Out of Control Development – Read the three part Toronto Star series!

Our concerns are being heard! Toronto Star City Hall reporter Jennifer Pagliaro has written a 3-part series on out-of-control development in the Yonge-Eglinton area (and other neighbourhoods).  The proposed development at 18 Brownlow is prominent. OMB Reform | Toronto Star Feb 2017, articles: Part One: http://projects.thestar.com/ontario-municipal-board-reform/contested-development/ Part Two: http://projects.thestar.com/ontario-municipal-board-reform/planning-power-politics/ Part Three: http://projects.thestar.com/ontario-municipal-board-reform/onward-upward/

Keeping Our Neighbourhood GREEN

SERRA has actively participated in 4 meetings and workshops this fall which will give direction to the preservation and formation of parks and green space in Davisville Village, an area of the city under great development stress. Parks and Public Realm Update In November Paul Farish, a Senior Planner of Strategic Initiatives Policy and Analysis … Read more

SERRA Provides Strong Support for FoNTRA’s Submission Calling for OMB Reform

In response to the province’s request for input on OMB reform, SERRA drafted and submitted a letter with our recommendations.    We believe that OMB reform should be based on the principle that municipal councils together with input from the local community should drive local planning decisions, not an unelected body that is not accountable to citizens. … Read more

Construction Initiatives

  Each year, SERRA residents and members are asked to fill in a survey at Annual General Meeting, and construction always appears near the top of the list of key concerns. Early in 2016, SERRA administered an electronic survey with our active members to help us to gather more information on the nature of the … Read more

Getting to Know the City of Toronto – Committee of Adjustment

The City of Toronto recently produced a short 8 page brochure that provides an excellent introduction to the Committee of Adjustment process. The brochure has been printed in a glossy fold-out format and is not yet available on-line. You may contact the councillor or visit the Committee of Adjustment to get a printed copy. SERRA has scanned … Read more

Getting Ready For Your First Committee of Adjustment Hearing

    The  SERRA region is experiencing rapid infill residential development and nearby neighbours may receive an invitation to participate in their first Committee of Adjustment hearing. Al Kivi, a member of the SERRA board has attended many Committee of Adjustment hearings and has assisted SERRA residents to prepare to participate in these hearings. In November 2016, … Read more

SERRA supports call for OMB Reform with a joint submission

SERRA is an active member of the Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations (see http://www.fontra.com). FoNTRA has drafted and submitted a briefing calling for OMB reform in response to the province’s request for input. Here are the highlights from the submission. FoNTRA’s submission is based on the principle that municipal councils should be responsible for … Read more

City of Toronto publishes new guide to the Committee of Adjustment

Residents now have access to a new resource guide to help with The Committee of Adjustment. SERRA board members met with the our Councillor, Josh Matlow, to discuss planning issues in our neighbourhoods. Our most recent meeting was on November 14, 2016, and Josh provided us with copies of a new brochure on the procedures for Committee … Read more

Yonge St. corridor can’t handle more development

Toronto and Ontario need to halt further projects until transit and other infrastructure are radically upgraded. Photo courtesy of cbc.caBy John Bossons and Geoff Kettel Transit in the Yonge St. corridor is at a crisis point. The Yonge subway line, opened in 1954 to serve a city of just over 1 million people, cannot handle … Read more