Bylaw amendments that will permit the construction of laneway suites in residential neighbourhoods in Toronto and East York have been approved by City Council. Such neighbourhoods as Davisville Village, Deer Park, Moore Park and the many residential areas east of Broadview Ave. across the Don are included. Some areas don’t have many lanes, however. T and EY contains the Wards of 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. Support was substantial, with Council voting 30-5 vote on Thursday morning. Apparently the changes do not effect Leaside, which is represented at North York Community Council. Conditions for applications by homeowners to build are said to be strict. Entrances to suites must be no more than 45 metres away from a public street for access by the fire service and others. That rule, in theory, will prevent laneway suites from being built on some properties that are located on dead-end laneways.
SET BACKS, PARKING
Suites themselves must be no more than two storeys or six-metres-tall and can contain only a single unit. Suites must be separated from the rear of existing homes by a distance of 5 to 7.5 metres, depending on their height. They must be set back from the rear property line by at least 1.5 metres with dimensions that do not exceed eight metres in width and 10-metres in length. Between 100 and 300 laneway suites are expected to be constructed each year now that they are permitted, according to staff. As to parking, there appears to be an optimistic view that a supposed decline in the ownership of cars will make this potential issue irrelevant. Time will tell.
