A recent article by Paul Moloney, City Hall Bureau reporter published on April 8th summarised the recent council meeting regarding the Restaurant Study:
Toronto isn’t backing down from its bid to cap the number of restaurants growing like artisanal mushrooms in Parkdale.On Tuesday, the Toronto and East York Community Council rejected a request to stand down on a battle with the restaurant industry that’s gone to the Ontario Municipal Board, which has ordered the two sides to meet with a mediator on June 23.The sudden proliferation of restaurants along Queen St. West may be great news for foodies, but for nearby residents and councillor Gord Perks (Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park), it’s become a problem.There are 71 establishments on Queen between Dufferin St. and Roncesvalles Ave., of which 34 have opened since 2008. On one 300-metre stretch between Dufferin and Brock Ave., 19 of the 57 properties — one in three — is a restaurant.It’s too many, says Perks, who has pushed to cap the number at 25 per cent, meaning that only one of every four properties can be a restaurant.The restaurant industry opposes caps as an interference in the free market and is urging the city to instead step up enforcement to control noise, litter, rowdyism and other things that spark complaints.The community council rejected a request to seek an adjournment of the municipal board case, which could go to a five-day hearing before the OMB if mediation doesn’t resolve the issue.
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To read more about the study visit these recent posts: