URBAN PLANNING: Residential Apartment Commercial Zone

URBAN PLANNING: Residential Apartment Commercial Zone

High-rise apartments are a common part of Toronto’s landscape. They are found in every corner of the city and are a vital part of our housing mix; stretching from East Scarborough to Rexdale, and to Thorncliff Park in East York. Primarily built between 1950-1980, these dense communities were planned as ‘single-use’ areas and designed to accommodate the car as the primary method of transportation. It was assumed that residents would have little need to walk, so community services such as doctors’ offices or basic retail needs like grocery stores were not incorporated into the developments. Instead, these important services were clustered away from these communities in low-rise strip malls.

By consulting with the public, City planners have learned that the way these communities were designed is no longer working. With the rise of women in the workforce, an influx of new immigrants, and higher gas prices that make car ownership less affordable, the needs of residents have dramatically changed from 50 years ago. Residents need to be close to childcare, settlement services, social services, language and job training. They need access to healthy food and community kitchens, and to transit, walking, and cycling routes. They would also benefit from the opportunity to engage in small-scale enterprises. However, existing zoning regulations have prevented the provision of these services within apartment tower neighbourhoods and impeded the construction of retail units on-site. As a result, residents in these neighbourhoods became isolated from the services they needed most.

The City has recognized the challenge posed by this type of zoning and recently approved what is known as the Residential Apartment Commercial zone (RAC). This new zone will allow entrepreneurs to operate businesses that cater to the unique needs of each community while also providing space for essential commercial, social activity, and community services. This injection of retail activity will also help stop the decline into poverty, an issue that the United Way has identified as characteristic of these tower neighbourhoods, while adding space for the social supports needed by diverse communities.

To learn more about RAC sites approved by City Council along with a series of maps to help you locate whether your neighbourhood is included, visit www.toronto.ca/zoning and click on the Residential Apartment Commercial Zone link on the right-hand side of the page.