Toronto East York Community Council Meeting - May 28, 2026

Toronto East York Community Council met May 28, 2026 under shortened procedures, with a 12:30 p.m. end time so members could attend Councillor Chris Moise's funeral. The meeting covered a large agenda including development applications, heritage matters, construction staging, traffic and parking changes, and the Liberty Village "Liberty for All" planning study. Council approved several heritage and public-realm items, while deferring higher-profile matters including the proposed redevelopment at 419-431 College Street, home to Sneaky Dee's.

Topics Discussed

1. Sneaky Dee's / 419-431 College Street

Council heard extensive deputations on the proposed redevelopment at 419-431 College Street, which would affect Sneaky Dee's. Speakers focused on the venue's cultural role and the broader loss of independent music and community spaces. One speaker said, "The developer can find another place to put this condo, but we are not going to find another Sneaky Dies."

Councillor Dianne Saxe said she was not prepared to proceed without direct confirmation from the tenant, telling the committee: "I have been trying and trying to get in touch with George because the developer says they have a deal with George, but I need George to confirm that to me and he won't call me back." Later she added, "We're not doing anything today. But we've heard you. We've listened. We know how much it matters." The item was deferred to a future meeting.

2. Liberty Village "Liberty for All" planning study

Council discussed the Liberty Village secondary plan and planning study, including growth, infrastructure and affordable housing. Senior planner George Pantazis said public response had been unusually high: "having 350 responses over 350 responses is overwhelming ... and just shows the passion of the community."

A speaker for several landowners argued proposed affordable housing policies "would in fact be offside the planning act and therefore illegal." Councillor Neethan Shan said that while developers are not required to provide affordable housing in this context, "there's nothing that prevents a developer or a number of land owners in this particular area from coming to the table to look at how to add that in."

3. Heritage and development approvals

Council approved several heritage-related applications, including 1337 Queen Street West, 40 Wabash Avenue, 150 College Street/One King's College Circle, 170 Burton Street, and 153 and 185 Eastern Avenue.

Council also discussed heritage issues tied to Sumach Street. Staff said "the applicant has retained an artist who will develop a commemorative installation" using reclaimed materials from the structure.

4. Traffic, parking and street safety

Council approved multiple traffic, parking and accessibility items, including Addington Avenue safety and streetscape improvements, permit parking changes, accessible parking spaces, loading zones, an on-street EV charging station on Prince Arthur Avenue, pedestrian safety improvements on Roxborough Road, lane access protection on McPherson Avenue, and "Don't ride on the sidewalk" decals.

On permit parking, Councillor Gord Perks said, "I'm hoping we have a report coming to this month's planning and housing that cleans up this process forever and makes it automatic."

5. Construction staging, tree removals and local property matters

Council deferred several construction staging matters, including 35 to 47 Camden Street, 128 Peters Street and 44 Price Street.

It also heard from resident Dave Beaton about conditions at a neighbouring vacant lot near 83 Glen Edyth Drive. Beaton said, "The property itself is a disaster. There is a 20x 10 ft construction fence that has been there for 5 years," and described stacked fencing materials as "a hazard to wildlife." The fence and trellis application was amended and carried.

On tree matters, council denied two applications to remove city-owned trees: one at 326 Bury Street involving a magnolia tree, and one on Annette Street for an addition. Two other tree-removal items, at 32 Ken Street and 40 Myrtle Avenue, were deferred to the next meeting for a forestry report.

Motions

Passed

• T33.15 - 1337 Queen Street West - demolition and new construction on a designated heritage property
• T33.16 - 40 Wabash Avenue - alterations to and demolition of heritage attributes
• T33.18 - 150 College Street / One King's College Circle - Medical Science Building heritage alterations and heritage easement authority
• T33.20 - 170 Burton Street - demolition of a heritage attribute and amendment to heritage easement agreement
• T33.21 - 153 and 185 Eastern Avenue - alterations to designated heritage property
• T33.14 - 257-259 Lake Shore Boulevard East / 200 Queens Quay East - streetscape and development-related approvals
• T33.35 - Nathan Phillips Square - event approvals for Oct. 1, 2026 to Apr. 30, 2027
• T33.42 - 207 Sherbourne Street - construction staging area time extension
• T33.44 - 4485 Alberta Avenue - fire route designation
• T33.45 - 510 Grapheophone Grove - fire route designation
• T33.46 - 60 B Street - fire route designation
• T33.47 - 25 St. Mary Street - fire route designation
• T33.54 - Addington Avenue Safety and Streetscape Improvement
• T33.57 - realignment of permit parking area 1E
• T33.59 - accessible parking spaces on Mother's Field Drive and Chestnut Park
• T33.60 - accessible parking spaces on Davenport Road
• T33.61 - accessible loading zone on Baby Point Road
• T33.62 - accessible parking and loading zone at 62 Birchview Crescent
• T33.66 - on-street electric vehicle charging station on Prince Arthur Avenue
• T33.67 - traffic and parking amendments near St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond Street
• T33.70 - improving pedestrian safety on Roxborough Road
• T33.71 - protecting lane access on McPherson Avenue
• T33.73 - "Don't ride on the sidewalk" decals
• TE33.26 - 968 Bathurst Street - curb lane cafe permit renewal
• T33.53 - Oakwood Village Street Plan, as amended
• Motion for safety and sightline improvements at Portland Street and Stewart Street
• Report request for naming a lane "Sister Gwen Smith Lane"
• Naming a lane "Valerie Ma Lane"
• Renaming Tyer Park in honour of Hedy/Hetty Bim/Bomb
• Bills 573-587, 592-602, 605, and 607-611

Deferred

• 419-431 College Street / Sneaky Dee's redevelopment item
• T33.37 - 35 to 47 Camden Street
• T33.38 - 128 Peters Street
• T33.40 - 44 Price Street
• T33.51 - East-West Waters shuttle pilot
• T33.52 - Oakwood Village Street Plan item
• T33.56 - traffic management in Ward 14 related to the King Street pilot/project
• T33.68 and T33.69 - Crescent Road pedestrian safety improvements
• TE3.24-26 - Oriole Parkway/Olington Avenue residential demolition item
• T33.32 - 32 Ken Street tree removal item
• T33.33 - 40 Myrtle Avenue tree removal item

Denied

• Item 29 - 326 Bury Street - application to remove a city-owned magnolia tree
• Item 30 - Annette Street - application to remove a city-owned tree for an addition

Attendees

Councillors identified in the meeting notes as present or participating: - Dianne Saxe - Ausma Malik - Paula Fletcher - Alejandra Bravo - Gord Perks - Brad Bradford - Chris Moise - Neethan Shan