City Council to decide how to defend Official Plan Amendment 778 at Ontario Land Tribunal hearing in November

development

Buried by deferral

City Council to decide how to defend Official Plan Amendment 778 at Ontario Land Tribunal hearing in November

Council adopted a plan in February 2025 to designate 283 kilometres of new Avenues across Toronto. Five parties appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal; three have since withdrawn. The tribunal has upheld most of the plan but will hear remaining disputes over site-specific appeals starting November 30, 2026. City staff are requesting direction on how to conduct the city's legal defense.

The November 2026 hearing is scheduled after the October 2026 municipal election. Council is directing litigation strategy that the incoming council will inherit and cannot easily reverse without conceding the case.

not yet heardToronto City Council · Wed, Jul 29You can weigh inDecided elsewhere

Also in this item

• The Ontario Land Tribunal brought most of OPA 778 into force on July 24, 2025, meaning the Avenues policy is already active on 283 kilometres of Toronto streets except where site-specific appeals are still pending. The November hearing addresses only the remaining disputed sections, not the bulk of the amendment.

• Three of five original appellants have withdrawn their appeals, reducing the opposition the city must defend against at tribunal.

The journey

Wed, Jul 29 · Toronto City Council · not yet heard

→ referred onward

Time to act

You can weigh in

Residents supporting or opposing the Avenues designations have no further city-level deputation opportunity before this hearing; the tribunal process is now in control. Those wanting to shape the city's legal position must contact their councillor before the vote.

Why is this story here?

Big deal at city hallCouncil's choice of legal strategy will determine the city's position on a major land-use policy affecting hundreds of kilometres of commercial corridors. Once chosen and the hearing closes, the strategy cannot be easily reversed without conceding the litigation. The policy itself (already partly in force) shapes what future development is permitted across the city.Touches a narrow groupThe Avenues policy is broadly felt eventually, but this agenda item is about litigation strategy and legal directions, not the policy itself or its daily effect. Only residents and businesses directly affected by site-specific appeals (a subset of the 283 kilometres) experience immediate stakes, and only those paying close attention to tribunal proceedings notice this vote happening.

Stories are ordered by how much weight a decision carries and how directly it reaches daily life. They rise as a decision date approaches and fall as they age.

Official title: Official Plan Amendment 778 - Ontario Land Tribunal Hearing - Request for Directions · meeting video