"Scarborough Council Balances Growth, Community Concerns" - Scarborough Community Council - April 30, 2026

The Scarborough Community Council refused a 24-storey tower proposal on Kingston Road, approved an affordable and accessible rental project on Ellesmere Road, backed a new youth employment hub at Scarborough Civic Centre, and made decisions on several tree-removal and traffic-calming items. Much of the debate turned on specific local impacts: building height and shadow, school and parking capacity, tree canopy loss, and whether traffic measures matched conditions on the ground.

Topics Discussed

KINGSTON ROAD DEVELOPMENT (SC 31.2): Council refused a zoning bylaw amendment for 3718-3730 Kingston Road after residents and councillors objected to the scale of the proposal. Councillor Michael Thompson said the developer had increased the height “by 10 stories” after earlier community meetings and argued that “a 24-story building to myself, that's a large-scale development. It's not compatible with the neighborhood.” Residents also raised shadow and traffic concerns. One resident said nearby homes would lose “approximately 5 to 6 hours” of sunlight in the morning and early afternoon, while another warned the project would bring “congestion and gridlock” on Golf Club Road and Kingston Road.

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND INNOVATION HUB (SC 31.18): Council approved a youth innovation hub to be based at Scarborough Civic Centre, combining $300,000 in city funding with $1.3 million in Section 37 funds. The initiative is intended to connect young people with training, technology, and employment opportunities. Presenter Ming Sani told council, “Scarbo does not lack talent. It lacks clear pathways.” Councillor Thompson said the goal was to build something lasting rather than “a oneoff,” describing it as “part of a process, part of a system that we actually built in.”

COMMUNITY LIVING TORONTO PARTNERSHIP (SC 31.3): Council unanimously approved a development at 1710-1712 Ellesmere Road that will include 281 rental units, with at least 30 per cent affordable, in partnership with Community Living Toronto. Speakers emphasized the need for supportive housing for people with intellectual disabilities. One speaker told council, “People deserve their own space, their own home, a place where they feel safe and supportive.” Councillor Ainslie called the project “an excellent example of everything that I try to achieve in building that community in my ward.”

TREE REMOVAL APPLICATIONS (SC 31.8 and SC 31.9): Council approved a tree-removal exemption at 226 Scarboro Crescent and refused another at 2 Fairfax Crescent. At Scarboro Crescent, the discussion focused on the effect of a large tree on elderly residents’ ability to remain in their home. Councillor Candel said the visit to the property “drove home the messages from Mr. and Mrs. Wright on the impact on their safety, security, and most importantly accessibility for them to age in place.” Mrs. Wright told council, “It’s not about the health of the tree. This is really about quality of life for us living with this tree.”
At Fairfax Crescent, council refused the application after hearing that the proposed garden suite could be redesigned to preserve the tree. Resident Nicole said, “there definitely is a way that you can preserve this tree,” suggesting the applicant “redesign the garden suite into a tiny home.”

STUDENT HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE (item on Ellesmere Road): Council also debated a proposed student-oriented rental building near UTSC. Councillor Shan focused on parking and local capacity, noting the project had 746 beds and asking “how many parking spots have been allocated” given that many students in Scarborough drive. Councillor Thompson said the city needs “to change some rules and regulations” because “University of Toronto and Centennial College, they get off the hook in a lot of ways around planning housing and having housing in the community.”

TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY ITEMS: Council approved several traffic measures, including Birchmount Road bridge-related items, traffic calming on Scarborough Golf Club Road, Ingleton Boulevard and Alton Towers Circle, and an all-way stop at Nash Road and Tiffield Road. On Markham Road, council passed the item as amended to remove proposed speed humps while keeping a 30 km/h speed limit. Councillor Candel said he had “never seen a motor vehicle accident” on that stretch and did not receive speeding complaints there, unlike on nearby streets.

Motions

• SC 31.2 - 3718 & 3730 Kingston Road (Zoning Bylaw Amendment): Refused
• SC 31.3 - 1710 & 1712 Ellesmere Road (Development Approval): Passed
• SC 31.4 - 3000-3020 Kennedy Road (Draft Plan of Subdivision): Passed
• SC 31.8 - 226 Scarboro Crescent (Tree Removal Exemption): Passed
• SC 31.9 - 2 Fairfax Crescent (Tree Removal Application): Refused
• SC 31.10 - Street Naming (253 Markham Road): Deferred
• SC 31.11 - Victoria Park Avenue Construction Staging Area: Deferred to May 28
• SC 31.12 - Metrolinx Subway Extension (Traffic Modifications): Held
• SC 31.13 - Birchmount Road Bridge Reconstruction: Passed
• SC 31.14 - Scarborough Village Street Plan (Markham Road): Passed as amended
• SC 31.15 - Scarborough Golf Club Road Traffic Calming: Passed
• SC 31.16 - Ingleton Boulevard & Alton Towers Circle Traffic Calming: Passed
• SC 31.17 - Nash Road & Tiffield Road All-way Stop Control: Passed
• SC 31.18 - Youth Innovation Hub Initiative: Passed

Attendees

• Deputy Mayor Paul Ainslie (Chair)
• Councillor Michael Thompson
• Councillor Jamaal Myers
• Councillor Parthi Kandavel
• Councillor Gary Crawford
• Councillor Ausma Malik?