A cafe or corner store could be coming to a Toronto neighbourhood near you — if new zoning rules are approved

• UPDATE: On Wednesday, Toronto city council voted 18 to 1 to refer proposed zoning amendments back to the chief planner to allow the city to consult with the public and residents' associations. Coun. Frances Nunziata said: "There wasn't enough consultation about it."  Coun. Josh Matlow voted against the referral.

There could soon be more options to grab a coffee or pick up a pint of milk in your neighbourhood if Toronto city council approves changes to zoning bylaws that would allow more small-scale businesses in residential neighbourhoods.

The proposed zoning amendments are set to be discussed at this week's city council meeting. 

The changes are meant to improve walkability, convenience and neighbourhood vibrancy.

But some residents' groups are concerned about potential impacts on noise and traffic — and warn the changes could hurt residential areas. 

The proposed changes 

City staff are proposing several changes, including allowing a broad range of businesses — such as galleries, offices, restaurants and retail — on major streets in residential areas. They also recommend making the rules around in-home businesses more permissive, including allowing up to two employees.

The change that has prompted most of the response from residents is a proposal to allow new businesses on interior neighbourhood roads. Retail spaces would be permitted on corner lots in any neighbourhood, as well as on lots that are adjacent to non-residential property, such as a school or park. 

The retail spaces would be allowed to serve food, and could have a patio of up to 10 square metres. 

The new rules could help to replace neighbourhood corner stores and cafes that have been "disappearing" for decades, according to Candace Safonovs, a planner with the city who is co-leading the project. Safonovs says the number of neighbourhood retail and service sites dropped 34 per cent from 1989 to 2019. 

Zoning changes in the 1950s meant businesses were no longer allowed in residential neighbourhoods. Existing businesses were grandfathered in, with some still operating today. Others can be opened by applying for a minor variance or zoning change, which Safonovs says can be time consuming and costly. 

"Part of this project is just reducing some of those barriers for a business to open," she said. 

The idea has some groups excited to see changes in their neighbourhoods. 

"Personally I think it sounds really exciting to have more of those like corner shops that you can just easily pop down to grab something you need. Or a cafe, which can kind of be a community space," said Erin Taylor, co-chair of the 100 Vaughan Road Tenants' Association. 

Concerns over noise, traffic

But not everyone is on board. 

Nicole Tataj, a member of the Beaconsfield Village Residents Association, worries about excess noise from patios, increased traffic and the kinds of establishments that could open. 

"We don't believe most residents would support converting housing into bars with patios on residential streets," Tataj said.

"And we don't think residents would want to see housing being replaced with cannabis shops."

City staff say it's not within their power to dictate through zoning which kinds of retail spaces can or cannot operate. 

"There are horror stories of course across the city. And it only takes kind of one bad operator to then kind of create a concern," said Michael Noble, another co-lead on the project. Noble added, however, that he expects the vast majority of businesses won't pose any issues. 

Noble admits the city could have done a better job consulting with community groups. After concerns were brought up at a planning and housing committee meeting earlier this month, staff met with 25 residents' associations to hear their views. 

City council will consider those concerns and staff's responses at their meeting this week.