Councillor Saxe’s staff continues to consult with City Transportation Services whose most recent (2018) traffic count showed roughly three times more cars (240) travelled west along Barton in the afternoons than travelled east (80)along that street in the mornings. One of Councillor Saxe's motions on next steps was approved in January, a second will be put forward in February.    >>>>>

The City of Toronto has launched a public survey as part of the City’s Tree Maintenance Review. Your feedback will help inform future decisions about how City‑owned trees are cared for across Toronto. 

The survey is open to anyone who lives/works in Toronto, and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Residents and community groups with an interest in trees, neighbourhood liveability, and the urban canopy are encouraged to participate. The survey asks about:  

                         • your experiences with City tree maintenance
                        • what matters most to you in how City‑owned 

                           trees are maintained
                        • potential new tree maintenance initiatives.

In addition to conducting the survey, the City’s department of Urban Environment, Climate and Forestry invites you to attend one of its virtual public meetings:

Wednesday                                OR     Thursday   

February 11, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.              February 12, noon to 1:30 p.m.

With the goal of identifying opportunities for improvement,  and looking at how the City maintains street and park trees, this review is being led by an independent, third‑party consultant. More information: Tree Maintenance Review – City of Toronto

The City's 2026 budget is now under review, which brings a reminder from our neighbour Robert Zaichkowski that now is the time time to speak up for the return of the OpenStreetsTO program to temporarily close streets to cars to allow for walking, cycling, and physical activity. 

The program supports several City priorities: climate action, public health, parks and recreation, and supporting local businesses. According to Mr. Zaichkowski, it could cost $300,000 to host two Sunday OpenStreetsTO events. (See December 17 post on this page) 

Here's how to get involved in the call for dedicated and permanent funding for annual OpenStreets events:  

Christie Street, the western border of Seaton Village has officially been designated an Avenue, with all the implied changes in zoning as other lands in the Avenues Project, including Dupont. Map on next page.

The redesignation took place in mid-December, when the City of Toronto passed an Official Plan Amendment (OPA 862) and Zoning Amendment (OPA 861) to facilitate mid-rise development along segments of Avenues including Christie Street, College Street, Davenport Road, Dupont Street, Dufferin Street, Dundas Street West, Oakwood Avenue, Ossington Avenue in Wards 9 and 11. 

Notice to appeal the amendment must be filed to the Ontario Land Tribunal with the City Clerk before Tuesday, January 20, 2026. A provincial fee of up to $1,100 may be levied. A map and official documents, along with instructions for appeals follow.

Depending on public feedback collected by the City’s staff between now and the mid-February meeting of Toronto City Council, the historically and culturally significant Queen’s Park North public green space could be in for some changes following a $50 million donation by the Weston family. 

The group Friends of Queen’s Park North has been following recent Weston-related activities, and has raised some concerns with FOSTRA (Federation of South Toronto Residents' Associations) about the proposals for park 'revitalization', including the impact on heritage, old-growth forest and overall destabilization of this significant public green space. 

A wealth of history, correspondence, downloads, links and contacts follows, including Friends of Queen’s Park North, City of Toronto documents, from the community groups involved recently and in the 2019 rejuvenation of Queen's Park North. Find out more about "The People's Park" ...

Seaton Village Green Neighbours (SVGN) is a new, community-based group dedicated to helping homeowners make their houses healthier and more comfortable, less dependent on polluting fossil fuels, and more resilient to the changing climate.

SVGN is a partner community of the Toronto Home Energy Network, whose focus is encouraging homeowners to install energy-saving heat pumps. The SVRA member contact is Liz Addison c/o svgreenneighbours@gmail.com . Please cut and paste.

In response to the work of the SVRA Traffic Calming committee, the City has offered to make Barton one-way westbound between Clinton and Christie streets on a one-year trial basis. This was proposed as a stop-gap measure to counteract the high volumes of non-residential cut-through traffic moving east along Barton Avenuer during the morning rush hour. See Read More for a brief survey to complete now.

Members of the SVRA voted in favour of the proposal at the November 27 general meeting, and a neighbourhood-wide survey (See Read More) is now being circulated via Councillor Dianne Saxe to ensure we have input from as many Seaton Village residents as possible. No deadlines indicated; urgency recommended. Check your household mailbox, or follow the instructions here: 

The December 3 public meeting to discuss the City-initiated Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and standalone Zoning By-law pertaining to Inclusionary Zoning has been cancelled by the City Clerk.

