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The Scarborough Community Council approved several traffic safety and traffic calming measures across Scarborough, while also dealing with tree removal applications and the loss of trees tied to redevelopment projects. The meeting repeatedly returned to the gap between current tree rules and a stronger bylaw set to take effect in January 2027. Councillors approved new pedestrian protections, traffic signals and speed-reduction measures, denied one private tree removal request, and deferred another so residents could continue looking for alternatives.

Topics Discussed

TREE PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFLICTS: Council denied a tree removal application at 224 Timberbank Boulevard, where residents objected to the proposed removal of two honey locust trees. Resident Nicole Curado told council the trees are “an important food source and habitat for wildlife” and said honey locusts are a native species “in decline in wild.” Councillor Thompson connected the application to broader concerns about the current bylaw, saying one resident had complained about “dozens and dozens of trees” being removed legally because they were just below the existing 30-centimetre threshold. Thompson said the city needs to “balance” development with “protecting our trees and protecting the environment.”

GAS STATION REDEVELOPMENT: Council also considered a redevelopment at 5445 Steeles Avenue East that will replace a standalone Tim Hortons with drive-thru with a car wash facility. The Shell convenience store will be expanded and the gas pumps reconfigured, while the site will include a noise wall along the west and south property lines and a large underground stormwater retention tank. Councillor Cannibal raised the loss of jobs tied to the Tim Hortons closure. The project will remove 27 trees, including 8 protected under the current bylaw, and plant 7 new trees.

TREE PROTECTION BYLAW TRANSITION: Much of the discussion focused on the coming tree bylaw change, which will lower the protection threshold from 30 centimetres to 20 centimetres diameter at breast height starting in January 2027. Councillor Myers noted that 8 to 12 trees proposed for removal at the Steeles Avenue site would likely be protected under the new rules. Staff said interim control measures under the Planning Act apply to land use, not tree protection, so the city cannot impose temporary protections before the bylaw takes effect. Myers successfully moved a direction asking Community Planning to “explore opportunities for retaining additional trees and or potential cash in lieu of planting through the site plan control application process,” adding, “We are protecting our tree canopy particularly in light of the new bylaw that we had passed.”

TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS: Council approved pedestrian crossing protection on Homestead Road, 275 metres north of Coronation Drive in Scarborough Rouge Park. It also approved traffic control signals on Kennedy Road, 140 metres north of DNC Avenue, and at Pharmacy Avenue and Stellarton Road/Camila Crescent. Speaking on the Kennedy Road item, a councillor thanked “transportation staff and of course our allstar um Mary Newton for her tremendous work” and said residents “have been waiting for a long long time for this and uh it’s finally going to happen.”

TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES: Council approved speed cushions and a heavy vehicle prohibition on Nightstar Road in Ward 25, speed humps on Tower Drive in Ward 21, and traffic calming on Flare Road and Morris Road in Ward 25. The Poplar Road traffic calming item was referred back to staff until Metrolinx’s pedestrian tunnel work at the CN Rail and Poplar Road intersection is complete and the permanent closure of Poplar Road at CN Rail is in place.

Motions

Passed: - SC 30.6: Pedestrian crossing protection at Homestead Road - SC 30.8: Speed cushions and heavy vehicle prohibition on Nightstar Road - SC 30.9: Speed humps installation on Tower Drive - SC 30.2: Part control exemption for 2740 Lawrence Avenue East - SC 30.10: Traffic control signals at Kennedy Road - SC 30.11: Traffic control signals at Pharmacy Avenue and Stellarton Road, Camila Crescent - SC 30.12: Woodland Park Road parking amendments - SC 30.13: Fire routes designation at 730 Military Trail - SC 30.14: Really Avenue parking amendment (SC 23.22 reopened) - SC 30.15: Flare Road traffic calming - SC 30.16: Morris Road traffic calming - SC 30.3: Denial of tree removal application at 224 Timberbank Boulevard - Bills 290-294 and confirmatory bill - Motion by Councillor Myers requesting additional tree protection measures for 5445 Steeles Avenue East development

Deferred / Referred Back: - SC 30.4: Tree removal application at 226 Scarborough Crescent, deferred to the April 30 meeting - SC 30.7: Poplar Road traffic calming, referred back to staff until Metrolinx work is completed

Attendees

• Councillor Shen
• Councillor Ainsley
• Councillor Thompson
• Councillor Myers
• Councillor Cannibal (Candal)