Council Rejects Appointed Regional Chair - Council Meeting - April 27, 2026

The Scarborough Community Council approved multiple traffic safety improvements and traffic calming measures across several wards, while also addressing tree removal applications. The meeting also focused on how current tree bylaws apply to development proposals ahead of a new tree protection bylaw scheduled to take effect in January 2027. Council approved pedestrian safety measures, new traffic signals, and speed reduction infrastructure, while denying one tree removal application and deferring another to a later meeting.

Topics Discussed

GAS STATION REDEVELOPMENT WITH JOB LOSSES

A gas station redevelopment at 5445 Steeles Avenue East will replace a standalone Tim Hortons with drive-thru with a car wash facility. The convenience store will be expanded to modern Shell standards, with the same number of gas pumps reconfigured.

Councillor Candal raised the issue of employment impacts tied to the Tim Hortons closure.

The project will remove 27 trees (8 protected under the existing bylaw) and plant 7 new trees, for a net loss of 20 trees. The plans also include a noise wall along the west and south property lines and a large underground stormwater retention tank.

TREE PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT CONFLICTS

Council considered multiple tree removal applications, including an application at 224 Timberbank Boulevard to remove two honey locust trees. Resident Nicole Curado opposed the removal, telling council the trees provide “an important food source and habitat for wildlife,” and describing the species as “in decline in wild.” Council denied the application (SC 30.3).

Council also discussed how the current bylaw’s protection threshold affects what can be removed. Councillor Thompson referenced a resident complaint about “dozens and dozens of trees” being legally removed under current rules because they fall just under the existing threshold, and said council needs to “balance” development with “protecting our trees and protecting the environment.”

TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

Council approved pedestrian crossing protection at Homestead Road, 275 metres north of Coronation Drive in Scarborough Rouge Park (SC 30.6).

Council also approved traffic control signals for Kennedy Road at a point 140 metres north of DNC Avenue (SC 30.10), and at Pharmacy Avenue and Stellarton Road/Camila Crescent (SC 30.11). On the Kennedy Road item, a council member credited staff 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 (SC 30.8), with Councillor Shen pointing to community input. Council also approved speed humps on Tower Drive in Ward 21 (SC 30.9), and traffic calming on Flare Road (SC 30.15) and Morris Road (SC 30.16), both in Ward 25.

The Poplar Road traffic calming item (SC 30.7) was referred back to staff until Metrolinx pedestrian tunnel work at the CN Rail/Poplar Road intersection is completed and the permanent closure of Poplar Road at CN Rail is enforced.

TREE PROTECTION BYLAW TRANSITION

Council discussed the transition to a new tree protection bylaw taking effect in January 2027, which will reduce the protection threshold from 30 cm to 20 cm diameter at breast height.

Staff told council that interim control measures under the Planning Act apply to land use, not tree protection, meaning interim tree protections cannot be implemented through that tool.

In response to the Steeles Avenue redevelopment, Councillor Myers directed 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.”

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-retention measures for 5445 Steeles Avenue East through the site plan process

Deferred / Referred

• SC 30.4: Tree removal application at 226 Scarborough Crescent (deferred to April 30 meeting)
• SC 30.7: Poplar Road traffic calming (referred back to staff pending Metrolinx work and road closure)

Attendees

• Councillor Shen
• Councillor Ainslie
• Councillor Thompson
• Councillor Myers
• Councillor Candal