This application by the City of Toronto will NOT be considered by the Planning and Housing Committee meeting on December 3, 2025.  The SVRA will provide updates as available.

Robert Zaichkowski,  a long-time road safety advocate and author of the Two Wheeled Politics blog has asked the SVRA to support a campaign to return Open Streets to Toronto.

Open StreetsTO/Active TO events temporarily close streets to cars to allow for walking, cycling, and physical activity. The program was last on Bloor from Bathurst to Christie in 2022.

Robert Zaichkowski has been circulating a petition to bring back Open Streets, and response from the public has been positive to date. He hopes there will be a motion related to Open Streets at the City’s next Infrastructure & Environment Committee (IEC) meeting as soon as December 4. 

In the interest of time, the SVRA recommends that those interested in supporting the initiative, do so now as individuals, separate from the SVRA.  Click Read More for Mr. Zaichkowski’s correspondence with the SVRA and to sign the petition.

RapidTO recently reported that in response to public feedback and as approved by City Council in October (2025.EX25.4    ), further consideration of the section between Eglinton Avenue West and Bathurst Station is proposed to be undertaken at a future time, rather than immediate implementation before the FIFA World Cup (FWC) 26 next June.

Meanwhile, the planned parking/stopping regulations north of Bloor in 2025 are already of great concern to our Seaton Village business neighbours as well as many SV residents. Here are the interim measures (2025.TE25.41    ) planned to improve the speed and reliability of the 7 Bathurst bus: 

• No stopping*/parking on the east side of Bathurst Street between Eglinton Avenue West and Bathurst Station North Exit:
        Weekdays: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
        Weekends: 12 noon to 7 p.m. (except public holidays)

    *Stopping is not specifically mentioned in this report, but is assumed.

• Davenport Road: Left-turn restriction from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Sundays and public holidays (northbound)

• Dupont Street: Left-turn restriction from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except   Sundays and public holidays (southbound)

• Dupont Street: Left turns permitted (northbound).

On November 12, 13 and 14, City Council will consider the RapidTO: Bathurst Street updates. This includes potential solutions to mitigate the effects of changes to nearby local road travel patterns and the availability of on-street parking. A copy of the staff report is available at TE26.14. You can attend the council meetings on line via www.toronto.ca. They usually start by 9 a.m. 

Be sure to note your own observations for further discussion and action, especially when the new parking rules are enacted north of Bloor Street. 

As for parking along transit routes, the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) has approved rate increases and extended paid parking hours along key surface transit routes, including Bathurst Street. For more information, contact the TPA’s Planning & Policy team, policyandplanning@greenpmobility.com.

South of Bloor Street, the adaptation of dedicated streetcar lines is starting with Lakeshore Boulevard West to Dundas Street West. Installation continuing north, from Dundas Street West to Bathurst Station will follow once the initial section is complete.

Streetcar service for the 511 Bathurst will be replaced by buses from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.  until the end of construction. RapidTO has not indicated what happens during the day. Parking restrictions will be in effect:

Phase 2 of the Avenues Project review includes a survey you are invited to complete and return to the City by Monday, November 17.

The document about this phase is attached below, and provides necessary background and details on the next steps for our Ward and that of neighbouring Ward 9.  

SVRA members are invited to join a volunteer task force to monitor redevelopment plans for the TDSB's Bickford property. The first meeting of the team, organized by Bickford area resident Darlene Varaleau, will be on Wednesday, October 29 at the Bob Abate Community Centre at 6:30 p.m.

To volunteer, E-mail varaleau@gmail.com or call 416-538-6127.  

The Avenues Phase 2 Team is presenting the draft land use and zoning proposals for the Initial Study Area at an in-person Community Open House on Wednesday,October 22. City staff will also be on hand to discuss new material and suggestions received since the last public meeting in September.

City Transportation Services staff have been reviewing parking arrangements should the former

Cars2Go program be reinstated. Their recommendations were approved by the City’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee of City Transportation Services in late September, and will be heard at City Council on October 8, 9 and 10.

Briefly, the Revised Free-floating Car-share Program recommends City Council ...

The icing is on the cake. Some 60 years of dreary gray cladding atop the stone walls of Bill Bolton Arena was painted a beautiful shade of sky blue in September 2025. 

