E-Blast: Council Highlights - Multiplex Housing, Fixing Seasonal Grass Cutting, and Cracking Down on Road Racing
- councillorcarroll
- 26 minutes ago
- 6 min read
We've had another full Council meeting this month and I’ve been focused on advancing the City-wide priorities that matter most, while keeping the needs of Don Valley North front and centre.
From cracking down on overnight speed racing to pushing for a universal school food program, I’ve worked to make sure our local concerns are reflected in the decisions shaping Toronto’s future. I also took action to right-size the City’s new multiplex housing framework, setting clear parameters to ensure new housing forms are livable, balanced, and fit well into our neighbourhoods. In this update, I’m sharing just a few of the major items we tackled and what they’ll mean for our community in the months and years ahead.
🏘️ Housing in Our Neighbourhoods – Fourplexes, Sixplexes, and What’s Next
I wrote earlier this month about the improvements being made to the approvals process for new duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. These forms of gentle density are an important part of our long-term housing strategy, and I’m pleased to share that the initial issues we faced in Don Valley North have now been mitigated.
Not us.
The most important change? A cap on the total number of bedrooms per property. This ensures that while multi-generational families can build flexible, livable units in a fourplex, we no longer risk seeing unregulated rooming houses disguised as multiplexes.
On the topic of sixplexes, I know many of you have questions, and you aren’t alone. PH22.4 was the most controversial item on the Council floor this month, and I was very clear in my remarks: I fully support the need for more varied housing options in our neighbourhoods, but we have to build public trust alongside housing supply.
That’s why I supported the compromise that was reached. To meet federal conditions for the Housing Accelerator Fund, Toronto must adopt permissions for low-rise sixplexes. But instead of applying this citywide all at once, these permissions will begin as pilot projects in a handful of districts — giving other parts of the city, including Don Valley North, time to evaluate how these policies
function on the ground.
Similarly, Don Valley North will be part of the final phase of the Avenues Policy Review, which will expand as-of-right zoning for mid-rise buildings along major corridors. This measured rollout recognizes that while we continue to face intense development pressures along Sheppard Avenue East, new zoning tools must be introduced thoughtfully. Taken together, these housing initiatives help us move beyond a model of just tall towers and sprawl, by gradually adding more diverse, human-scale housing forms that better reflect the needs of our growing city.
🧱 Responding to the Province’s Big Changes — Bill 17
Bill 17, the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, was rushed through the Legislature and passed before the public comment period had even ended—raising serious concerns for Toronto. While we all want to see more housing built quickly, the financial consequences of Bill 17 for the City are significant: over the next decade, we could see a $1.9 billion deferral in development charge cash flow, limiting our ability to build the infrastructure new communities need. At the same time, Bill 17 weakens Toronto’s ability to require design and safety studies that protect our built form, environment, and quality of life—especially in high-density neighbourhoods.
🍎 Building a Universal School Food Program
At our June meeting, City Council approved a bold and practical roadmap to achieve a universal school food program in Toronto. The plan will ensure every student has access to a healthy morning meal by the 2026/2027 school year, with a strategic path to delivering a universal lunch program by 2030. This is a major step toward addressing food insecurity, improving academic outcomes, and supporting working families with real, everyday savings. It’s also a powerful way to back our local food system—aligning with our Economic Action Plan and the City’s Cool Food Pledge to promote climate-friendly meals.
Here in Don Valley North, only about half of our public schools currently have a school food program. That’s why I’m thrilled that our community stands to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of this expansion. Many of our schools are expected to be included in the upcoming Phase 3 and 4 rollouts. We’ll be pushing to get answers soon on which schools will be included and how we can help support local delivery.
🚑 Multi-Year Staffing Plan for Toronto Paramedic Services
Emergency response times are too long, and our paramedics are burning out. That’s why Council adopted a multi-year staffing plan to recruit and retain more frontline workers in Toronto Paramedic Services while being fiscally responsible.
This plan begins to reverse a decade of underinvestment, putting our response system on more stable footing — especially with a growing and aging population. It’s about ensuring that when you call 911, help arrives swiftly.
🚸 Safer Streets for Everyone – Vision Zero Updates
This report is an itemized update of Vision Zero traffic safety measures that will be installed this summer, including some speed reductions in Don Valley North. I know people are sometimes caught by surprise when these safety changes are installed, but their value is proven by the statistics. Vision Zero is about killing fewer pedestrians with our cars. It is as simple as that.
I want to show a graph of road injuries and fatalities in Toronto. As you look at it, I want you to consider that in the year 2000, where the chart begins, the population of Toronto was approximately 2 million. In 2024, the final year on the chart below, our population reached 3 million, with the most rapid growth happening in the last five years.
🌱 Climate Progress Report – TransformTO
TransformTO is our city’s blueprint to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. The latest annual report shows that Toronto’s emissions have dropped 37%below 1990 levels — a promising sign.
But we have more to do, particularly when it comes to retrofitting buildings and greening our transportation network. I continue to support practical, equitable solutions that make climate action work in every part of the city, from downtown to Don Valley North.
🚨 Cracking Down on Overnight Speed Racing
Alongside Councillor Burnside, I brought forward a motion to address the growing complaints about loud and dangerous, high-speed racing on the DVP and Highway 404. Working with our City Noise Team and the Toronto Police, we’re pushing for renewed enforcement and education to restore peace and safety to our east-end communities.
🌿 Fixing Seasonal Grass Cutting and Coordination
Now here’s one that I brought forward myself — because I heard you loud and clear.
This spring, I received a flood of concerns about long grass in parks, unkempt boulevards, and slow maintenance across the city. Residents were right to be frustrated. It was clear that our current seasonal maintenance system isn’t working the way it should.
That’s why I brought a motion to Council directing City staff to conduct a full review of how we schedule, coordinate, and fund grass cutting and maintenance — especially across divisions like Parks andTransportation. We need one cohesive plan, not a patchwork response.
This work will include a look at equipment, staffing, timing, and even how our weather patterns are changing. I’ll keep pushing until the green spaces you love are looked after properly and predictably.
As always, I’ll continue to keep you updated as these initiatives move forward , and to speak up for Don Valley North as we shape the future of our city together . If there’s an issue you’d like to raise or a question I can help with, don’t hesitate to reach out. My team and I are always here to help.