The City of Toronto is developing regulations to allow residents to build garden suites on residential properties in the city.
A garden suite is a housing unit, usually located in the backyard of an existing house, but separate and detached from the main house. Garden suites, like laneway suites, are generally smaller than the main house on the lot and are intended to function as a rental housing unit.
The City is gathering input from the public and industry stakeholders about how to best allow the construction of garden suites in Toronto. As part of the City’s work developing appropriate regulations for garden suites, matters related to privacy, shadowing, parking requirements, and protecting trees and green spaces are among those being considered.
Public input from current and potential future residents of low-rise neighborhoods, as well as from other stakeholders, is important to better understand these and other matters.
The public can learn more, ask questions, and provide their input on garden suites by attending a virtual meeting or taking an online survey. The following three identical virtual meetings will be held:
• Tuesday, May 11, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Call-in access code: 133 839 0853
• Wednesday, May 12, 1 to 3 p.m., Call-in access code: 133 604 7460
• Thursday, May 13, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Call-in access code: 133 919 6218
Participants must register in advance to attend one of the virtual meetings. To register, visit the “Meetings & Events” section at www.toronto.ca/gardensuites. The public can also attend these meetings by phone by calling 416-915-6530 and using the call-in access code for one of the meetings.
The results of this study and public input will inform regulations and recommendations to City Council to permit garden suites across the city.
The Garden Suites study is one of several studies that the City is leading through its Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods initiative.
The initiative is to facilitate more low-rise housing in residential neighbourhoods to meet the needs of our growing city.
The City is working to expand housing forms in Toronto, ranging from duplexes to low-rise walk-up apartments. All these housing types can be found in many parts of Toronto today; however, there are currently limitations on where they can be newly built. The initiative is one solution among a range of City initiatives to increase housing choice and access and create a more equitable, sustainable city.
For more information about the Garden Suites project, please see the Garden Suites Review report submitted to the Planning and Housing Committee: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs
SOURCE City of Toronto
Leave a Reply