The colourful effect is most noticeable during daylight hours, especially in the mornings. As evening falls, the blue part darkens. Drop by for a look -- the evergreen vines are beautiful in any weather, and the garden continues to expand thanks to neighbourly contributions and care. 

Toronto is considering new measures to reduce single-use and takeaway items, such as requiring reusable cups and food containers for dine-in service, and developing requirements for event venues and events...

The Provincial Planning Statement 2024 Consistency Exercise is an initiative to review the City’s Official Plan and recommend Official Plan Amendments to bring the Official Plan into consistency with the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (PPS 2024).

This  month, experts from the City of Toronto will speak and answer questions  about the major changes that the Ontario government has made to the  Official Plan to permit more housing density (bigger, taller buildings)  near subway stations.

Kindly  note that this month's townhall will begin and end 30 minutes later  than usual, from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM tomorrow, September 18th.

Have your say on Toronto’s Tree Bylaws. Take the survey by September 24 or attend a public consultation event in person or online.

Toronto’s trees are more than just  greenery—they are vital urban infrastructure. They cool our  neighbourhoods, clean our air, support biodiversity and make our city  more resilient to climate change.

Modifications to the Bathurst bus-lane and related recommendations continue. On Wednesday, September 10, Councillor Saxe shared with us a link to the current report.

Councillor Saxe’s amended proposal has been further modified since our July SVRA  meeting. Shown below are the specific changes we will be discussing, as supplied in advance to SVRA by the Project Manager of Bus Rapid Transit  Strategy & Foresight, Strategy & Customer Experience Group.

Councillor Dianne Saxe and a TTC representative will review the current Bathurst Street bus lane plan and the councillor’s proposed amendments to it, at a public meeting at the St. Alban's Club on Thursday, September 11 at 5:00 p.m.

The City of Toronto invites you to participate in one of two virtual community consultation meetings on September 17 or 18 as part of the Neighbourhood Retail and Services study, under the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) program.

A community engagement event on Monday, September 29 at the Yorkville  Library will provide an opportunity to participate in the City Planning  review of the zoning rules that regulate and limit where commercial vehicles are permitted to park in Residential and Residential Apartment zones.

On the heels of the Executive Council meeting of July 16,  Toronto City Council on July 23, approved the plan for transit priority on Dufferin Street and Bathurst Street.  For more details, try: 

https://secure.toronto.ca/council/#/advancedSearch;text=RapidTO%20Bathurst 

The City is exploring how and where to allow mid-rise buildings along Toronto’s avenues to foster more opportunities for housing, services and businesses near transit. Conversations are being held with communities, according to a flyer recently delivered to our area.

Our neighbours south of Bloor would like their indoor pool back. Wishing and asking may make it so.

Some progress has been made this summer, and on Tuesday, September 9, Councillor Saxe is reporting to the Montrose residents’ group on what might be required to have the Bickford Centre/Bob Abate indoor swimming pool restored.

Stage 1 of the pilot Avenues Project is under way, and the Federation of South  Toronto Residents’ Associations (FoSTRA) is looking for Ward 11 members to participate. The plan is to have residents’ groups, BIA representatives and other community groups actively involved in the Avenues pilot.

June 11: Protect Bathurst  news conference at Kos carried on CP 24; story picked up by other news media

​June 15-21: Radio interview with Paul Macchusi, Protect Bathurst - 640 AM -  June 20​

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cKfi8jxZLM1teg0mOwFN8EdTfmNJ8nNu/view?usp=sharing

Those of you following and providing feedback to the City regarding parks will be pleased to know that preliminary research results on updates to the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan will be available for public review as of Tuesday, July 15.

There  is still time to share your opinion on dedicated Bathurst bus lanes. You can comment on, or register to make a deputation to the Council on Wednesday, July 16 using this quick link:

https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.EX25.4

Ward 11 Councillor Dianne Saxe will be hosting an online Green Condo information session on Monday, August 18 from 3:00-4:30 p.m.

SUMMARY

City-initiated  Zoning By-law Amendments to Permit the Development of Townhouses in the  Residential Apartment Commercial (RAC) Zone, Enable the Conversion of  Underutilized Spaces within Existing Apartment Buildings into Dwelling  Units, and Permit Cladding to Encroach into Building Setbacks.

SUMMARY

The City of Toronto is updating its Long-term Waste Management Strategy for the next implementation period of 2026 to 2036.