OUR GOVERNMENTS NEED TO HEAR FROM HENRY FARM
Province’s legislation a major threat!
The provincial government has recently passed or introduced three pieces of legislation that will have a significant, detrimental impact on our local democracy and on our region’s greenspace, including allowing development on some of Canada’s best farmland as well as conservation lands. The Henry Farm Executive is extremely concerned by the Province’s legislation. It is our hope that, with concerted opposition, this legislation will be reversed.
Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, and the similar Bill 39, Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022, allow the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa to pass bylaws with just one-third of council support, ostensibly to allow for more affordable housing to be built “as of right” in these cities and with minimal to no public consultation.
Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, is comprehensive legislation that amends several other pieces of legislation, including legislation governing the Greenbelt and Conservation Authorities, ostensibly again to allow for more affordable housing to be built more quickly.
Among its key provisions impacting the City of Toronto, Bill 23 reduces or exempts developers from paying fees related to new affordable housing, including affordable units required in many new developments anyway (inclusionary zoning) and which are currently subject to fees. The result will be significantly less annual revenue to the City ($200 million less on average) and much less capacity for the City to pay for the very infrastructure that supports these and other new homes.
More broadly, as much as building more affordable housing is a good thing, there is no guarantee that developers will pass the savings from lower or no development fees on to homebuyers. Moreover, the legislation defines “affordable” home ownership as 80% of the prevailing market rate. With most homes in the GTA now selling for more than $1 million and a typical one-bedroom condominium selling for $750,000+, this means a developer can sell a house for $800,000 or a condo for $600,000 without paying any developer fees, robbing the City of much needed cash while building housing that is hardly “affordable” to most.
Other provisions of concern can be found in an email being sent to the HFCIA membership, as well as posted on Facebook. We urge residents of Henry Farm to voice their opposition with the Premier, Cabinet, and our local MPP. It is our hope that, with concerted opposition, these pieces of legislation will be reversed.
Henry Farm Community Interest Association Executive
PETITION ON PROPOSED ROOMING HOUSE REGULATIONS
Toronto City council will be voting on October 1, 2021 (deferred from July 14, 2021) on new regulations on Rooming ( multi-tenant) Housing that proposes in most residential neighbourhoods in Toronto (Including Henry farm Community) allowing a maximum of six dwelling rooms in a multi-tenant house.
Please complete the petition: https://form.jotform.com/212415034105035
PROPOSALS ON DEDICATED BUS LANES ON SHEPPARD AVENUE BY REMOVING EXISTING ROADWAY LANES
Councillor Carroll moved a motion at TTC Meeting in February 2020 to study dedicated bus lanes on Sheppard Avenue East from the Leslie TTC Station to the Agincourt Go Station. HFCIA, as well as several other homeowner associations and residents made presentations in July 2020 at a meeting of the Toronto City Council Executive Committee against the introduction of these dedicated bus lanes.
HFCIA is opposed to conversion of these lanes because of the potential for traffic chaos on an already congested roadway. The major intersections along Sheppard are over capacity and more condos are proposed along the route. We are concerned that this will result in heavy traffic in surrounding neighbourhoods, including Henry Farm. Sheppard Avenue is seriously congested when there is a problem on the 401 or DVP. As at December 2020 HFCIA awaits TTC report on the above matter to take the next steps, including getting a petition signed by residents for and against this proposal.
SHORT TERM RENTALS (INCLUDING AIRBNB RENTALS) NEW REGULATIONS AND RULES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2021
City of Toronto has introduced New regulations and Rules effective January 1, 2021related to Short Term Rentals Including Airbnb Rentals.
