ATTN:
Mr. Paul Zuliani Mr. Bruce Ashton Ms Debbie Edmunds
Zoning/Urban Develop. Building Dept. Building Enforcement Committee of Adjustment
Fax: 394-8230 Fax: 394-8209 Fax: 394-8958 Fax: 394-6042
Etobicoke Civic Centre
399 The West Mall
Etobicoke, ON M9C 2Y2
July 22, 1999
Dear : Members of Community Council(ATTN: Clerk's Office, fax 394-8895)
RE: A newly established group home located at 48 Robinglade Drive, Etobicoke
We would appreciate your support and immediate intervention in this matter that seriously affects the wellbeing of our
community and has detrimental undertones.
Residents of Robinglade Drive were flabbergasted to discover that a group home had been quietly and improperly
established at 48 Robinglade Drive. An emergency meeting of area residents was held on Thursday July 8, 1999 (53 out of
90 CORR households directly affected were in attendance) to address this matter and to decide on a course of action.
In the course of the meeting, the following points were deemed to require addressing by city officials:
The group home, operating since July 2nd, 1999 (without registering or applying for a permit), has not had a permit being
issued by the City of Toronto (violation of Definition By-law 320-24.IC).
It is operating without express authorization from the Medical Officer of Health (violation of Zoning By-law 320-24II) and
without inspection by the Fire Marshall.
According to the Etobicoke Building Code Processor in Etobicoke, the group home does not meet the zoning by-law group
home radius requirements, and so must apply to the Committee of Adjustment.
The owner company, known as Villa Charities/VITA, has not applied to the Committee of Adjustment.
No notice was given to the residents of the zoning change.
No dialogue, or notice of intent, was entered into with area residents most affected by the group home.
Modifications to the premises were done, and continue to be made, without a building permit and inspection.
Villa Charities/VITA (operating since 1978) has acted with the full knowledge that there was a contravention of by-laws
which they chose to ignore (documented in a July 8, 1999 letter, which describes the group home operation, from Manuela
Dalla-Nora of VITA to CORR).
This facility will generate additional traffic into a neighbourhood which is already experiencing increased traffic and
speeding, especially on weekends.
The following are other related observations:
Despite qualifications of staff as outlined in the VITA letter of July 8th, the seemingly cavalier attitude of the staff of the
group home towards their charges suggest a lack of concern for their welfare.
Honesty and openness by this organization from the start would have avoided many problems and prevented negative
feelings that area residents now have. The staff has clearly not been willing to interact with neighbours and is tight-lipped
about the operation. A shroud of secrecy prevails.
Could this group home be used as a ploy to bolster support for the 427/Rathburn Project (to ensure receipt of federal and
provincial funding)? Funding by the City of Toronto seems implicit, and CORR's thinking is reinforced by what Villa
Charities implies when they tell us, "the group home locations are selected based on where there are problems and there is
a need for community-based projects."
The consensus at the meeting was as follows:
That city staff, including councillors; by-law, fire, health, and building inspectors and enforcement; and the Committee of
Adjustment must be asked to take immediate steps to shut down, fine, and dismantle this operation that is in contravention
of the by-laws relating to zoning, radius overlap, health, fire, building codes, etc..
That proper consultative processes with the community be a prerequisite of any fresh application, and that strict
compliance with all applicable by-laws be insisted upon before re-opening is permitted. Further, that monitoring and
enforcement of infractions at these premises and this business be assured.
That unequivocal assurances be received that if a permit is issued, not more than three permanent residents and the
required support staff will be housed at the facility, and that no temporary or future emergency clients be allowed to occupy
a space at this address.
An assurance that if an application is made (and all criteria is met), only a limited use permit be issued (i.e. for autistic
clients only), with no variances.
City officials be reminded in no uncertain terms that they have an inalienable responsibility to:
Keep a community fully apprised, in a transparent fashion, of any such undertakings that could impact on the community
Monitor and enforce the observances of by-laws, without fear or favour.
The bottom line is that families (with young children) live in the area in question and have a right to quiet enjoyment of
their abodes and a decent quality of life, in secure surroundings that are free of "parachuted" potential problems. Any
consequential rebate of taxes (due to falling property values) would be poor consolation and no mitigation at all of an
unacceptable situation.
Sincerely,
Nancy Mueller
Acting President, CORR
c.c.Councillor Doug Holyday, fax: 392-4120
Councillor Dick O'Brien, fax: 696-3657
MPP Chris Stockwell, fax: 695-1222
