and addressed. The public is encouraged to participate through future staff reviews and public consultation milestones; details are provided in staff reports and upcoming meetings.

Public Contacts and How to Participate

• Contact avenues include the Planning Department and City Clerk as conduits for submissions and inquiries. Specific email addresses were not listed in the provided excerpts; refer to the city’s public consultation channels or the planning staff in the upcoming staff reports for submission instructions.

Motions and Outcomes

• Motion to Adopt the Agenda — Passed unanimously.
• Motion to Refer Comments Back to Staff (end of meeting for the 9550 Yonge Street item) — Pending (to be decided at the end of the meeting).
• Motion to Receive Comments and Refer Back to Staff (Suncorp Petro Canada Site) — Passed. Title: “Zoning Bylaw Amendment Application for Suncorp Petro Canada Site” — Outcome: Passed; All comments referred back to staff for further review.
• Motion to Refer Comments and Communications to Staff (City meeting) — Passed. Title: Referral of Comments and Communications to Staff — Outcome: Passed; Staff to review comments and address issues in future recommendations.
• Motion to Amend Bylaw 2523 — Passed. Title: “Amend Bylaw 2523” — Outcome: Passed; Align with forthcoming new bylaw and address inconsistencies.
• Motion to Approve Gas Station Expansion — Deferred. Title: “Gas Station Expansion” — Outcome: Deferred; Await fire department feedback and further site logistics review.
• Motion to Approve Setback Reduction — Deferred. Title: “Setback Reduction” — Outcome: Deferred; Further discussion required to address proximity to Yonge Street.
• Motion to Refer the Project Back to Staff — Passed. Title: Referral of Gas Station and A&W Renovation Project to Staff — Outcome: Passed; Staff to review concerns and provide a recommendation.
• Motion to Adjourn — Passed unanimously.

Councillors Present

• Mayor: Mr. West
• Councillors: Tree, Davidson, Silvitzy (spelling varies in transcripts; appears as Silvitzy/Silivitz in sections), Shu, Thompson
• Regional/Deputy Mayor and regional councillors appear in some sections as participants (names vary or are not consistently provided in every excerpt)
• Local councillor Depo is noted in one section
• Other staff present: City Clerk, Francesco (Franchesco) Caprielli, and planning staff as cited in the transcripts

If you’d like, I can reorganize or condense any section further, or add timeline references based on the specific meeting dates if you have them.