York Community Council met to consider development applications, traffic safety measures and other local infrastructure items. The longest and most contested debate was over a proposal to expand a Public Storage facility at 2–4 Menota Road from a low-rise building to a four-storey facility. Residents raised specific concerns about speeding and truck traffic on Menota Road, illegal dumping, and allegations that people sometimes live in storage units. Council voted 4–1 against adopting staff’s recommendations, which meant the application was forwarded to City Council without a recommendation.

Council also unanimously backed continued opposition to a 29-storey proposal at 2915–2943 Bloor Street West at the Ontario Land Tribunal, approved multiple traffic-calming and parking changes on residential streets, and deferred a private tree-removal request at 651 Burnhamthorpe Crescent to explore options to preserve at least one mature tree.

Topics Discussed

Public Storage Facility Expansion Controversy (2–4 Menota Road)

The proposal would expand an existing self-storage facility to four storeys. Residents described Menota Road as a residential, dead-end street without sidewalks and said the current facility already generates speeding and safety issues.

Debbie Wilson told council that “public storage has basically hijacked our roads with countless cube vans and trucks racing down Menota Road, sometimes reaching speeds of 80 clicks per hour,” adding that if the proposal proceeds, “our health and safety will also be dramatically affected.” Jen Moy described near-misses at a stop-controlled intersection: “They’re going 80 down the road. They skip the stop sign… I can’t tell you how many times they almost got hit.”

Several deputants also raised concerns about illegal dumping and enforcement. Victoria Newman described an incident she said involved waste being dumped into a city drain: “Ammonia, it stank… The city had to send an inspector.” On the issue of people living in units, company representative Andy Hicks told council: “We do not permit anyone to live in our facilities. Period… If it does happen, we take action as quickly as we can.”

Deputy Mayor Amber Morley summarized the land-use conflict for council, noting the site’s proximity to homes: “We have a storage facility with residential neighbors on three sides… with small children and vulnerable communities without sidewalks.” After debate, council voted 4–1 against the motion to adopt staff recommendations, sending the item to City Council without recommendation.

29-Storey Tower Proposal at Bloor Street West (2915–2943 Bloor Street West)

Council considered a proposal for a 29-storey tower that residents said far exceeded a previously litigated outcome for the site. Sonia Coops of the Sunnydale Kingsway Community Association said the group was “calling into question any revisions to planning policy and guidelines that would allow a development that is more than three times the height of the previous proposal refused by ELPAT.” Council unanimously approved continuing opposition at the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Traffic Calming and Parking Measures

Council approved speed humps on Delta, Gamma and Beta Streets, and on Shockley Drive, Mingle Haze Drive, Alabaster Road, Ghan Spring Drive and Plowshare Crescent.

Council also approved weekday parking restrictions on Kaledan Road near Bishop Allen School. Resident Kareem Arafat said what appeared to be “a simple parking amendment” had become “a daily quality of life issue,” describing the street during the school year as “an unmanaged parking lot.”

Tree Preservation Dispute (651 Burnhamthorpe Crescent)

Council deferred a private tree-removal request tied to a proposed rental fourplex/five-unit project where the applicant sought removal of two mature trees to accommodate parking. Deputy Mayor Morley said the item had been deferred previously “for an opportunity for my office to visit the homeowner and to observe the tree in real life,” and later emphasized the broader planning trade-off: “we are really working hard to have minimum parking requirements… including maintaining characteristics of our neighborhood, which includes the very healthy tree canopy.”

The item was deferred to May 2026 for staff to explore additional options that could preserve at least one tree.

Fence Height Exemption (271 Valermo Drive)

Council approved a fence-height exemption request at 271 Valermo Drive for a fence exceeding the bylaw limit by roughly seven inches (including lattice), with conditions requiring it be maintained and future fencing comply with the bylaw.

Motions

Passed: - EY 31.1 — 750 Queens Plate Drive zoning bylaw amendment (17-storey, 148 units) - EY 31.3 — 2915–2943 Bloor Street West: continue opposition at Ontario Land Tribunal - EY 31.4 — 468 Montgomery Road residential demolition (with conditions) - EY 31.5 — 31 Queen Anne Road private tree removal - EY 31.7 — 280 Driftwood Avenue fence exemption - EY 31.8 — 271 Valermo Drive fence exemption (with conditions) - EY 31.11 & EY 31.12 — Maple Leaf/Rustic area traffic plan (modified parking provisions) - EY 31.15 — Delta/Gamma/Beta Streets speed humps - EY 31.16 — Speed humps on Shockley, Mingle Haze, Alabaster, Ghan Spring, Plowshare - EY 31.17 — Highway 27 area traffic control signals - EY 31.18 & EY 31.19 — EV charging stations (two locations) - EY 31.20 — Accessible parking at 20 Hacket Avenue - EY 31.21 — Marquee Avenue parking amendments - EY 31.22 — Kaledan Road parking restrictions (8 a.m.–5 p.m. weekdays) - EY 31.24 — Fire route designations for Wendell Avenue properties - EY 31.25 — Temporary signage permit for Utopico Rotary Ribfest 2026 - EY 31.26 — Royal York Road and Bloor Street West laneway service standards investigation - New street naming: Caspian Lane

Rejected: - EY 31.2 — 2–4 Menota Road Public Storage expansion (failed 4–1; forwarded to City Council without recommendation)

Deferred: - EY 31.6 — 651 Burnhamthorpe Crescent tree removal (deferred to May 2026)

Attendees

• Deputy Mayor Amber Morley (Chair)
• Councillor Stephen Holyday
• Councillor Mark Manley
• Councillor Frances Nunziata
• Councillor Vincent Crisanti
• Councillor Michael Perruzza